First Class Foods Inc. Ground Beef Recall

Nature's Harvest - First Class Foods Inc. Ground Beef Recall

Nature's Harvest Fresh Ground Beef Recall

A California company had recalled an approximately 34,373 pounds of organic ground beef products that has been suspected to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

First Class Foods Inc. of Hawthorne reports that each package label bears the establishment number "EST. 18895." are the ones which are subjected to the recall. The said ground beef products of First Class Foods Inc. were produced between Dec. 7 and Dec. 16 of 2010 and were shipped to retail establishments on six states namely: California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Washington state.

The organic ground beef which is recalled is believed to contain certain amounts of Escherichia coli, specifically the E. coli O157:H7 strain which can cause serious conditions in both young children and even on adults. This was later discovered when the company performed a sampling test of its product only after the products has been shipped out for sale.

However, at press time, the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with the released of the contaminated products.

It has been known that the E. coli are most of the time harmless, but the E. coli O157:H7 strain can cause sudden kidney failure, food poisoning and profuse bleeding because of intestinal damages. If the said bacteria when cultured exceed the normal colony count in an agar plate, then it indicates fecal contamination, and this makes it potentially harmful anyone ingesting it.

Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Customers who have questions can call the company through Lucienne Adams at (310) 676 2500.