Beef bound for processing, where it was or would have been cooked, has instead been called back after tests detected it might be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
Tri State Beef of Cincinnati, OH, said Wednesday it was recalling approximately 228,596 pounds of beef products after routine tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed a positive result for E. coli.
FSIS, in a news release, acknowledged that the beef was distributed to facilities where it was to be cooked, which would have killed the E. coli pathogen.
But “because the products were shipped into commerce they are subject to recall, even though they were shipped to other federally-inspected establishments where they received full-lethality treatment and would no longer be considered adulterated,” the regulator said.
There are no reports of illnesses associated with the beef.
The recall involves combo bins of “TRI-STATE BEEF CO., INC BONELESS BEEF,” produced between July 19 and 22, 2011, and sold for further processing and distribution in Iowa; Virginia; Chicago, IL; and Cincinnati and Columbus, OH. Each bin bears the establishment number “EST. 1750” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s attorney, Mark Fitch, at 513-731-8459.
