Source: Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE, 8/19/11

Ohio-based further processor J.B. Meats has issued a voluntary recall of about 72,800 pounds of ground beef — a year's worth of production — that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The products subject to recall are 5- and 10-pound clear packages of ground beef and ground beef patties that were processed on and can by identified by the dates Aug. 18, 2010 through Aug. 18, 2011. The product was sold to restaurants in the Cincinnati area. Each clear plastic bag and label bear the establishment number “EST. 1188” within the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.

J.B. Meats Owner Mark Wordeman told Meatingplace the company is working with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to try to find the source. The E. coli didn’t originate at his further processing facility, he said.
The company was notified on Aug. 12, 2011 of an investigation of two E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. The Cincinnati Health Department reported two patients who experienced illness onset dates of July 20 and 21, 2011 that may have resulted from ground beef consumed on July 16 and 17, 2011.

As a result of the ensuing investigation, it was determined there is a possible link between the ground beef products produced by J.B. Meats on July 15 and the illnesses in Ohio. The recall is precautionary, as there has been no conclusive link between the illnesses and the ground beef produced at the facility. As an additional precaution, however, the company is recalling all ground beef production going back 12 months from mid-August.

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