Dallas-based Patterson Food Processors is recalling nearly 16,000 pounds of beef due to possible E. coli contamination.
The beef products, produced on Dec. 5, 2013, at Texas Meat Packers, were shipped from a Fort Worth facility to retail stores and restaurants in Arizona, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and Texas.
According to a news release by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the products may be contaminated with strains of E. coli O103, E. coli O111, E. coli O121, E. coli O145, E. coli O26 and E. coli O45. The possible contamination represents a "high" health risk.
The following products are subject to FSIS recall:
- 10.5-lb. boxes of Beef Outside Skirt Steak, with a pack date of "12/13/13"
- 20-lb. boxes of Studio Movie Grill Beef Tenderloin Sliced, with a pack date of "12/05/13"
- 15-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajita, with a use by date of "1/13/14"
- 40-lb. boxes of Southwest Style Beef Skirts, with a pack date of "12/5/13"
- 20-lb. boxes of Patterson Food Processors Beef Skirt Seasoned, with a pack date of "12/9/13"
- 10-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajitas, with a pack date of "12/9/2013"
- 40-lb. boxes of Preseasoned Beef for Fajitas w/Binder, with a pack date of "12/9/2013"
- 12-lb. boxes of Seasoned Beef for Fajitas, containing 6 2-lb. packs, with a use by date of "1/15/14"
- 12-lb. boxes of Mexican Style Beef for Fajita, containing 6 2-lb. packs, with a use by date of "1/11/14"
The products can be further identified by the establishment number, "Est. 34715" inside the USDA Mark of Inspection.
"FSIS personnel became aware of the problem during a Food Safety Assessment when they discovered that beef trim tested presumptive positive for multiple non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains through the company's testing program. The company inadvertently did not carry the test out to confirmation, and not all affected product was held," the USDA said in a statement Tuesday.
At this time, no reports of illness have been received. The USDA said most people who become infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli suffer diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting for up to a week. The illness is generally treated with "vigorous rehydration" and antibiotics are not generally recommended.
The only restaurant chain NBC DFW could confirm that actually sold the recalled beef was Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill. A company spokesperson said they only learned of the recall Tuesday and discarded all of the beef at its 15 locations in seven states, as a precaution.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall were to be directed to the company's President, John Pieper, at 817-546-3561. NBC 5 reached out to Pieper and were told he had no comment.
NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.
