A local bison meat distributor is recalling 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized bison steak products that may still be in freezers across the country.
The bison meat comes from Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson, and was found to be contaminated with a possibly lethal strain of E. coli.
Five people in Colorado have been linked to the E. coli from the bison meat. There was been one other case in New York, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
Most of the products have a “sell or freeze by” date between June 20 and June 24.
The meat was produced between the dates of May 21, through May 27, and was distributed to retail establishments nationwide and food service distributors in Utah and Arizona.
According to FSIS, the recalled products are:
— 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
— 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90 percent LEAN.”
These products have a lot number of 0147.
— 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS.”
These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and June 24, 2010
— 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS.”
These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010
— 15-pound boxes of “ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK.” These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.
Products are also marked with a “EST. 20247” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Symptoms of this strain of E. coli include bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and severe cramping. In severe cases, the bacterial infection can cause kidney failure.
