Federal health officials are urging distributors and consumers to check their freezers after a Florida company recalled nearly 65,000 pounds of raw beef for possible E. coli contamination.
According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Raiford-based Pride of Florida issued a recall for the products, all produced from Sept. 23 to Oct. 10, after a sample tested positive for a "potentially deadly" strain of the bacteria, E. coli 0157:H7.
The recalled products, all marked with establishment No. "EST. 18506," include certain cases of Circle A Brand 85/15 Lean Ground Beef chubs, Circle A Brand 80/20 Ground Beef chubs, Clark's 5 Chopped Beef Steaks, Clark's 5 Chopped Pepper Steaks, Southeast Protein Purveyors 81/19 Ground Beef Patties, Southeast Protein Purveyors 81/19 Ground Beef and Southeast Protein Purveyors 80/20 Ground Beef. Visit the FSIS website for the complete list of affected items, as well as their codes and labels.
Anyone who has the recalled products should discard or return them, officials said.
According to the FSIS, people who eat food contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 may develop cramps, dehydration and diarrhea. It can cause kidney failure in some people, particularly young children and older adults, the agency said.
So far, officials have not confirmed any illnesses related to the recalled products, the FSIS said.
For more information about the recall, call Pride of Florida at 813-324-8733.
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