A Nebraska beef supplier was identified on Tuesday as the source of an E. coli outbreaknationwide, including at least 16 cases in central Ohio.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service,Omaha-based Nebraska Beef, Ltd. was a supplier to Kroger.
Nebraska Beef, Ltd. announced Tuesday that it is recalling more than 531,000 pounds of groundbeef components that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the USDA.
Samples of beef taken from Kroger tested positive for the E. coli bacteria, 10TV Newsreported.
Kroger brand ground beef samples were collected by the Ohio and Michigan Departments ofAgriculture and Health from patients in both states. According to the USDA, Nebraska Beef,Ltd., was identified as a common supplier to those stores in addition to two federally inspectedestablishments where the FSIS obtained a positive ground beef sample that was matched to theoutbreak strain identified in Ohio and Michigan.
In a statement, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. said that since its inception in 1995, it has processed over10 billion pounds of product without a confirmed illness.
But 10 Investigates found that Nebraska Beef, Ltd. and its supplier, Interstate Meat, are beingsued in Minnesota for selling meat tainted with E. coli that killed one person and sickened threeothers, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.
10 Investigates also found that Nebraska Beef, Ltd. was nearly shut down by the USDA in 2003because of numerous sanitary violations.
According to a 2003 federal lawsuit, the then-government asserted that "anyone who might handleor consume (Nebraska Beef, Ltd's) products is therefore being exposed to greater than normalrisk."
In 2002, USDA inspectors found "direct product contamination" in several areas, and "beefcarcasses were observed to have partial neck wounds." The inspectors also said that "the outside ofcarcasses indicated they lacked adequate washing," Landers reported.
On Tuesday, a Kroger spokesman said that the company will continue to use its processor thatbuys from Nebraska Beef, Ltd. until the USDA says otherwise.
10 Investigates found that no other major grocery chain in central Ohio sells meat from NebraskaBeef, Ltd.
As of Monday afternoon, 18 E. coli cases were reported in central Ohio, including seven inColumbus.
Nine people have been hospitalized in Columbus, 10TV News reported.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration,and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and people with weak immunesystems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborneillness should consult a doctor.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
More Information:
Previous Stories:
July 1, 2008: Second E. coli Lawsuit Filed Against Kroger
June 27, 2008: Man To File Lawsuit Against Kroger Amid E. coli Outbreak
June 27, 2008: E. coli Case Removed From Outbreak List
June 26, 2008: 2 More E. coli Cases Reported
June 25, 2008: Kroger Recalls Ground Beef
June 24, 2008: E. coli Found In Locally Sold Ground Beef
June 23, 2008: Central Ohio E. coli Cases Up To 16
June 20, 2008: Another Central Ohio Case Of E. coli Confirmed
June 19, 2008: Health Department Links More E. coli Cases
June 17, 2007: 12th Case Of E. coli Reported
June 16, 2008: 4 More Cases Of E. coli Confirmed
June 12, 2008: Another E. coli Case Confirmed
June 11, 2008: 6 E. coli Cases Under Investigation
