Don't think that's the right link =)

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Unfortunately for AFG's customers this was not an isolated occurrence. We have seen this all before. In December 2000, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued a press release stating that 17 Minnesota citizens had been infected with the same strain of the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria during November 2000. On December 4, FSIS, stated in a Class I alert that Green Bay Dressed Beef, the meat supplier doing business as AFG, was, at the suggestion of the FSIS, recalling 1.1 million pounds of contaminated ground beef. One of the young children we represented developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).

Also, In December 1998, another recall was issued for 1,000 pounds of beef manufactured by AFG and distributed to Cub Foods stores in the Chicago, Illinois area after random testing showed that meat in one of the stores was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Again, in December 1999, a recall of ground beef was made after government inspectors found contamination at the AFG plant. Yet another recall, this time for over 500,000 pounds of ground beef manufactured by AFG, occurred in August 2001. In that outbreak we represented five people.

One more "beef" of mine - It is an agreement between USDA and industry — USDA will not disclose the names of slaughter houses without a positive test “above the grinder” - which is why there is no mention of where the meat came from that was ground by AFG in this latest recall. Also, on the "downside" of the grinder - on the retail side - there is also an agreement between USDA and industry to not disclose “proprietary information” - which includes where the contaminated meat was sold. Health Departments have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to not disclose that information to the public in order to get the information from USDA. Welcome to my world — ever read Kafka?

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Interestingly, there's nothing on their website about the recall, either in the "News" or "Food Safety" sections. They do have this comforting message on their home page, though:

Quality, Integrity and Partnership

American Foods Group, LLC, is the result of a 2005 merger of two of the largest privately held meat producers in the United States. We are among the top three privately held meat processors in the United States, employing approximately 4,000 people.

American Foods Group, LLC, brings you the highest quality meat products, customized to your specifications. Meeting customer expectations 100% of the time, is our goal. We partner with our retail, foodservice and specialty store customers to anticipate changing trends and develop products for your unique markets.

"We believe in caring for our customers and caring for our employees. That will not change."
Tom Rosen, Co-Chairman of
American Foods Group, LLC

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This is why I now grind my own beef....it takes less than 10 minutes to grind 1 lb., and the taste is phenomenal. I'm also pretty confident that I won't be giving myself e-coli either!

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