RECALL: National Beef Packing Co. Recalls Ground Beef

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the recall of select varieties of ground beef produced by National Beef Packing Company. National Beef Packing Co., out of Liberal, Kan., announced the recall of 50,100 pounds of ground beef on July 31.

The following 10-pound chubs of ground beef are subject to recall:

• National Beef 93/7 fine ground beef, product code 0707
• NatureSource 80/20 fine ground chuck, product code 7031
• NatureSource 85/15 fine ground beef, product code 7054
• NatureSource 90/10 fine ground beef, product code 7344
• NatureSource 93/7 fine ground beef, product code 7004
• NatureWell 80/20 fine ground chuck, product code 7484
• NatureWell 85/15 fine ground beef, product code 7454
• NatureWell 90/10 fine ground sirloin, product code 7577
• NatureWell 93/7 fine ground beef, product code 7404

All of these products bear the establishment number "EST. 208A" inside the US Department of Agriculture mark of inspection. The ground beef was produced on July 18 and shipped to retailers, wholesalers and food service distributors nationwide.

Routine Food Safety Inspection Service monitoring discovered and confirmed a positive result for E. coli O157:H7. This strain of E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. Children, seniors and those with weak immune systems are most susceptible to foodborne illnesses.

An investigation revealed National Beef Packing Co. was the sole supplier of the source materials used to produce the positive product. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. Consumers concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare fresh and frozen raw meat products. Ground beef should be cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit before consumption. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will be checking retail stores and food warehouses to make sure the recalled product is removed from sale.

Questions about this recall?
Consumers who purchased the recalled beef can call 1-866-761-9472 or visit the company's website for the link to details about the recall and its return and reimbursement policy. Consumers with food safety questions can contact Ask Karen, the virtual FSIS representative available 24 hours a day, online or via smartphone. Live Ask Karen chat services are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is 1-888-MPHotline and is available in English and Spanish between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To view a comprehensive list of food and feed recalls affecting Georgia, visit our Food Safety Division recall website. If this recall expands or additional details become available in the future, the website will provide the most up-to-date information.