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Orange County Informed Of Beef
Recall
(Santa Ana) –
Orange County Health Care Agency public health officials have received
confirmation from the California Department of Health Services of the
recall of beef due to possible contamination with the agent responsible
for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow” disease). According
to the State, one location in Orange County sold meat to the public that
is now being recalled.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a Class II
recall for meat processed the same day as the BSE-diagnosed cow from
Washington State. There are three levels of recall. According to the USDA,
the Class II recall indicates an extremely low likelihood that the beef
being recalled contains the infectious agent that causes BSE.
A Chau Supermarket, 16042 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley, sold over 1,000
pounds of boneless tenderloin and hind shanks from December 19 -24, 2003
that have been identified by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as
part of the lot in question. There is a remote possibility that the lot
may contain meat from the infected cow.
Boneless tenderloin and hind shank beef that was purchased between
December 19 and December 24 at A Chau Supermarket in Fountain Valley
should not be eaten and should be returned to the supermarket for refund.
BSE has been transmitted to humans by eating nervous system materials from
infected animals causing a variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Research to date shows no evidence that muscle cuts or whole muscle meats
from animals infected with BSE pose a risk. The likelihood of acquiring
vCJD from eating infected meat is extremely small.
Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and
Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline. The hotline is available in English
and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time),
Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24
hours a day.
USDA FSIS staff and Orange County Health Care Agency Food Protection
Program staff has inspected the supermarket and verified that all
remaining recalled beef has been removed from sale.
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