BOUNTIFUL — Utah beef recalled for E. coli contamination

Dale T. Smith and Sons Meat Packing in Draper recalled about 38,000 pounds of beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday.

Recalled product includes:

•Various weight combo bins of Boneless Beef “50/50,” “85/15,” “90/10,” “93/07” or “95/05” produced on Aug. 7, 2012.

•Various weight boxes of primal cuts, sub-primal cuts and boxed beef produced on Aug. 7, 2012.

Each potentially contaminated box bears a label with the identifying package date of “08/07/2012” as well as the establishment number “EST. 4975” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The meat was sold in wholesale and retail establishments in California and Salt Lake City. Some products for direct consumer purchase may have been further processed, so may not show “EST. 4975.” A retail distribution list will be posted on FSIS’ website at fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/ Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

The problem was discovered through lab testing conducted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, which confirmed positive results for E.coli O157:H7, and may have occurred as a result of a refrigeration malfunction, according to food safety officials. The company is recalling all beef products produced on Aug. 7, 2012 because of a strong potential for cross-contamination during production. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

For more information check out the August 16 edition of Davis Clipper.