Beef From Popular Grocer Tests Positive For E. Coli (Kroger)

[mom2eli_gabby]

NBC 4
updated 2 hours, 50 minutes ago

CENTRAL OHIO -- A large grocery chain confirmed late Tuesday that tainted beef came from its store.
Multiple health agencies are investigating a multi-state E. coli outbreak, including Michigan and Ohio. Ohio has 17 confirmed cases of E. coli.
Fifteen of the 17 were linked to the same E. coli strain, and NBC 4's Lauren Diedrich reported that beef from a Kroger store tested positive for the responsible bacteria.
A Kroger spokesperson said it is trying to narrow down which supplier is linked to the tainted ground beef.
Meanwhile, federal, state and local health officials continue to research whether that strain of E.coli is linked to the 17 people infected with the bacteria.
The ground-beef sample that tested positive came from a freezer of one of the 17 Central Ohioans with E. coli.
Health officials said it's too soon, though, to name this meat as the source of the illnesses.
"It's still too early to say this is the source that everyone got sick from, but we're trying to put those clues together," said Susan Tilgner, Franklin County Health Commissioner.
Kroger agreed.
A grocer spokesperson said the tainted product was raw ground-beef patties.
Kroger is working to figure out who supplied the meat and how it made its way into the stores.
NBC 4 cannot confirm the specific store that sold the tainted beef.
It could take days to get results after the Ohio Department of Health uses DNA try to match the E. coli found in the meat to the strains of those who became ill.
A Kroger spokeswoman said the beef was available in some Michigan and Ohio stores in late May and early June and was no longer on store shelves.
Prevent E. coli poisoning:
Always cook your meat to 160 degrees.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure a safe cooking temperature.
Wash hands and cookware after contact with raw meat to avoid spreading bacteria.
For more information about E. coli, visit http://www.cdrsinfo.com/public_diseases/E_Coli.pdf
http://www.publichealth.columbus.gov...eak_June08.pdf
Stay tuned to NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for the latest news and information.

[mom2eli_gabby]

Update to this story: Kroger has issued a voluntary recall for beef. The store where the beef was found that tested positive was in Gahanna. I am sure the people who need to know this already know it, but I want to make sure. :)