PRODUCTS RECALLED: Fresh Ground Beef

PRODUCTION DATES/IDENTIFYING CODES: Produced April 9, 2004. The products subject to recall are 80-pound boxes of:

• "EXCEL, CHUCK GROUND BEEF, 81/19 FINE GRIND, 100% BEEF, 241".
• "EXCEL, 81/19 COARSE GRIND, GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF, 336".
• "EXCEL, 81/19 FINE GRIND, GROUND BEEF, 100% BEEF, 356".
• "EXCEL, 90/10 FINE GRIND, GROUND BEEF, NOT TO EXCEED 10% FAT, 100% BEEF, 389".

Each box contains eight, 10-pound chubs of ground beef and carries a use/freeze by date of "APR 29." The USDA mark of inspection "Est. 86K," also appears on each box. In addition, each box contains the following lot code, "04100400 0018" or "04100409 0019." Each chub contains the use/freeze by date and the USDA mark of inspection.

PROBLEM/REASON FOR RECALL: The product may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

HOW/WHEN DISCOVERED: The problem was discovered during FSIS verification activities.

FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT:
0086K M
Excel Corporation
East Highway 400
Dodge City, KS 67801

CONSUMER CONTACT: Luke Miller, Manager of Customer Service, 1-800-267-6946

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Klein, Director of Communications, 952-742-6211

QUANTITY RECALLED: Approximately 45,000 pounds

DISTRIBUTION: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Texas

RECALL CLASSIFICATION: Class I

RECALL NOTIFICATION LEVEL: Retail

PRESS RELEASE: Yes

DIRECT NOTIFICATION MEANS: The firm has notified its customers orally and will follow up in writing.

FSIS FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES: Effectiveness checks by the FSIS, Office of Field Operations (OFO).

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED: None

FSIS CONTACTS:
FSIS Recall Coordinator: (785)841-5600
Consumer Inquiries: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); TTY, 1-800-256-7072
Media Inquiries: 202-720-9113
Congressional Inquiries: 202-720-3897
Recall Management: 202-690-6389
Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/recalls/rec_intr.htm

DATE OF RECALL MEETING: April 29, 2004