A Colorado meat company said that it is expanding a recall of beef because of a possible contamination of the E.coli O157:H7 bacteria. The U.S. Agriculture Department’s investigation found 18 illnesses that might be linked to the meat.
The JBS-Swift Beef Co. and the USDA said that it is expanding its June 24 recall, which will include about 380,000 pounds of beef products. This will bring the recall total to about 421,000 pounds.
The beef that is believed to have the bacteria was produced on April 21st and distributed nationally and internationally.
“The contamination may have come from further processing by other companies,” Chandler Keys, JBS spokesman, said on Sunday.
The recalled products, according to the USDA, are generally used for steaks and roasts other than ground beef. However, the department said that other companies might have processed some of the beef into ground products.
Keys said that it is unlikely that the recall will be expanded further. He also said that JBS would be contacting customers that received the beef to learn about the product’s distribution.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the USDA’s Food and Safety Inspection Service, investigated the contamination.
The E.coli O157:H7 can be a deadly bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney failure. The people most at risk are young people, seniors and people with weak immune systems.
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