Discard or return recalled meat to avoid foodborne illness
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) advises Arizonans to discard or return certain ground beef products, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a voluntary recall this morning.
JBS Tolleson, Inc., a west Valley meat packing plant, has issued the nationwide recall of 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport. The raw, non-intact beef items, including ground beef, were packaged on various dates from July 26, 2018, to Sept. 7, 2018. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations and institutions nationwide.
The recalled beef has been sold under several names including Showcase/Walmart, Cedar River Farms, Comnor Perfect Choice, Gourmet Burger, and Grass Run Farms Natural. The recalled items can also be identified by the products list or product labels.
In Arizona, 15 confirmed cases of illness from Salmonella that have been linked to raw ground beef.
“Salmonella can cause serious illness, so it is critical that everyone take precautions by not eating the recalled meat and thoroughly cooking all beef products,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. “If you or someone in your family recently ate ground beef and are experiencing severe symptoms, please contact your health care provider.”
Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Symptoms can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. Some people may have diarrhea so severe that they need to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. If you have concerns about an illness, contact your health care provider
To prevent foodborne illness, ADHS advises everyone to thoroughly wash hands with soap and water prior to eating or preparing food. Avoid cross-contamination of raw meat and other food during preparation by washing hands, cutting boards, utensils, and any food preparation surfaces. To destroy harmful bacteria, cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1°C) measured by inserting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat.
