January 14, 2008: Health Officials Increase Restaurant Inspections Following Meat Theft

January 14th, 2008

Dallas public health officials have increased inspections of local food establishments following the theft of nearly 14,800 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

A refrigerated trailer storing the potentially E. coli contaminated beef was originally stolen from the parking lot of Texas American Food Service Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas (see Public Health Alert Issued For “Missing” Trailer Of E. coli Contaminated Beef and Warning Issued About Roadside Sale of E. coli-Contaminated Ground Beef).

The trailer was recovered about one week later, however, most of the beef was missing.

According to the Dallas Business Journal, the hamburger thief tried peddling the bad meat to at least eight businesses. USDA officials also reported finding and confiscating a box of the stolen beef during a spot check of the Chicken Shack, a local Dallas restaurant.  The owner of the Chicken Shack said that they unknowingly purchased the stolen beef and that they had not cooked or served the meat.

According to the USDA the following products are subject to a Public Safety Health Alert:

• 2-pound approximate weight packages of “73/27 GROUND BEEF” bearing a sell-by date of “12.30.07″
• 2-pound approximate weight packages of “80/20 GROUND BEEF CHUCK” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07″
• 1-pound approximate weight packages of “85/15 GROUND BEEF ROUND” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07″
• 1-pound approximate weight packages of “90/10 GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07″
• 1-pound approximate weight packages of “96/04 EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF, 4% FAT” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07″

Each package label bears the establishment number “EST. 13116″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and the company name “American Fresh Foods, Ft. Worth, TX 76102″ below the nutrition information. Each package has a net weight of approximately 1 to 2 pounds.

Bulk product also subject to this health alert include:

• 40-pound “net wt.” box of “73/27 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK MAP”
• 260-pound “net wt.” combo bin of ” CHUCK 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK MAP”
• 370-pound “net wt.” combo bin of “SIRLOIN 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK”

Each bulk product label bears the establishment number “EST. 13116″ inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a date of “12-19-07″ with the production information filled in by hand.

The consumer and bulk ground beef products were produced on Dec. 19, 2007.

Consumers should check for these products in their homes and should NOT eat these products. Immediately contact the company if unopened packages are found and do NOT throw them away intact. Opened packages should be destroyed and immediately reported to the company at 1-800-724-1136.

To learn more about E. coli food poisoning and symptoms of E. coli food poisoning, please visit our additional website, foodpoisoning.com, hosted by The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg.

Entry Filed under: Food Poisoning Outbreaks and Recall News