More than 400,000 pounds of beef have been recalled due to Escherichia coli contamination. The company facing this recall is JBS Swift Beef Company, of Greeley, Colorado. There have been 18 cases of E. Coli illness reported in connection with the contaminated meat, and there may be more.
Boxes of the recalled product bear the establishment number “EST. 969″ inside the USDA mark of inspection, the identifying package date of “042109″ and a time stamp ranging from “0618″ to “1130,” the statement said.
some of the beef products might have undergone further processing and might not have the “EST. 969″ marking on products for sale directly to consumers.
from CNN.com
The ground beef products are the ones of most concern as ground beef often has meat from multiple sources ground together, spreading the contaminants throughout the product. This is one major reason to always cook your ground beef foods, like burgers, until there is no pink left. The USDA recommends cooking all ground beef products to an internal temperature of 160F.
This is yet another reason why I like to know where my beef is coming from, and to know how the cows live and who they are butchered by.
Also, according to a Cornell News article from 1998 on Heartland Healing, studies have shown that cows that eat grass are less susceptible to E. Coli. Cows are meant to eat grasses, and when they eat corn and other grains their rumen become acidic.
While acid kills some E. Coli, it doesn’t kill all of it. Some E. Coli bacteria become resistant. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
While most E. Coli is killed in the acidity of the rumen in cattle, it can withstand the acid of the human stomach. This is why humans become sick from E. Coli bacteria, and why cattle can withstand it.
The bottom line of what I’m trying to say here is that if we weren’t so quick to eat beef, and to eat it as much as we do, and if we weren’t to demand so much at a low price, then perhaps the cattle industry could change the way they raise the cows. Right now it’s all about efficiency and cost.
Demand good beef, buy good beef, eat good beef.
UPDATE from Obamafoodorama.
“The US list:
* Bloom and Food Lion Stores in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia – beef cuts and ground beef
* CostCo – steaks, ribs, ground beef
* Food 4 Less – ground beef, 15%
* Fry’s Food and Drug Stores – ground beef
* Hannaford Bros. Co. – beef cuts and ground beef
* Kroger – ground beef
* Price Chopper – ground beef and beef loin bottom sirloin steaks
* Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., including Pick ‘n Save, Copps and Rainbow stores – beef cuts and fresh ground beef
* Smith’s Food and Drug Stores – ground beef
* Smith’s Food and Drug Stores in Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – beef cuts and ground beef
* Stop & Shop Supermarket Company – ground beef
* WinCo Foods, LLC Stores in Idaho and Oregon – boneless bottom round roast, steak, carne asada, ground beef”
