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July 19, 2002
The USDA has issued a recall nofication for ground beef products
that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli). These
products were produced between selected dates from April 12 through
July 11, 2002 by the ConAgra Beef Company. Approximately 19 million
pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef products may have been
contaminated.
The Hawaii State Department of Health has contacted local
supermarkets and is awaiting the results of the USDA’s further
investigation to determine if any of the product was shipped to Hawaii.
Preliminary reports indicate that if the product was shipped to Hawaii,
the amount was very minimal and it is not currently available in local
markets.
E.coli are bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans
and animals. Although, most strains of this bacterium are harmless,
several are known to produce toxins that can cause diarrhea. The E.coli
strain found in the contaminated beef, E. coli 0157:H7, can cause
severe diarrhea and kidney damage.
To prevent infection with E. coli, the Department of Health advises
the public to:
- Always cook ground beef thoroughly
- Do not eat rare or undercooked ground beef
- When cooking ground beef, internal temperature should reach 160
degrees Fahrenheit to kill any harmful bacteria
- Do not cross-contaminate foods or work surfaces (Bacteria in raw
meat juices can contaminate foods that have been cooked safely or raw
foods that won’t be cooked.)
- Always wash hands thoroughly when handling ground beef
- E. Coli bacteria can be killed with proper cooking
The State Department of Health monitors cases of E.coli statewide to
determine public health issues. Hawaii has an average 10-20 confirmed
reported cases of E.coli infection statewide each year. This year, to
date, the number of confirmed cases is 21 and none of the cases
suffered serious illness.
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