2009-10-29

San Antonio meat company recalls certain beef products

Contributed

Culebra Meat Market has recalled three beef cuts it produced and distributed in the San Antonio area earlier this month because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7, a bacterium that can cause severe illness.

Products included in the recall are beef stew meat, carne asada and ground beef produced by the company from Oct. 2 through Oct. 17. Products were sold to some San Antonio-area restaurants and in the company’s retail store, 2800 Culebra Road in San Antonio.

Investigators with the Texas Department of State Health Services are determining whether the products also were sold at other Culebra retail store locations in San Antonio.

People are advised to discard or return the products. Cooking the beef is not recommended.

Products sold to consumers at the company’s retail store were packaged in various weights and wrapped in white butcher paper with no markings. Products sold to restaurants were packed in 10-pound boxes labeled with the company and product names and lot codes 100209 through 101709. The boxes have the inspection label “TEXAS INSP. & PSD. 740” located inside an outline of the State of Texas.

The recall volume is approximately 4,000 pounds.

DSHS laboratory testing detected E. coli O157:H7 in samples collected from the meat company. The testing was done as part of a routine DSHS inspection. However, apparently no illnesses have been associated with consumption of the recalled product.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include bloody diarrhea and stomach pains. People with these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms typically occur two to nine days after exposure.

Additionally, infection can lead to serious kidney damage or death. Most healthy adults recover in five to 10 days, but children under age five and the elderly are more likely to develop a severe illness.

Infected people can pass E. coli O157:H7 to others through contaminated feces.

More information is available from the company by calling 210-432-2170.