Texas Meatpacker Recalls Beef Products for Possible E.coli

By Theopolis Waters

CHICAGO -- A Texas meat processing plant has recalled 23,100 pounds of beef trimmings products for possible contamination with E.coli bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said late Thursday.

USDA said Caviness Beef Packers in Hereford, Texas is recalling the 23,100 pounds of beef trimmings products with potential E.coli.

Caviness' beef trimmings were shipped to fast food restaurants and retail distribution locations in Texas. FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

%VIRTUAL-WSSCourseInline-963%The product was made Aug. 14 to Aug. 20 bearing the establishment number "EST. 675" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

A routine food safety check uncovered the problem.

The trimmings subject to recall are lots that tested negative, but produced consecutive to the positive lots and were subsequently processed into raw ground products and distributed to retailers, the USDA said.

The questionable beef trimmings were sent to establishments for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number "EST.675" on products available for direct consumer purchase.

Beef trimmings are used in the manufacturing of ground beef. The U.S. for the week ending Sept. 20 produced 465.4 million pounds of beef, based on USDA data.