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Aug 11, 2008 4:11 pm US/Central
Austin-Based Whole Foods Recalling Ground Beef
AUSTIN (CBS 11 News) ―
Concerns about E. coli bacteria contamination has prompted Austin-based Whole Foods Market to recall the fresh ground beef it has sold between June 2 and August 6, 2008.
The beef in question apparently came from Coleman Natural Beef whose Nebraska Beef processing plant was previously subject to a nationwide recall for E. coli contamination.
Federal officials said at least 31 cases of E. coli poisoning in 12 states and Canada had been linked to the meat Nebraska Beef is now recalling.
When the previous recall was issued Whole Foods officials say they were assured from Coleman that no product delivered to their markets were linked to the contamination.
"While Coleman Natural Beef is a relatively small supplier for Whole Foods Market, we are extremely disappointed that we must now question Coleman's assurances," Edmund Lamacchia, global vice president of procurement, said in a press release statement.
The current recall comes a month after Omaha-based Coleman Natural Beef recalled 5.3 million pounds of meat that has been linked to at least 49 cases of E. coli.
A Whole Foods spokeswoman said it had received reports that seven people in Massachusetts and two people in Pennsylvania who shopped at Whole Foods Market became ill.
Neither Coleman Natural Beef nor Nebraska Beef are owned or operated by Whole Foods Market.
Nebraska Beef slaughters about 2,000 head of cattle a day and employs about 800 people in Omaha.
Symptoms of E. coli infection include stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees should kill E. coli bacteria, if they are present.
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