Outbreaks
ConAgra E. coli Outbreak
On June 30, 2002, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) announced the recall of 354,200 pounds of ground beef manufactured at the ConAgra Beef Company (“ConAgra”) plant in Greeley, Colorado. According to ConAgra’s Vice President Jim Herlihy, “one sample of the product tested positive [for E. coli O157:H7], so what ConAgra did was recall the entire day's production.” The contaminated ground beef was produced at the plant on May 31, thirty days prior to the recall, and was distributed nationally to retailers and institutions.On July 12, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”) disclosed that 17 Colorado residents had been infected with E. coli O157:H7. No source of the infections was identified at the time. Several other cases were subsequently reported in neighboring states. Three days later, on July 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) announced that the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that had infected the 17 sickened individuals was genetically indistinguishable from the strain of the recalled ConAgra beef.
After another review of plant practices and procedures on July 19, 2002, the FSIS expanded the ConAgra ground beef recall to 18.6 million pounds of ground beef. This was one of the largest meat recalls in U.S. history. The recall included all ground beef produced at the plant between April 12, 2002 and June 29, 2002. According to the FSIS, its investigation “indicated that product destined to become ground beef that was produced at the Greeley plant had a heightened possibility of containing E. coli O157:H7.” In the weeks that followed the nationwide recall, more than 45 people in 23 states reported illnesses linked to the contaminated ground beef.
Outbreak Updates
- 2002 meat recall exposed perilous gaps in safety net
- ConAgra settles with 6 more on E. coli
- Letter: ConAgra knew of E. coli
- ConAgra settles 8 suits by E. coli beef victims
- Use of DNA Fingerprinting Helps Track Tainted Meat
- Illnesses from beef could cost ConAgra $50 million, lawyer says
- Federal regulators close Greeley plant
- ConAgra set for mediation over illnesses from E. coli
- Victims seek up to $50 mln in ConAgra meat case
- USDA reviews regulations for meat safety
- E. coli cases lead to recall of 19 million pounds of beef
- E. coli victims recovering after eating tainted meat
- ConAgra E. coli cases up to 25
- 3 more confirmed E. coli cases in Colorado
- Tainted meat came from Greeley plant
- 6 more cases investigated as E. coli
- Timing of meat recall assailed
- E. coli ills extend to other states
- Fear halts meat buys
