Federal officials continue to compile and release the names of retail locations that sold some of the 6.9 million pounds of recalled ground beef that is implicated in a multi-state Salmonella outbreak.
The beef producer, JBS Tolleson, sold the meat to large retail chains including Walmart and Kroger, as well as regional chains, local chains and individually owned stores. The JBS records also show the company shipped the beef to retail institutions — such as schools, hospitals and other foodservice operations — nationwide, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The country’s largest foodservice supplier, US Foods, is on the list of companies that bought the beef now under recall.
At least 57 people in 16 states have been confirmed infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which announced the outbreak on Oct. 4. Of the patients for whom the information is available, a third have been so sick that they had to be admitted to hospitals.
The recalled beef is packaged under a variety of names, including Showcase, which is sold by Walmart, and the Kroger brand. Other brands affected by the recall include:
- Cedar River Farms;
- Comnor Perfect Choice;
- Gourmet Burger;
- Grass Run Farms; and
- JBS Generic.
As they become available, specific retail locations that received the beef are listed on the FSIS website. The list is periodically updated. View it by clicking here.
The FSIS also has photos of product labels to help consumers and businesses identify the recalled beef. As of Oct. 11, all of the labels except one provided by the Kroger Co., were plain white with black printing. Many do not include a brand or any other identifying words. They do include product codes.
JBS Tolleson initiated a recall Oct. 4. All of the recalled products had the establishment number “EST. 267” printed inside the USDA mark of inspection when JBS sold them, but portions of bulk quantities that were repackaged by retailers and other JBS customers likely do not have any establishment numbers.
Products shipped by JBS Tolleson that are included in the recall are listed on the FSIS website. The list includes bulk packages that are not available to consumers.
Company records show JBS packaged the recalled beef products from July 26 through Sept. 7. There is concern that consumers, restaurants and institutional kitchens may have some of the implicated beef in freezers. Freezing temperatures do not kill Salmonella.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled beef and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the pathogen. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food.
Symptoms usually last 4 to 7 days in otherwise healthy adults. In some cases, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
For additional coverage of the recall and outbreak, please see:
- JBS in massive beef recall over 16-state Salmonella outbreak with 57 illnesses
- Treating virulent strain of Salmonella as adulterant in largest beef recall in history
- FSIS posts partial list of retailers that sold beef linked to Salmonella outbreak
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)