NOV. 12–OMAHA, Neb.–Skylark Meats Inc. has recalled more than 111,000 pounds of ground beef after a 3-pound package tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

The 3-pound package of frozen ground beef from the plant, produced on Sept. 10 and pulled from retail, was tested by FDACS was contaminated with the deadly E. coli strain.

According to Skylark, there have been no illnesses associated or reported on product, while extensive testing of the product turned up negative.

However, siding with caution, Skylark is conducting this voluntary recall, involving 66,600 pounds of frozen ground beef, sold through a grocery chain and packaged individually in 3 pound chubs, carrying the”Skylark 100% Pure Ground Beef” label, with “sell by” dates of “9/10/03” and 44,440 pounds of frozen ground beef that was deemed for institutional use.

Skylark has already contacted customers and distributors to secure the product involved in this voluntary recall. Skylark urges consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the product involved. If found, please return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.

“Our company and our industry are dedicated to producing safe food,” says Jim Leonard, Skylark’s President.

Skylark’s food safety assurance systems, he adds, include such elements as documented process control systems, pre-operative sanitation, sanitary cleaning between production shifts, temperature audits, employee training, packaging system audits, temperature verification on shipping trailers and lab testing of products used.