WASHINGTON – Two meat companies issued recalls of ground beef products on Oct. 22 because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. In both cases, products were shipped before the companies received food safety test results.

Honolulu, Hawaii-based Higa Meat & Pork Market recalled approximately 4,100 lbs. of ground beef products, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
FSIS discovered the problem, which occurred as a result of the products testing positive for E. coli O157:H7 and being shipped before the company received test results. There have been no reports of illnesses made to FSIS or the company.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 10-lb. bags of "HIGA MARKET-GROUND BEEF BULK" - 1 to 6 bags per carton/case.

Each case bears the establishment number "EST. 12457M" inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as the identifying case code number: "291." The products were produced on Oct. 17, 2012 and were distributed to restaurants in the Oahu, Hawaii, area, FSIS said.

Main Street Quality Meats in Salt Lake City, Utah, recalled approximately 2,310 lbs. of ground beef products on concerns about E. coli contamination. Again, the products tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 but were shipped before the company received the test results. However, no reports of illnesses were made in connection with consumption of the products.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 10-lb cases of "GROUND BEEF BULK."
• 12-lb cases of "GROUND BEEF PATTIES."

Each case bears the establishment number "EST. 19916" inside the USDA mark of inspection, as well as any of the following identifying lot numbers: "1018121," "1019121," "1018122," or "1019122." The products were produced on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, 2012, and were distributed to restaurants in Utah, FSIS said.