Massive Ground Beef Recall; Hummus and Dip Recall

Two very popular foods--burgers and dips--have been prominent in the news lately.  It's been bad news warning the public about contamination.

Getting the most media attention--close to 2 million pounds of ground beef that have been recalled by the Wolverine Packing Company in Detroit, Michigan because of possible E. coli contamination. CNN calls this one of the largest beef recalls in the nation's history.  So far, 11 illnesses (no deaths) in four states have been associated with this recall.

Approximately 14,800 pounds of hummus and other dips sold nationwide have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination.  The products came from prepared food manufacturer Lansal, Inc. (doing business as Hot Mama's Foods), headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.  Among the company's customers are Target and Trader Joe's. 

Ground beef recall and mystery regarding contamination source:

On May 19, the USDA announced the recall of about 1.8 million pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli 157:H7.  The recalled products were produced this year between March 31 and April 18.  The ground beef was shipped to distributors for retail and restaurant use but not to the Department of Defense or the National School Lunch Program and not for catalog or internet sales.  The FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) believes the product was sent to distributors nationwide. 

Warning for consumers: If you have any ground beef in your freezer that you may have purchased during the time period mentioned above, click here to check the full list of products involved in this recall.

Why such a huge recall?  Here's the USDA's explanation: "Factors that can contribute to the size of the recall include potential contamination of additional products due to a lack of microbiological independence between lots in a production day, as well as a deficiency in supportive record-keeping by distributors."

What does the company say in its defense?  A Wolverine spokesman claims that the product tested clean when it left its Detroit-based facility.  According to the Michigan Department of Community Health laboratory, the illnesses may have been caused by undercooked burgers  served at several restaurants.  Nine of the 11 people who became sick had ordered rare burgers.   

Those who love rare or medium burgers will not be happy about the following recommendation: "FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. 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." With the Memorial Day holiday ushering in the peak grilling season, this timely warning should be heeded. 

Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported on CNN that even 100 cells of E.coli (an amount that can fit on a pinhead) can make a person sick. The FSIS description of E. coli contamination should be enough to encourage burger lovers to be cautious.  "E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately." 

Recall of hummus and other dips:

Dips, a popular warm-weather appetizer for weekend get-togethers, may be on your menu for your next party and could be in your fridge. On May 19, prepared foods manufacturer, Lansal, Inc.( d.b.a Hot Mama’s Foods), announced the recall of approximately 14,860 pounds of hummus and other dips due to concerns about possible Listeria monocytogenes. 

The types of dips involved in this recall include garlic hummus, lentil hummus, and others. These dips have been distributed nationwide.  The brand names involved include Trader Joe's, Target Archer Farms, and Giant Eagle.  To see a complete list of the recalled products, go to the Lansal press release. 

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with a weakened immune system. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Consumers who have purchased any of these dips are urged not to eat it. They should dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Those with questions about this recall may call toll free (877) 550-0694(877) 550-0694  from 8:00A.M. to 8:00P.M. Eastern Standard Time 7 days a week.

Source(s):

fsis.usda.gov "Michigan Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli 057:H7"

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2014/recall-030-2014

mlive.com "Wolverine Packing Company spokesman says ground beef tested clean when it left Detroit; Counties join investigation"

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2014/05/wolverine_packing_company_spok.html

fda.gov   "Lansal, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Hummus & Dip Products Due to Possible Health Risk"

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm398106.htm

cbsnews.com "Walnuts and hummus recalled over possible listeria contamination"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/walnuts-and-hummus-recalled-over-possible-listeria-contamination/