May 21, 2001 — WASHINGTON — Enmpak Foods last week voluntarily recalled 254,000 pounds of ground beef that may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Milwaukee-based Enmpak Foods recalled 10 pound cases of hamburger patties marked with a case code starting 2940, and 16 pound cases of “Steak n’ Shake Beef Steakburger” marked with a date code starting with ‘packed on W 02-08-01.’ The products were produced on October 20, 2000 and February 8, 2001.

According to the USDA’ s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the beef was sold to retail and institutional establishments in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

E. coli 0157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to food-borne illnesses.