1 million pounds of ground beef products were recalled on August 6, 2010 because of seven people who fell ill with E. coli contamination. The company Valley Meat Co., of Modesto, sold the contaminated meat to California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and internationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Most of the products were sold frozen and processed from October 2, 2009 to January 12, 2010. The source of the outbreak was determined but one of the seven sickened patients, with a meat sample in their freezer.
The USDA was looking for stores where the products were sold to remove them from the shelves. "This is the first recall in our history and we will investigate the matter thoroughly and take any measures deemed necessary to further elevate our safety standards, protect consumers, and ensure confidence in our products," Valley Meat stated. Valley Meat advises consumers to throw out the potentially contaminated meat with the establishment number "EST. 8268" on the label, and throw it out or bring it back to stores for a refund.
The majority of infected people were in Northern California. Exposures also took place in Marin, Mendocino, Placer, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou and Kern counties. Ralph Montano said that none of the patients cases were so severe that they need hospitalization, and all of them recovered. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and a low fever. If the situation is on a higher level of severity, the infection can lead to kidney failure, brain damage and even death.
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