Beef E. coli Recall Involves Albertsons, Kroger, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Others

Attorney Fred Pritzker and his Bad Bug Law Team are investigating a recall of beef products that has been linked to outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7. The recalled beef was widely distributed to major retailers throughout the United States prior to recall. Fred, who represents E. coli poisoning victims throughout the U.S., recently won $4,500,000 for a young woman sickened by beef linked to a past E. coli outbreak. You can contact Fred for a free consultation here.

XL Foods, Inc., a beef processor located in Canada, has recalled all beef and beef products produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5 at their facility. These products are considered adulterated because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157, which means anyone sickened by these products can sue XL Foods and others (distributors and retailers) for medical expenses, lost income, pain, emotional suffering, loss of quality of life and other money damages allowed by law. We have represented people severely sickened by E. coli and its complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Products subject to this beef E. coli recall include, but are not limited to, steaks, roasts, mechanically tenderized steaks and roasts, and ground beef. The recalled beef may have been sold at the following stores in the United States:

1. Albertson’s: All locations in Oregon and Washington State;
2. Baker’s: Stores in Nebraska;
3. City Market: Stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming;
4. Dillon’s: Stores in Kansas and Missouri;
5. Food 4 Less: Stores in California, Illinois and Indiana;
6. Foods Co.: Stores in California;
7. Fred Meyer: Nationwide;
8. Fry’s: Stores in Arizona;
9. Gerbes: Stores in Kansas and Missouri;
10. Haggen Northwest Fresh: Stores in Washington and Oregon;
11. Hilander: Stores in Illinois and Indiana;
12. Jay C: Stores in Illinois and Indiana;
13. King Soopers: Stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming;
14. Kroger: Stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia;
15. Owen’s: Stores in Illinois and Indiana;
16. Pay Less: Stores in Illinois and Indiana;
17. QFC: Nationwide;
18. Ralph’s: Stores in California;
19. Safeway: Locations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington State;
20. Sam’s Club: Locations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming;
21. Scott’s: Stores in Illinois and Indiana;
22. Smith’s Stores: Nationwide;
23. TOP Food and Drug: Stores in Washington and Oregon;
24. Walmart: Certain stores in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia.

There is evidence that beef from cattle slaughtered during the period associated with the recall was produced under unsanitary conditions that resulted in a high event period (a period when the trim from carcasses exhibited an unusually high frequency of positive findings for the possible presence of E. coli O157:H7).  This is consistent with our past experiences with these kinds of cases. E. coli infections in humans is preventable with good sanitation practices consistently applied from the farm through the retailer level. Consumers should not have to worry that one bite of a hamburger or mechanized steak could kill them.

The outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 (see information on PFGE testing) was found in XL Foods beef on September 3, 2012.  Victims and parents (most E. coli victims are young children) can contact Fred for a free consultation here and talk with him or another E. coli lawyer at our law firm for free, no obligation. We have handled many, many of these cases and understand that people just need someone with good information to talk to.