Latest recall impacts beef from Arizona

Check your freezers, readers, and make sure products inside are safe

There’s another product recall out there of which Yumans should be aware.

This time around, it’s “raw, non-intact beef products,” which includes ground beef, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

JBS Tolleson Inc., based in Tolleson, Arizona, voluntarily recalled more than 6.5 million pounds of beef that could be contaminated with salmonella. There have been 57 reported cases of salmonella linked to this outbreak, the CDC reports, including 15 cases here in Arizona.

Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria, the CDC says. Illness can last anywhere from four to seven days, and most people will recover without treatment. But in some cases, salmonella can lead to hospitalization.

The recalled beef products were produced and packaged from July 26, 2018, to Sept. 7, 2018, and were shipped to stores nationwide, including Walmart.

Given the dates of production, the concern now is for any recalled products that could be lurking in the freezer, so it’s important that people check their freezers, and make sure that any ground beef products inside are safe.

The recalled meat in question will include the establishment number “EST.267” on the label, the CDC reports. If one should find meat with that code, call the grocery store and find out if it was recalled. If the answer is yes, then either return it to the store, or throw it away.

Sometimes, it feels as if we are inundated with product recalls. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It could be an indicator that companies and agencies are getting better at tracking down issues, thus strengthening our food supply.

Salmonella is one of those unpleasant illnesses that is worth avoiding. Check any ground beef products in your home, and if you find some that matches the recall, take action.

If you have questions, give the JBS USA Consumer Hotline a call – 1-800-727-2333.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?