Georgia Firm Recalls Ground Beef

May 18, 2000

Nearly 30,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled voluntarily by a Georgia firm because the meat could be contaminated with E. coli. The beef was produced May 10 and distributed in five states.

Eaves Food Inc., Elberton, GA, recalled 28,860 pounds of ground beef distributed to groceries in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North and South Carolina. All packages labeled with a nine-digit code number beginning with "131" are being recalled.

The problem was discovered through routine microbiological sampling by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with the product. "USDA is informing the public so consumers who may have purchased and stored the product in their freezers can know to check," said FSIS Administrator Thomas J. Billy.