National Beef Packing Co., a Liberal, Kan., establishment, is recalling approximately 22,737 pounds of raw ground beef 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:

• 10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, package code “0481.”
• 10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, package code “0421.”
• 10 lb. packages of “National Beef” 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck, package code “0484.”

All these products have a “USE BY/SELL BY DATE” of June 14, 2013. The products were produced on May 25, 2013, and shipped to various institutions and retail establishments. FSIS and the establishment are concerned that some product may be frozen and in shoppers’ freezers.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS monitoring which confirmed a positive result for E.coli O157:H7. An investigation determined the firm was the sole supplier of the source materials used to produce the positive product. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers with questions should contact the company at (877) 857-4143 for details about the recall and their return and reimbursement policy. Media with questions regarding the recall should contact the company’s spokesperson, Keith Welty, at (816) 713-8631. Additional information can be found at www.nationalbeef.com.

National Beef issued this statement on their website, www.nationalbeef.com:

National Beef Packing Co., Liberal production establishment #208A, has initiated a voluntary recall for ground beef due to a ground beef sample testing positive for E. coli O157:H7.

This recall is voluntary, and there have been no reported illnesses related to the recall. We are working closely with authorities to investigate this matter and are contacting our customers who have purchased this product.

The recall is regional, affecting 22,737 pounds of ground beef produced on May 25, 2013 with a use by/freeze by date of June 14, 2013. The ground beef was produced and shipped in clear, 10 pound chubs and was shipped to a limited number of wholesale and food service distributors and military commissaries in approximately 70 lbs. boxes