MINNEAPOLIS - The meat company linked to an E. coli outbreak in Minnesota is recalling 117,500 pounds of beef shipped to eight states, including Arizona, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
PM Beef Holdings officials had not returned a phone call seeking comment as of 2:45 p.m. and USDA spokesman Steven Cohen said he didn't know which Arizona grocers had the contaminated product.
Officials from Safeway, Albertsons, Basha's, and Fry's Food & Drug Stores said they did not have any of the contaminated beef, while Wal Mart – which sell groceries in select stores -- did not return phone calls.
Lena Michaud, a Target spokeswoman, said the retailer was not affected by the recall.
Health officials have said it appears that tainted ground beef from Lunds or Byerly's stores sickened seven people, including three who had to be hospitalized before they recovered.
The USDA notice late Thursday said PM Beef Holdings LLC of Windom is voluntarily recalling the beef trim products that was sent to distributors and retailers in Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The USDA said the beef trim was produced on March 27 and turned into ground beef sold under many different retail brand names. In Minnesota, officials have said it was ground at the stores where it was sold.
In 2003, PM Beef recalled 1,126 pounds of beef trim because of possible E. coli contamination.
Symptoms of E. coli include stomach cramps that may be severe and diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to three days. E. coli can sometimes lead to complications including kidney failure.
