Cause of Topps Meat E. coli illnesses traced to Canadian meatpacker
Ranchers Beef products led to Topps Meat recall
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On October 26, 2007, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a Canadian meatpacker is the “likely source” of ground beef that caused nearly 100 food-borne illnesses from E. coli between the two countries.
The agency compared “DNA fingerprints” of beef samples, and the results pointed to Ranchers Beef Ltd., of Balzac, Alberta. The FSIS advised United States food makers not to use boneless beef “trim” from Ranchers Beef and to hold all raw products manufactured by the company until the investigation is completed. Ranchers Beef was delisted as an importer on October 20, 2007.
In September 2007, Topps Meat Company recalled 21.7 million pounds of frozen beef, the second-largest meat recall in history. Earlier this month, the company announced it is going out of business because of the recall.
Sources: “Canadian beef likely cause of U.S. E. coli cases,” MSNBC.com, October 29, 2007; Christopher Drew and Andrew Martin, “Many red flags preceded a recall of hamburger,” New York Times, October 23, 2007.
