Texas Firm Recalls Beef Trim Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Beltex Corporation, a Fort Worth, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 135,500 pounds of beef trim products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF TRACE TRIM”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO BNLS”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF KIDNEY FAT”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO TRIM 75/25″
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO TRIM 85/15″
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF 115A BNLS CHUCK 2PCS”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF TRIMMING 85/15 VAC PACK”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF B-90 TRIMMINGS 91-CTRN”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO BNLS NAVEL SOAKED AND SALTED”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF TRIM XF SOAKED AND SALTED”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF TRIM REGULAR SOAKED AND SALTED”
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO TRIM 85/15″
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO BNLS 80/20″
• Various pound boxes of “FRONTIER MEATS BEEF COMBO BONELESS NAVEL”

Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 07041B” inside the USDA mark of inspection on a label. The products were produced on Oct. 28, 2009, Nov. 20, 2009, Feb. 19, 2010, or April 2, 2010, and were distributed to wholesalers and other federal establishments in the States of Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered by FSIS during a routine Food Safety Assessment performed at the establishment. The establishment’s methods for analyzing samples for E. coli O157:H7 in beef products raised concerns about the safety of the product.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.