Skylark Meats, the US-based meat processor, has announced the recall of 111,040 pounds of frozen ground beef produced at its Omaha, Nebraska production facility on 10 September.
The recall was implemented by the USDA after a 3-pound package of meat was pulled from retail shelves and tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.
"To our knowledge there have been no illnesses associated or reported on the product from this date. In fact extensive testing of the product used on this day tested negative for E-coli O157:H7. However, in an abundance of caution, Skylark is conducting this voluntary recall," a company statement said.
The recall involves 66,600 pounds of frozen ground beef, sold through a grocery chain and packaged individually in 3 pound chubs, carrying the "Skylark 100 per cent Pure Ground Beef" label, with sell by dates of "9/10/03" and 44,440 pounds of frozen ground beef that was destined for institutional use.
Skylark said that it has already contacted customers and distributors to secure the product involved in this voluntary recall. The company urged consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the product involved.
"Our company and our industry are dedicated to producing safe food," said Jim Leonard, Skylark's president.
Skylark's food safety assurance systems currently include elements such as documented process control systems, pre-operative sanitation, complete sanitary cleaning between production shifts, numerous temperature audits, employee training, packaging system audits, temperature verification on shipping trailers and lab testing of products used.
Skylark has joined a growing number of US meat producers that have had to implement major recalls in recent months. The other recalls have included names such as ConAgra, Pilgrim's Pride and Peck Meat. However, with the US government coming under increasing pressure to kerb future outbreaks of food poisoning, many industry observers believe that such recalls will now lead to stricter regulations in the US. The government is already pushing the use of irradiation to treat meats such as ground beef.
