PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A California company is recalling 1 million pounds of ground beef shipped to four Western states that could be contaminated with a potentially fatal strain of E. coli.
Valley Meat Co., based in Modesto, Calif., said beef patties and ground beef sold under the Safeway and other labels could be tainted with E. coli O157:H7.
The meat was produced from Oct. 2, 2009 and Jan. 12 and distributed to stores and food service outlets in Oregon, California, Texas and Arizona, as well as internationally.
At least seven people became ill in California starting in February.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it became aware of the contamination July 15 when California health authorities notified federal officials about a cluster of cases.
