Thousands of Pounds of Recalled Beef Sent to California
A major nationwide beef recall prompted by E. Coli food poisoning also involves 47,615 pounds of beef triangle tri tip sent to Costco warehouses in Los Angeles and the rest of California. About 380,000 pounds of potentially E. Coli-contaminated beef that has been recalled were produced by Colorado-based JBS Swift Beef Co. Los Angeles Public Health officials say their department launched an informational campaign as soon as they found out about the food recall. Officials say most of the stores contacted were aware of the E. Coli beef recall and that all of the affected products had been removed from store shelves. So far no cases have been reported in Los Angeles of people becoming ill from the recalled meat. Costco officials apparently destroyed all of the recalled beef by June 19.
The recalled beef products were distributed under the name of Morton's of Omaha Steakhouse Classic Tri Tip and Morton's of Omaha Rosemary, Garlic and Chardonnay Seasoned Tri Trip. Heath officials said that their follow-up calls to Costco confirmed that none of the Los Angeles stores had any of the recalled beef on their shelves.
E. Coli is a large and diverse group of bacteria mostly transmitted through contaminated food. Some kinds of E. Coli can cause diarrhea while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. The most common symptoms of E. Coli food poisoning include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and fever. In some rare cases, an E. Coli infection can result in kidney damage or even death.
It is a relief to note that most of these recalled beef products are off our store shelves here in Los Angeles. There have been no official reports of any food-borne illnesses in California, but elsewhere in the nation, there have been reports of at least 26 who have been sickened by this contaminated beef. In fact, a New Mexico boy has filed a lawsuit against JBS Swift Beef Company alleging that he developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure, after eating shish kabobs made from the meat in May.
If you or a loved one contracted E. Coli infection as a result of consuming these brands of beef products, please consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will promptly analyze all the details of your specific case and help secure the compensation you deserve.
