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Beef Recall Sinks Topps Meat Co.

Company's first recall in 67 years is its last

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 5, 2007

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The recall of nearly 22 million pounds of frozen ground beef, possibly tainted with E. coli bacteria, was the last straw for Topps Meat Company. The company, founded in 1940, announced today it is going out of business.

“This is tragic for all concerned," said Chief Operating Officer Anthony D'Urso. “In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large.”

Last weekend Topps expanded its recall, first announced on September 18, from 332,000 pounds of hamburger patties to 21.7 million.

The recall, issued by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, followed tests conducted on ground beef processed at the company’s Elizabeth, New Jersey Plant.

The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), meanwhile, is under fire for an 18-day delay in issuing a warning about the E. coli-tainted hamburger patties.

USDA officials concede they knew there might be a problem with the frozen patties, but were unable to attain conclusive proof right away. Informed on September 7 that Topps hamburger patties had tested positive for the E. coli bacteria, the FSIS initiated its own tests.

USDA inspectors forced the plant to close last week after the agency said safety inspectors found inadequate measures to prevent contamination of the meat.

A small number of the company’s 87 employees will remain at the Elizabeth plant indefinitely, to assist USDA inspectors and to handle administrative matters.

D'Urso said Topps had never had to recall any of its products in its 67 years of operation until last month.

“This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone, he said.

The recall came after reports of 25 cases of illness caused by suspected E. coli bacteria in eight states: Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The recall is for frozen hamburger patties and other beef products manufactured by the company over the last year. The packages all have a "sell by" or "best used by" date between Sept 25., 2007 and Sept. 25, 2008, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture designation EST 9748.

Products included in the recall:

10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4 OZ (4-1), 40 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “BUTCHER’S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60100, 40 PCS.”
10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60200, 27 PCS.”
10-pound boxes of “KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ FLAT HAMBURGER, CODE: 60300, 20 PCS.”
3-pound boxes of “MIKE'S 12 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.”
5-pound boxes of “MIKE'S 20 SEASONED BEEF PATTIES.”
3-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 16 BEEF BURGERS.”
5-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 20 BEEF BURGERS.”
10-pound boxes of “PATHMARK 100% ALL BEEF BURGERS, 40 BEEF BURGERS.”
10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
10 pound boxes of “RASTELLI'S FINE FOODS 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ, FLAT 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ, 80 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5.3 OZ, 30 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ, 23 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ H, 20 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “ROMA - TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ H, 16 PIECES.”
3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
6-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 75/25, 24 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 80/20, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
3-pound bags of “SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 85/15, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (75/25), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT 100% PREMIUM BEEF HAMBURGER (85/15), 10 OZ H, 16 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT ANGUS CHUCK BURGER (80/20), 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”
3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 3 OZ BURGERS.”
3-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
5-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
10-pound boxes of “SHOP RITE 100% PURE QUARTER POUND GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 1 OZ SLIDER.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 10 OZ (PUB BURGER).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2 OZ.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 2.67 OZ.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ HOMESTYLE.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ (4-1) HOMESTYLE.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ FLAT.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ, 32 PIECES.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ (1/2-inch)”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (5/8-inch).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (85/15).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (HOMESTYLE).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ (PUB BURGER).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 7 OZ (75/25).”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ (PUB BURGER)”
1.5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ (8 COUNT).”
2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 3 OZ, 10 COUNT.”
3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 6 OZ. PUB BURGERS.”
2-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 8 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 12 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
3-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 16 HAMBURGERS.”
5-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 20 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
8-pound boxes of “TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 32 QUARTER POUNDERS.”
2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH FIRE-ROASTED ONIONS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS WITH PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
2-pound boxes of “TOPPS SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS.”
10-pound boxes of “TOPPS HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3 OZ, 53 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 4 OZ, 40 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ FLAT, 32 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WEST SIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ, 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ FLAT, 27 COUNT.”
10-pound boxes of “WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ FLAT, 20 COUNT.”

Topps Meat Company has expanded its recall of ground beef that may be tainted with the virulent 0157:H7 strain of the E. coli bacteria. The company said it is voluntarily recalling approximately 331,582 pounds of ground beef products.

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