BEIJING, Nov. 5 -- Cargill Inc is recalling more than 450,000 kilograms of
ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
It is the second time in less than a month it has
voluntarily recalled beef that may have been tainted.
No illnesses have been reported, said John Keating,
president of Cargill Regional Beef. The agribusiness giant produced the beef
between October 8 and October 11 at a plant in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania.
Cargill learned the meat may be contaminated after
the Agriculture Department found a problem with a sample of the beef produced on
October 8, the company said on Saturday. The bacteria is E. coli O157:H7.
A spokeswoman for Cargill said 10 states are included
in the recall - Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
"We are working closely with the USDA to remove this
product from the marketplace," Keating said in a statement, referring to the
agriculture department. Spokeswoman Lori Fligge said the company had no further
comment.
Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the USDA Food and
Safety Inspection Service, said her agency will work with Cargill to track the
491,873 kilograms of beef that could be contaminated and remove it from store
shelves.
On Oct. 6, Cargill voluntarily recalled more than
381,000 kilograms of ground beef patties distributed at Sam's Club stores
nationwide.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
