Safeway recalls tainted meat in 9 states

[JChlupsa]

Safeway Inc. is recalling 825,769 pounds of ground beef sold in Hawaii and eight other state, saying the meat may be linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis.

The Safeway recall is for ground beef products sold between June 6 through July 14 in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Officials with the Pleasanton, Calif.-based company said today that the recalled product is no longer in stores, but Safeway is asking customers to check all ground beef in their freezers. Fresh ground beef products sold at both the full service counter and in the self service area, with the sell-by dates June 6 through July 14, should be discarded or returned for a full refund. These products include fresh ground beef, fresh ground beef patties and fresh meat loaf.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella Newport can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial food-borne illnesses, the company said. Salmonella Newport infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

This particular strain of Salmonella Newport is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals, company officials said. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Other symptoms include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

(Article was in todays Honolulu Star Bullentin Newspaper)