Ark. company recalls 40,000 pounds of ground beef sold in 12 states

Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. (www.tyson.com) on June 8 recalled more than 40,000 pounds of ground beef shipped to Wal-Mart stores in 12 states after samples tested at a Sherman, Texas, plant showed signs of E. coli contamination.

No illnesses had been reported. Tyson Foods said the recall is not related to contaminated ground beef distributed by California-based United Food Group LLC., which is also subject to a recall.

Tyson’s recalled products were sent to Wal-Mart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, the company said.

Wal-Mart has removed the products from its meat cases and is destroying the recalled ground beef still in its possession, officials said.

Tyson recalled 40,440 pounds of ground beef, all of which had sell-by dates of June 13. The ground beef was sold in prepackaged trays that were placed directly into the meat case.

The recalled products included:

• 11/2-pound trays of Angus steak burger all natural, 85/15, six quarter-pound patties;

• 1.33-pound trays of Angus steak burger all natural, 85/15, extra thick, 4 1/3-pound patties;

• 21/4-pound trays of 73/27 all-natural ground beef; and

• 51/2-pound trays of 73/27 all-natural ground beef.