Tennessee Illness Prompts Recall. Snapp’s Ferry Packing Co., of Afton, Tenn., is recalling approximately 410 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The recalled meat is in 5-pound packages with the packing date of Nov. 20, 2015, stamped on the labels. The ground beef packages bear establishment number “Est. 9085” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The meat was distributed to restaurants in the Knoxville, Tenn., area. None of this product was sold at retail. The problem was discovered Jan. 19 when a positive result for E. coli O157:H7 from FSIS testing was traced back to Snapp’s Ferry Packing Co. The test was part of an ongoing illness investigation in Tennessee. FSIS is continuing to work with public health officials at the Tennessee Department of Health and Knox County Health Department on this investigation and will provide updated information as it becomes available, according to the recall notice. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
