Meat packer recalling ground beef in wake of E. coli scare

December 5, 2000
Web posted at: 9:59 a.m. EST (1459 GMT)

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) -- Citing an E. coli scare in Minnesota, meatpacking company American Foods Group Inc. said Monday it would recall ground beef sent to stores in 15 states in early November.

Chief Executive Carl Kuehne said no tests have confirmed the company's meat was contaminated, but he said: "Circumstantial evidence raises the possibility that recent serious illnesses may be related to our product."

	E. COLI:
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The decision to recall the meat was reached after consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Green Bay company said in a news release. The recall involves 1.1 million pounds of ground beef from November 2 and November 3.

The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating 22 cases of E. coli poising with links to ground beef sold at eight Cub Foods stores in that state. Health Department epidemiologist Kirk Smith said the number of confirmed infections was expected to increase.

Cub Foods and parent company Supervalu late last week recalled ground beef from Cub stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicago and Indianapolis and some Supervalu and Supervalu-supplied stores in Minnesota, including County Markets, Kowalski's, Jerry's and Driskills.

States in the American Foods recall are: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea and stomach cramps. The Health Department said people generally become ill two to four days after eating tainted beef.

An E. coli outbreak in July involving a Milwaukee Sizzler and another in suburban Wauwatosa killed a 3-year-old girl and sickened at least 65 others.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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