30,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled Due to Salmonella Contamination

On Monday, the USDA announced a recall of 30,000 pounds of ground beef found to be contaminated with salmonella. The recalled beef, sold for wholesale by Cargill Meat Solutions of Pennsylvania, involves 14-pound chub packages of "Grnd Beef Fine 85/15”, sold three chubs to a case. (Cargill was also responsible for a massive ground turkey recall last summer.)

The ground beef was packaged on May 25, 2012 and bears the establishment number "EST. 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The recalled beef was repackaged and sold at retail stores, including Hannaford supermarkets and stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Read the full list of affected retailers.

The problem was discovered after a multi-state breakout of salmonella cases. Thirty-three people from seven states reported salmonella-related illnesses, leading the Center for Disease Control to the contaminated ground beef.

The USDA encourages the safe production and preparation of raw meat products. You should not consume beef that has been cooked below 160° F. A food thermometer can ensure that your food has been cooked thoroughly enough to kill disease-causing bacteria.