On Christmas Eve, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released an advisory that there was “a recall of approximately 248,000 pounds of steaks that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.” This is a CLASS I RECALL – which means – “This type of recall involves a health hazard where a reasonable probability exists that eating the food would cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The recalled products are packages of steaks bearing a label with the establishment number “EST. 6010T” inside the USDA mark of inspection and packaging dates of “10/12/2009,” “10/13/2009,” “10/14/2009,” or “10/21/2009.”

National Steak and Poultry and the FSIS have only made available a list of recalled products, but so far have refused to reveal where those products were shipped, even in light of illnesses linked to the meat in “Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington.”

“The FSIS has indicated that E. coli illnesses are being investigated by the CDC in connection with the recall,” said food safety advocate and attorney William Marler. “Yet consumers have no information as to what states the tainted steaks were shipped or what retail outlets or restaurants received it. National Steak and Poultry has this information at its fingertips, FSIS should have access to it as well, and it is unconscionable that they have not made it available to the public,” continued Marler.

“This recall is the tenth so far in 2009. The FSIS policy of identifying retailers that received recalled products continues to appear to be getting a hit-or-miss application. At times, retailers and restaurants are identified on the same day as a recall, and on others, not at all. We know where we shop or where we had a steak. If we or restaurants are told where the contaminated steaks that has been recalled were sold, someone could go right to the freezer to see if there is any of the product,” added Marler.

After years of large recalls, focused efforts by meat regulators brought down E. coli contamination recalls to a low of 182,000 pounds in 2006. Recalls shot up again in 2007, and in the ensuing years (2007-2009), nearly 45 million pounds of beef have been recalled due to contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The CDC estimates that every year at least 75,000 Americans are sickened and 2000 Americans are hospitalized, and about 60 die as a direct result of E. coli infections and its complications. A recent study estimated the annual cost of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to be $405 million (in 2003 dollars), which included $370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and $5 million for lost productivity.

The products subject to recall include:

* 4-ounce “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “SC68408.”
* 6-ounce “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “SP680608.”
* 8-ounce “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “SC68808”
* 9-ounce “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “SC68908.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF TIPS,” with an identifying case code of “69108.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK” with an identifying case code of “XXSP68008.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY SAVORY SIRLOIN TIPS” with an identifying case code of “XX69008.”
* 5-ounce “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BACON WRAPPED BEEF FILLET,” with an identifying case code of “23508.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY USDA SELECT BEEF SHOULDER MARINATED TENDER MEDALLIONS” with an identifying case code of “23289.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY 75% BONELESS BEEF TRIMMINGS,” with an identifying case code of “33575.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BEEF TRIMMINGS,” with an identifying case code of “36545.”
* “NATIONAL STEAK AND POULTRY BEEF SIRLOIN PHILLY STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “88008.”
* 4-ounce “EGN BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “680425.”
* 7-ounce “EGN BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN TRI TIP STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “69725.”
* 9-ounce “EGN BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN TRI TIP STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “680925.”
* 7-ounce “KRM BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “680715.”
* 9-ounce “KRM BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “680915.”
* 12-ounce “KRM BONELESS BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “680215.”
* 8-ounce “CARINO’S BONELESS BEEF OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “130874.”
* “CARINO’S BONELESS BEEF OUTSIDE SKIRT STEAK PIECES,” with an identifying case code of “13074.”
* “MOE’S BEEF STEAK,” with an identifying case code of “78027.”