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E.
coli outbreak hospitalizes 12 people Source of
Article: http://www.meatnews.com/news/headline_stories.asp?ArticleID=103927
WASHINGTON — A possible E.
coli outbreak from beef suspected of infecting people in nine states has
resulted in at least 12 people being hospitalized, according to The
Associated Press. The victims may have become ill after eating beef produced
by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo., the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention relayed. So far, 23 people have been reported ill; two of them
suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome. On Sunday, JBS Swift
recalled about 380,000 lbs. of beef after several illnesses were reported and
a government investigation indicated a possible connection to the company's
product. That recall expanded a June 24 recall of just over 41,000 lbs. Health officials in several
states investigating the strain of E. coli found most ill persons had
consumed ground beef and many reported that it was undercooked, C.D.C. said.
Ground beef with the strain of E. coli was obtained from the home of one
person infected. "At least some of the
illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these
recalls," the C.D.C. said in a statement on its web site. On April 2, the first
reported illness became known, according to the C.D.C., and the last illness
was reported on June 13. So far, Wisconsin and Michigan appear to have been
the hardest hit by the outbreak, with six ill people in each state identified
by the C.D.C. Other cases were reported in California, Maine, Minnesota, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York. Long-time food-safety
critic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut said this week she is concerned
it took too long for JBS Swift to recall the meat. The beef was produced
April 21, according to the company and U.S.D.A. "It is deeply
troubling that it has been over two months since this meat was produced and
only now are we learning that thousands of Americans have potentially been
exposed to E. coli-tainted beef," said Ms. DeLauro, who heads the House
subcommittee in charge of Agriculture Department spending. "I urge the
U.S.D.A. to aggressively and expeditiously investigate." The Food Safety and
Inspection Service initially took a sample of the beef on May 21 that tested
positive for the strain, according to the agency. Because that beef did not
enter the food supply, officials did not urge a recall. A follow-up
investigation, including information from the illnesses reported, prompted
F.S.I.S. to go to the company and request the recall, an agency spokesman
said. "Until recently, there
was not adequate evidence suggesting a link between this source material and
illnesses," said F.S.I.S. spokesman Brian Mabry. JBS Swift stated it sold
the meat as whole-muscle cuts, some of which may have been later ground by
retailers who purchased it. |
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