Meat Recall Expanded; 18 Sickened by E. Coli Bacteria

JBS-Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo. has expanded an earlier recall of its meat, which has been linked to possible contamination with E. coli bacteria now blamed for at least 18 cases of food poisoning.

An earlier recall issued on June 24 has now been increased to include an additional 380,000 pounds of assorted beef products. That brings the total amount of company beef products covered by the recall to about 421,000 pounds, food-safety officials said.

The recalled beef is mostly steaks and roasts, however, food companies who purchased JBS-Swift products may have processed the meat into ground beef.

The meat in question was produced on April 21 and was sold across the United States as well as internationally. Company officials said they have not ruled out the possibility that beef sold by the company may have been contaminated by other companies who further processed the food.

The company is now contacting food processors who were sold the recalled meat to determine how and where the food was processed and distributed.

The E.coli O157:H7 strain of bacteria can result in life-threatening illness, including bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and even kidney failure. The elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems are the most at risk of severe symptoms.

Earlier this month, Nestle USA recalled its Toll House brand of refrigerated cookie dough products after they were found to be contaminated with the same strain of E. coli. At least 66 reports of food poisoning have been blamed on tainted cookie dough.

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