Another Food Recall: When Is Enough Enough?

More concern is brewing over tainted ground beef. A California company is expanding its recall to more than five million pounds of beef in eleven western states, because of possible e. coli contamination. The latest in a string of contamination problems has some calling for stepped-up efforts from the government to make sure our food is safe. Jay gray has more. United Food Group has beefed-up its recall effort, initially pulling 75,000 pounds of ground beef from shelves after an e. coli outbreak that made 14 people sick. Now the producer has recalled 5.7 million pounds of meat sold in April and May under various brand names in 11 western states. All of the ground beef has the code "est 1241" printed inside the U.S.D.A. inspection stamp. "Im reasonably convinced, as is the company, that there is very, very little of that product left in the marketplace," says Rosemary Mucklow with the National Meat Association. The worry now is that some of the contaminated beef could still be in freezers, and might make it to the family grill. Dietitians warn there is only one sure way to make sure youre not eating contaminated beef. "Cook [all meat] at 160 degrees, and make sure no pink in the middle," says Dietician Carolyn Snyder. The beef recall is the latest in a string that included first spinach, and then peanut butter. "Company testing didnt find it, [and] government testing didnt find it," says Patty Lovera of Food and Water Watch. So now watchdog groups like Food and Water Watch are calling for more government food inspectors and inspections. "Its more important to catch it before it goes to the market place," Lovera says. And even more importantly, its important to catch before it makes it to the dinner table. Another warning from dietitians, cross contamination has led to many people getting sick. They stress to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw meat, and before handling any other foods.