The Stew Leonard’s store in Yonkers is voluntarily recalling ground beef because of possible contamination with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 bacteria. 3 people from one family have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 after eating ground beef purchased at the Stew Leonard’s Yonkers store. A fourth case of E. coli O157:H7 has been reported to the New York Department of Health, and investigations are ongoing.
The package of ground beef purchased by the sickened family was ground and purchased on July 21, 2007, but the company is recalling all Stew Leonard’s 96% lean ground round that was purchased between June 30, 2007 and August 1, 2007. Given the late date of this recall, any recalled beef that has not been eaten is in customers’ freezers. Also, the incubation period for E. coli is 10 days at the outside. Many more people may have been contracted E. coli infections after eating the recalled beef, but it is too late to test for it.
In an attempt to downplay its roll in this outbreak, Stew Leonard’s stated in a press release, “Stew Leonard’s purchases the beef used in this specific blend from two different suppliers, both of whom are inspected by the USDA, and grinds it fresh in the store daily. Health officials believe that the source of the E. coli did not originate from Stew Leonard’s and a full inspection showed that the meat department met or exceeded all health and safety regulations.” According to the New York Department of Health, the investigation is ongoing, and the exact source of the contamination is not yet known.
The Stew Leonard’s press release also made a point of saying the family that was sickened by E. coli ate “undercooked” ground beef. Whoever made that meal should not feel any guilt. Somewhere between slaughter and processing at Stew Leonard’s the beef was contaminated with E. coli, something that only happens as a result of unsanitary conditions. Consumers should be able to buy ground beef that is free from contamination with E. coli and other harmful pathogens.
Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading E. coli litigation law firm, is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to contaminated ground beef. The firm is also representing families of people who died from E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), an illness that causes kidney failure that can develop from an E. coli infection. To contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.
