53,200 pounds of bulk cardboard boxes of North Star Imports & Sales recalled over E. coli risk

Recall date

April 24, 2019

Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FSIS)

Official notice title

Grant Park Packing Recalls Raw Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O103 Contamination

Recall number

048-2019

FDA classification

Class I

Brand / firm

Grant Park Packing

Sold / distributed

Kentucky, Minnesota

Why it was recalled

Product Contamination

Class I is the FDA’s most serious recall level: there is a reasonable probability that using this product will cause serious harm or death.

What was recalled

EDITORS NOTE: FSIS and our public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health officials, are investigating an E. coli O103 outbreak . Further testing is ongoing to determine if the recalled ground beef products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak. Based on the continuing investigation, additional product may be recalled. WASHINGTON, April 24, 2019 Grant Park Packing, a Franklin Park, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 53,200 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O103, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The bulk raw ground beef was produced on October 30-31, 2018 and November 1, 2018. The following products are subject to recall: [ View Labels (PDF only)] 40-lb. bulk cardboard boxes of North Star Imports & Sales, LLC. 100% GROUND BEEF BULK 80% LEAN/ 20% FAT marked FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY with lot code GP.1051.18 and pack dates 10/30/2018, 10/31/2018, and 11/01/2018. The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 21781 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to Minnesota for further distribution and Kentucky for institutional use. FSIS and its public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health, have been investigating an outbreak of E. coli O103. Unopened, intact, packages of ground beef collected as part of the ongoing investigation tested positive for E. coli O103 at an FSIS laboratory. The sample was collected at a point of service where multiple case patients ate. At this time, there is no definitive link between this positive product and the ongoing E. coli O103 outbreak. Further traceback and product analysis continues to determine if the recalled products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak. Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC, such as O103 becaus…