34,000lbs of Organic Beef Recalled in Six States for E. Coli

Massive food recalls are nothing new to 2010. To end the year on a grand note, over 34,000 lbs of organic beef have been recalled in six states. First Class Foods, Inc. based out of Hawthorne, California, has voluntarily recalled 34,373 lbs of it's packaged organic beef due to possible E. Coli contamination.

Consumers in California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Washington should check their packages of 16 oz Nature's Harvest Organic Ground Beef Brick, 16 oz Organic Harvest Organic Beef Brick, and 16 oz packages of Nature's Harvest Organic Beef Patties (4 oz patties) for "use" and "freeze by" dates of 12/28/2010- 1/08/2011. Consumers who need help identifying which packages of the organic beef have been recalled can use this page from the Food Safety and Inspection Services branch of the USDA.

E. Coli is a bacteria that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, infections, fever and death in elderly people, people with compromised immune systems and small children. The massive food recalls through out the year have been a steady reminder for people to check their packages and know what they are putting into their bodies.

To keep updated on current food recalls check out the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations daily list of updates on recalls both voluntary and non-voluntary. If you live in California, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Wisconsin, or Washington and have purchased packages of the recalled organic beef from First Class Foods, Inc., you are asked to call Lucienne Adams of First Class Foods at (310) 676-2500 with questions regarding the recall. A retailers list of where the product was distributed in the states affected has not been made available yet but will be posted here when it is updated.

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Services department, the organic beef products you should be looking for are:

• 16-oz. packages of "NATURE'S HARVEST ORGANIC GROUND BEEF BRICK" sold singly with one of the following "USE or FREEZE by" dates: "12/30/10" or "01/08/11."

• 16-oz. packages of "ORGANIC HARVEST ORGANIC GROUND BEEF BRICK" sold singly and in three-packs with one of the following "USE or FREEZE by" dates: "12/28/10" or "01/06/11."

• 16-oz. packages of NATURE'S HARVEST GROUND PATTY" containing four (4) 4-oz. patties with the following "USE or FREEZE by" date: "12/30/10" or "01/08/11"