This just in – Cargill Value Added Meats – Retail  (also referred to as CVAM-Retail) will announce a Class I Voluntary Fresh Ground Turkey Recall of approximately 35,709,675 pounds of ground turkey products August 3, 2011.  The product may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg.  All recalled products were produced at the Springdale, AR plant:  USDA Establishment Number #P-963.

cargill_logo_3.pngAccording to the CDC, a total of 77 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 26 states between March 1 and August 1, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: AL (1), AZ (2), CA (6), GA (1), IA (1), IL (7), IN (1), KY (2), LA (1), MA (1), MI (10), MN (1), MO (2), MS (1), NC (1), NE (2), NV (1), NY (2), OH (10), OK (1), OR (1), PA (5), SD (3), TN (2), TX (9), and WI (3).

Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after March 9, 2011. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 88 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. Forty-eight percent are female. Among the 58 ill persons with available information, 22 (38%) have been hospitalized. One death has been reported.

Good for Cargill for stepping up and recalling the product, and for this:

“It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products and, for anyone who did, we are truly sorry,” Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill’s turkey processing business, said in a written statement.

Other Large Recalls in my memory:

The Westland/Hallmark recall in 2008 was by far the largest ever – 143,000,000 pounds. (Class II Recall)

Listeria contamination – one in Michigan (Bil-Mar) in 1999 for 35 million pounds and a poultry recall in Pennsylvania (Pilgrim’s Pride) in 2002 for 27 million pounds.

Number 4 – 1977 Hudson Foods Co., with 25 million pounds of ground beef sold to quick-service retailers. This was tied to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak of about 20 illnesses.

Number 5 was 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef patties in 2007 liked to Topps. There were more than 30 E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in eight states.

Number 6 was ConAgra Foods of Colorado with 18.6 million pounds of beef. The outbreak was in 10 states that sickened at least 34 people.

According to efoodalert, Cargill has announced an immediate recall of fresh and frozen ground turkey meat produced at its Springdale, Arkansas production facility from February 20, 2011 through August 2nd.

The turkey meat, which may be contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg, is being recalled as a result of Cargill’s “…internal investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information that became available on Aug. 1, 2011, as well as an ongoing USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigation into multiple illnesses from Salmonella Heidelberg.“

Cargill’s recall announcement continues as follows:

Additionally, Cargill has suspended production of ground turkey products at its Springdale, Ark., turkey processing facility until it is able to determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg and take corrective actions. Other turkey products produced at Springdale are not part of the recall. Cargill owns four turkey processing facilities in the U.S. and no products from the other three are involved in the recall.

“While facts continue to be gathered, and currently there is no conclusive answer regarding the source of Salmonella Heidelberg contamination, given our concern for what has happened, and our desire to do what is right for our consumers and customers, we are voluntarily removing our ground turkey products from the marketplace,” said Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill’s turkey processing business. “Additionally, we have suspended ground turkey production at our Arkansas facility until the source can be pinpointed and actions to address it are taken. Public health and the safety of consumers cannot be compromised. It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products and, for anyone who did, we are truly sorry. We go to great lengths to ensure the food we produce is safe and we fully understand that people expect to be able to consume safe food, each serving, every time.”

“Suspending production until we can determine the source of the Salmonella Heidelberg at our Arkansas facility, and take corrective action, is the right thing to do,” stated Willardsen. “We are closely examining every aspect of our production process and have identified enhancements to our procedures in our efforts to ensure safe food. Eliminating food borne illness is always our goal.

Here is a complete list of the recalled products, as provided by Cargill:

The products involved are Ground Turkey. All packages include Est. P-963 on the label. Products are listed below:

Ground Turkey Chubs – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

10 lbs. Chubs of Honeysuckle White Fresh Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings

10 lbs. Chubs of Unbranded Ground Turkey w/ Natural Flavoring 2 Pack

80 oz. (5 lbs.) chubs of Riverside Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring

10 lb. Chub of Natural Lean Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh Lean HEB Ground Turkey 93/7

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Fresh HEB Ground Turkey 85/15

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring

4-1 Pound Packages of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring Value Pack

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey

48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Fresh Ground Turkey

85% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey

19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey Colored with Paprika

20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz.) trays of Safeway Fresh Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings * 15% Fat

19.2 oz. (1 lb. 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15

48.0 oz. (3 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh 85/15

48.0 oz. (3 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey Family Pack

16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey

19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White Seasoned Italian Style Ground Turkey with Natural Flavorings

20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey (NOTE: Sold in Texas only at Randall’s and Tom Thumb, Use or Freeze by 03/12/11 through 05/05/11)

93% Ground Turkey – Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

19.2 oz. (1.20 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey

48 oz. (3.0 lbs.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey Family Pack

19.2 oz. (1.2 lb.) trays of Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey 93/07

19.2 oz. (1.2 lbs.) trays of Giant Eagle Ground Turkey Fresh & Premium Lean

19.2 oz. (1 lb 3.2 oz.) trays of Kroger Ground Turkey Fresh Lean 93/7

20 oz. (1.25 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White 93/7 Lean Ground Turkey

Ground Patties

16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey Patties

Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

16 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Kroger Ground Seasoned Turkey Patties Fresh 85/15

Use or Freeze by Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/23/11

16.0 oz. (1 lb.) trays of Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers with Natural Flavoring

NOTE: ONLY THE FOLLOWING USE OR FREEZE BY DATES ARE AFFECTED: 07/09/11, 07/10/11, 07/11/11, 07/15/11, 07/16/11, 07/21/11, 07/22/11, 07/24/11, 08/01/11 AND 08/04/11

Frozen Ground Turkey – Production Dates of 2/20/11 through 8/2/11

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring

16 oz. (1 lb.) chubs of Spartan Ground Turkey

48 oz. (3 lb.) chubs of Honeysuckle White 85/15 Ground Turkey

40 lb. Bulk Packed Ground Turkey with Natural Flavoring For Food Service Use Only