Recall for beef products expanded

The Food Safety Inspection Service of the USDA announced that JBS Swift Beef Company is voluntarily expanding its recall issued on June 24 to include 380,000 pounds of assorted beef primal products due to the potential risk of E. coli O157:H7, Bill Marler, a Seattle, Washington based food poisoning attorney, reported on his website marlerblog.com.

Earlier the Greeley Colorado based establishment was recalling approximately 41,280 pounds of beef products. The Associated Press cited JBS Swift spokesman Chandler Keys as saying early on Thursday that no illnesses were reported.

Marler said "the recall is being expanded as a result of FSIS' cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an ongoing investigation into 24 illnesses in multiple states, of which at least 18 appear to be associated."

The recalled products were produced on April 21 and 22 and shipped to distributors and retailers in states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin, the AP reported.

E.coli O157:H7 is a potentially lethal bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and in some cases kidney failure.

(By David Liu)