Kentucky Firm Recalls Ground Beef From Local Area For E.Coli O157:H7

WASHINGTON, August 12, 1998--Hampton Meat Processing Co., a Hopkinsville, Ky., meat processing firm, is voluntarily recalling one day's production of ground beef that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

About 120 pounds was sold directly to local customers who came to the meat processing plant in Hopkinsville on August 5 to purchase ground beef. Any ground beef bought at the plant on August 5 is included in the affected lot and should be returned.

USDA discovered the problem through its routine monitoring program for E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria have been implicated in several recent outbreaks of foodborne illness across the United States.

"Because of the potential hazard of foodborne disease from consumption of undercooked or underprocessed meat and poultry products contaminated with pathogens such as the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, we urge consumers who may have purchased the suspect product to return it to the place of purchase," said Thomas J. Billy, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. "USDA is informing the public so consumers who may have purchased and stored product in their freezers around that time can know to check," Billy said.

Consumers with questions about the recall may phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The Hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.

#