AR-News: (US) (KS) Beef recall amid E.coli concerns

[MEATSTINKS at aol.com]

Beef recall amid E. coli concerns
Friday, April 30, 2004 Posted: 8:49 AM EDT(1249 GMT)
WICHITA, Kansas (AP) -- Meatpacker Excel Corp. is recalling 45,030 pounds of 
ground beef because it may contain harmful E. coli bacteria. 
Wichita-based Exel said Thursday that it packaged the ground beef in 10-pound 
cylindrical tubes with a use or freeze by date of April 29, but the meat 
likely was repackaged by retail stores.
The meat, which was produced at Excel's Dodge City plant, was sold to 
distributors in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Ohio and Texas.
Excel said it tested the meat earlier this month and it was negative for E. 
coli. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told Excel this week that 
beef reground at a business had tested positive for E. coli.
Excel said no illnesses have been associated with the beef and most of it 
probably has been eaten.
E. coli can cause fever, abdominal cramps and severe diarrhea.
Excel suggested consumers ask their grocers if ground beef they sold is 
involved in the recall. The company also established a hot line, 1-800-267-6946.
Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill Inc., produces branded and unbranded beef and 
pork.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/attachments/20040430/6649dfc4/attachment.html