
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Imported Veal Products Due To Possible Non-O157 Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) O103 Contamination
FSIS Announcement
EDITOR'S NOTE: This release is being reissued as an expansion of the May 16, 2017 public health alert to include additional products and production dates. Details of this release were also updated to reflect a change in poundage.
WASHINGTON, May 20, 2017 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a Public Health Alert to inform consumers that approximately 1,631 pounds of raw veal products imported from the Netherlands may be contaminated with Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O103. The raw boneless veal products were produced at Establishment 9EG, EKRO B.V., Netherlands. The product was derived from calves that were slaughtered on March 8, 2017 and March 9, 2017, and further processed and packaged on March 9, 2017 and March 13, 2017. FSIS learned that an additional 90 pounds of product were implicated from Establishment 9EG, EKRO B.V., Netherlands which tested positive for Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O103. The product was derived from calves that were slaughtered on April 11, 2017 through April 13, 2017, and further processed and packaged on April 14, 2017 through April 18, 2017.
Products imported to the United States include:
- Boxes of chilled Boneless Veal Cap with case code of Londbos05597422.
- Boxes of chilled Boneless Veal BHS with case code of Londbos05597426.
- Boxes of chilled Boneless Veal Inside with case code of Londbos05597439.
- Boxes of chilled Boned-In Veal Rack Chop with case code of SELEDEL05593535.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-In Veal Rack Chop Ready 6 Bone 4x4 with shipping marks ONEBUE 05584158.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-Less veal Striploin Eye s/on 0x0 with shipping marks ONEBUE 05584159.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-In Veal Hindshank Center Cut with shipping marks ONEBUE 05584160.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-In Veal Rack Chop Ready 6 Bone 4x4 with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632969.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-In Veal Chuck with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632970.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-Less Veal Rumpheart with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632971.
- Boxes of chilled of Bone-Less Veal Inside with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632972.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-Less Veal Inside Cap-Off with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632976.
- Boxes of chilled Bone-Less Veal Striploin Eye s/on 0x0 with shipping marks WOLVDET 05632977.
These items were shipped to a distributor, and then further distributed to restaurants and grocery stores in Michigan, California, Florida and Massachusetts.
The problem was discovered when an FSIS sample of the imported raw intact veal products, specifically veal stew meat, tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O103. There have been no confirmed reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreaks are rare, but tend to primarily be due to contaminated food and person-to-person transmission. Like E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 28 days (34 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.
Company Information
Establishment ID
Processing Category
Raw - Intact