The Associated Press reports, regarding the Carneco E. coli meat recall, that although Sam’s Club has been pulling the meat off the shelves that it’s possible the sirloin patties may have been sold by other retailers. The probability is that this meat was consumed long ago, although consumers may still have contaminated meat sold by Sam’s club and other retailers in their freezers.
From the AP article:
The investigation into the how the meat was contaminated and how far it has spread was just beginning, said Dr. Harry Hull, Minnesota state epidemiologist.
The bacteria produce a toxin that causes severe or bloody diarrhea and sometimes other serious complications. While most healthy people recover, children and the elderly are at greatest risk, Hull said.
Consumers can return the implicated meat to their local Sam’s Club and receive a refund.