Salmonella Fears Prompt Another Ground Beef Recall

A California meat processor has recalled more than 20,000 pounds of beef amid concerns the meat is linked to two cases of food poisoning caused by a potentially deadly strain of the foodborne bacteria salmonella, federal food safety officials said.

Beef Packers Inc. of Fresno recalled 22,723 pounds of ground beef products produced on September 23, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The recalled beef products are labeled with the establishment number “EST. 31913,” the agency said. It was repackaged at an Arizona distribution plant and sold under various brand names, officials said. The USDA did not say which brand names of ground beef were involved.

Sold in Arizona and New Mexico

The recalled beef was sold in Arizona and New Mexico, a company spokesman said. Consumers in those states are advised to check with stores where they purchased meat to determine if they bought the recalled beef.

So far, investigators have found a link between the recalled ground beef and two cases of salmonella poisoning in Arizona, officials said. The Newport strain of the bacteria found in those cases is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs and more likely to require hospitalization for effective treatment, the agency said.

Salmonella poisoning, also called salmonellosis, is a leading cause of food poisoning that most often results in mild to moderate symptoms including diarrhea which may be bloody, abdominal cramps, and fever. Victims may also experience chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

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