Beef Recall Due to E. Coli

Kroger, Publix and Winn-Dixie stores are recalling products that include boxes containing ground beef “chubs,” which are cylindrical plastic-covered rolls containing ground beef. The items include boxes of three-, five- and 10-pound chubs, produced on July 23, with a "Freeze By" date of August 12, 2011, and boxes of 10-pound ground beef chubs produced on July 25, 2011, with a "Freeze By" date of August 14, 2011.

The 60,242 pounds of ground beef were produced by National Beef Packing Co., LLC located in Dodge City. The ground beef products may be contaminated with deadly E. coli 0157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service  announced Friday.

The Food Safety Inspection Service warning says the products were shipped to distributors across the U.S. The meat may have been repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names.

The problem was discovered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture when it conducted routine microbial testing. No reports of illness have been received by the company or Food Safety Inspection Service in connection with eating the products, according to the USDA.

According to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which notes the E. coli 0157 bacteria cause disease by making Shiga toxin, which can produce severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and low fever. The CDC states that while most people recover within five to seven days, some infections can be life threatening, particularly for young children and elderly people.

If you purchased recalled beef at the following supermarkets in Northeast Cobb, you can return the products for a refund:

3605 Sandy Plains Rd, 770-578-6000.

Publix Super Market at Town Center Prado 50 Barrett Pkwy, 770-419-4043.

Publix Super Market At Sandy Plains Exchange 1860 Sandy Plains Rd, 770-509-3991.

Kroger 3595 Canton Rd, 770-924-7930.