Ground Beef in NY, NJ, NC, CA, WI and WA Recalled due to E. coli

January 1, 2011

34,373 pounds of Nature’s Harvest and Organic Harvest ground beef products sold in the states of New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, California, Wisconsin and Washington are under a Class I Recall due to possible E. coli contamination.

First Class Foods, Inc. of Hawthorne, CA issued the recall after regular microbiological sampling found the potentially deadly E. coli O157:H7 it beef products produced on Dec. 7, 2010, and Dec. 16, 2010.

“E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure,” said the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) news release. “The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.”

Find out more about E. coli O157:H7 from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following products are subject to recall:

• 16-oz. packages of "NATURE’S HARVEST ORGANIC GROUND BEEF BRICK" sold singly with one of the following "USE or FREEZE by" dates: "12/30/10" or "01/08/11."
• 16-oz. packages of "ORGANIC HARVEST ORGANIC GROUND BEEF BRICK" sold singly and in three-packs with one of the following "USE or FREEZE by" dates: "12/28/10" or "01/06/11."
• 16-oz. packages of NATURE’S HARVEST GROUND PATTY" containing four (4) 4-oz. patties with the following "USE or FREEZE by" date: "12/30/10" or "01/08/11"

Consumers can identify the packages by the establishment number "EST. 18895" on the label as well as the identifying Pack Date of 10341 and 10350 Julian date. They may also view product labels.

A Class I Recall signifies that this is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.