WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2014 PFP Enterprises, a Fort Worth, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 15,865 pounds of beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O103, E. coli O111, E. coli O121, E. coli O145, E. coli O26 and E. coli O45, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to FSIS recall:

• 10.5-lb. boxes of Beef Outside Skirt Steak, with a pack date of i12/13/13”
• 20-lb. boxes of Studio Movie Grill Beef Tenderloin Sliced, with a pack date of i12/05/13”
• 15-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajita, with a use by date of i1/3/14”
• 40-lb. boxes of Southwest Style Beef Skirts, with a pack date of i12/5/13”
• 20-lb. boxes of Patterson Food Processors Beef Skirt Seasoned, with a pack date of i12/9/13”
• 10-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajitas, with a pack date of i12/9/2013”
• 40-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajitas w/Binder, with a pack date of i12/9/2013”
• 12-lb. boxes of Seasoned Beef for Fajitas, containing 6 2-lb. packs, with a use by date of i1/15/14”
• 12-lb. boxes of Mexican Style Beef for Fajita, containing 6 2-lb. packs, with a use by date of i1/11/14”

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number iEst. 34715” inside the USDA Mark of Inspection. The products were produced on Dec. 5, 2013, and distributed to retail stores and restaurants in Arizona, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Texas.

FSIS personnel became aware of the problem during a Food Safety Assessment when they discovered that beef trim tested presumptive positive for multiple non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains through the company's testing program. The company inadvertently did not carry the test out to confirmation, and not all affected product was held.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to ensure that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC, such as STEC O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 or O145, because it is harder to identify than STEC O157. People can become ill from STECs 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after consuming the organism. Most people infected with STEC O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 or O145 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended.

Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is uncommon with STEC O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 or O145 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age, but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 145° F with a 3-minute rest time. The only way to confirm that beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/safe-minimum-internal-temperature-chart.

Consumers and media with questions regarding the recall should contact the company's President, John Pieper, at (817) 546-3561.

Consumers with food safety questions can iAsk Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. iAsk Karen” live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. 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 4 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.

PREPARING PRODUCT FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
1-888-MPHOTLINE or visit
www.fsis.usda.gov

Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Color is NOT a reliable indicator that meat has been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria.

The only way to be sure the meat or poultry is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

• Fish: 145°F
• Beef, pork, lamb chops/steaks/roasts: 145°F with a three minute rest time
• ground meat: 160°F
• poultry: 165°F
• hot dogs: 160°F or steaming hot

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase or one hour if temperatures exceed 90º F. Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.