It is not 5:00 AM and I am on my way to the airport in Seattle (again) heading to New York for a speech to Excess Insurance Executives. FSIS just released another recall of meat. It appears this time it is BEFORE people were sickened. So much for test and hold. Here are the details:

SP Provisions, a Portland, Ore., establishment is recalling approximately 39,973 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  The products subject to recall include:

Cascade Natural Beef Brand:

* 5-pound and 10-pound bags of ground beef. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016G."
* 5-pound and 10-pound bags of chili grind. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016C."
* 15-pound boxes of ground beef patties. Each package bears the identifying case code "13-016GP."

SP Provisions Brand:

* 5-pound and 10-pound bags of ground beef. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136."
* 5-pound and 10-pound bags of chili grind. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136C."
* 15-pound boxes of ground beef patties. Each package bears the identifying case code "01-136P."

Each identifying case code is preceded by the date code "040809" through "052809," signifying the production date in "month/date/year" format, i.e. April 8, 2009 through May 28, 2009. Additionally, each product bears the establishment number "EST. 2866" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Alex & George Wholesale, Inc., a Rochester, New York firm, is recalling approximately 4,663 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  The following products are subject to recall:

* 10-pound poly bag of "A & G Brand BULK GROUND BEEF"
* 10-pound poly bag of "A & G Brand ‘HOT SAUCE’ SPECIAL BLEND"
* 25-pound poly bag of "A & G Brand BULK GROUND BEEF"
* 30-pound poly bag of "A & G Brand BULK GROUND BEEF"
* 10-pound case of (3-1) "A & G Brand GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* 10-pound case of (5-1) "A & G Brand GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* 10-pound case of "A & G Brand ‘Homestyle Press’ GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* 10-pound case of (6-1) "A & G Brand GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* Cases containing 48, 4.25-ounce"A & G Brand GROUND BEEF PATTIES ‘PUCKS’"
* Cases containing 48, 5-ounce "A & G Brand ‘Homestyle Press’ GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* Cases containing 48, 5-ounce (4-1) "A & G Brand ‘Homestyle Press’ GROUND BEEF PATTIES"
* Cases containing 48, 5-ounce "A & G Brand GROUND BEEF PATTIES ‘PUCKS.’"

These packages of ground beef were packed in 10, 15, 25, and 30-pound shipping cases which bear the establishment number "EST. 4553" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The (3-1), (4-1), (5-1) and (6-1) refers to the number of portions per one pound.