Georgia Supermarket Removes Tainted Beef

August 30, 1999

Publix Supermarkets has removed ground beef that could be tainted with the E. coli bacteria from all its stores. It was a voluntary recall and involved ground beef received on Aug. 23 when the contamination was discovered.

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors have been working with Publix officials and USDA inspectors over the weekend to determine lot numbers and distribution points for regular ground beef that tested positive for E. coli.

USDA inspectors found the contamination Aug. 23 during a routine sampling at the Publix Towncenter Store in Loganville, GA. USDA notified GDA when the tests proved positive.

Consumers who bought regular ground beef from the Loganville store on Aug. 23 with a code date of Aug. 25 were being urged to return it for a refund. No illnesses have been reported.