The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an expansion of a previous recall by Silver Springs Farms, Inc. The original release included 740 pounds of ground beef products.
This expanded recall adds an additional 7,230 pounds of ground beef patties and burgers, along with an undetermined amount of “various sandwich steak products.” The recall results from potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
According to the Class I Recall announcement issued by FSIS, “Silver Springs Farms, Inc., a Harleysville, Pa. establishment is recalling approximately 7,970 pounds of ground beef and burger products, as well as an undetermined amount of sandwich steak products that may be adulterated with E. coli O157:H7.”
“Mystery Meat” Recall: No Details Available for Recalled Sandwich Meats
The alarming aspect of this release is the dearth of information known about the “undetermined amount of sandwich steak products” recalled in conjunction with the ground beef and burgers. All the company and government agency seem to know at this point is the identity of the meat: “sandwich steak products.” The release states that the amount recalled is unknown.
In addition, the production dates, product names and labels, UPC codes, and any other identifying information is completely lacking. The closest to “definitive” information available for sandwich meat is the following statement: “the exact production dates for the various sandwich steak products are unknown at this time, but are believed to have been produced between August 19 and September 19, 2016.” This means the most precise information we have about the recalled sandwich meat is that it is believed to have been produced during the past month.
Silver Springs Recall Details: 7,970 Pounds of Ground Beef Product
As for the ground beef products, the dates of production were August 19th and 20th (compare this two-day production period to the “presumed” one-month production period for the sandwich meat). According to the FSIS release, the following products are subject to recall:
- 20-lb. cases containing 4 packages of 5-lb ground beef 80/20;
- 10-lb. packages of “Camellia Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package codes 6235 and 6242;
- 10-lb. packages of “Silver Springs Farm Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package codes 6242 and 6237;
- 10-lb. packages of “Silver Springs Farm Beef Pattie 80/20 Flat,” with package code 6237;
- 10-lb. packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Burger Flat,” with package code 6235;
- 10-lb. packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Burger 80/20,” with package code 6237;
- 10-lb. packages of “Silver Springs Farm Gourmet Beef Pattie 80/20,” with package code 6242; and
- “various sandwich steak products produced by the recalling firm.”
Contamination Detected via Routine Verification Sampling
A routine verification sampling performed by Silver Springs Farms, Inc. revealed the potential contamination. The products, all of which have the establishment number “EST. 4771” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to a distributor in Virginia and institutional food establishments in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
E. coli O157:H7, or Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) O157:H7, are one of the more dangerous forms of E. coli. While most E. coli are do not cause symptoms in human beings, E. coli O157:H7 is a “potentially deadly bacterium.” According to the release, the microorganism can cause “dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure [to] the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.”
If you or a family member became ill have been diagnosed with E. coli and you would like to explore pursuing a legal claim, contact a food poisoning attorney at Ron Simon & Associates for a free case evaluation by calling 1-888-335-4901 or filling out our free case evaluation form.
