DeCA Pulls Two More Items in Frozen Ground Beef Recall

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Fort Lee, Va. --  Editor's note: Kunsan AB is not affected by the ground beef recall.

Two more items were pulled today from commissary shelves as part of a voluntary recall of more than 300,000 pounds of frozen ground beef by Topps Meat Company, LLC. The original recall, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sept. 25, was set in motion after health inspectors in New York determined that a cluster of illnesses in the Northeast was linked to E. coli contamination.

Today's action brings to four the number of frozen ground beef products that the Defense Commissary Agency has pulled as part of the Topps recall, DeCA food safety officials said. Commissaries have altogether pulled the following items from its shelves:

Added today: "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef hamburgers," 6 oz. (pub burgers), 3-pound boxes (UPC: 07470100045). Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
Added today: "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," quarter pounders, 5-pound boxes (UPC: 074701-00055). Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08."
Announced Sept. 26: Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 12 quarter pounders (picnic), 3-pound boxes (UPC: 074701-00025). Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08."
Announced Sept. 26: "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 20 quarter pounders, 5-pound boxes (UPC: 074701-00110). Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08."
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to food borne illness.

An investigation into a cluster of illnesses in the Northeast region carried out by the New York State Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led to a positive product sample collected by the New York Department of Health. Commissary patrons who have any of these products at home should stop consuming it and return the unused product with the label to the store from which they purchased it for a full refund.

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The complete recall list includes the following products:

"Butcher's Best 100% All Beef Patties," 75/25, 6 oz. flat, 27 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Butcher's Best 100% All Beef Patties," 75/25, 4 oz. (4-1), 40 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Kohler Foods 4 oz. Flat Hamburger," Code: 60100, 40 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Kohler Foods 6 oz. Flat Hamburger," Code: 60200, 27 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Kohler Foods 8 oz. Flat Hamburger," Code: 60300, 20 pieces, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Sand Castle Fine Meat, 100% Premium Beef Hamburgers," 80/20, 8 oz. flat, 20 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a packed-on date of "JUN 22 07."
"Sand Castle Fine Meat, 100% Premium Beef Hamburgers," 85/15, 6 oz. flat, 27 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a packed-on date of "JUN 22 07."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 8 quarter pounders, 2-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 3 oz., 10 count, 2-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 6 oz. pub burgers, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 12 quarter pounders, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 16 hamburgers, 3-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 20 quarter pounders, 5-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08."
"Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers," 32 quarter pounders, 8-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
"Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers," 5 oz. (1/2"), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
"Topps Hamburgers," 3.2 oz, 50 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08."
"Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers," 8 oz. (pub burger), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Topps 100% Premium Hamburgers - Homestyle," 4 oz. (4-1), 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
"Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger," 8 oz. flat, 20 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
"Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger," 6 oz., flat, 27 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
"Westside, 100% Premium Hamburger," 5 oz. flat, 32 count, 10-pound boxes. Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov . The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices - savings worth about $3,000 annually for a family of four. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.