JBS Swift Beef Company Expanded Nationwide Recall of Beef Products
due to Possible E. coli Contamination

June 28, 2009 -- JBS Swift Beef Company, a Greeley, Colorado, establishment, is expanding its June 24 recall to include approximately 380,000 pounds of assorted beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

PREPARING GROUND BEEF FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION

Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Immediately clean spills.

Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.

Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160° F.

Color is NOT a reliable indicator that ground beef or ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli.

The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.

Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase or one hour if temperatures exceed 90° F. Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

The recall is being expanded as a result of FSIS' cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an ongoing investigation into 24 illnesses in multiple states, of which at least 18 appear to be associated.

E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

The beef products were produced on April 21, 2009 and were distributed both nationally and internationally. The recalled products include intact cuts of beef or boxed beef typically used for steaks and roasts. However, FSIS is aware that some of these products may have been further processed into ground beef products by other companies.

Because these products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing, and then repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed to the company's Consumer Hotline at (800) 685-6328.

FSIS has reason to believe the following establishments and retail locations received assorted beef products subject to this recall. This list may not include all retail locations or may include locations that did not receive the recalled product. It is also possible that not all locations in a state may have received the recalled product.

JBS Swift Beef Company Expanded Nationwide Recall of Beef Products due to Possible E. coli Contamination

JBS Swift Beef Company Expanded Nationwide Recall of Beef Products
due to Possible E. coli Contamination