August 3, 2001 — WASHINGTON — Meat Cleaver, a Denver, Colo., firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1,600 pounds of fresh ground beef and fresh ground pork that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The products being recalled are:

“Meat Cleaver GROUND BEEF” packaged in 60 pound cases,

“ROME’S GROUND BEEF” packaged in 40 pound cases, each containing four unlabeled 10 pound bags, and

“ROME’S GROUND PORK” packaged in 40 pound cases, each containing four unlabeled 10 pound bags.

Each package has a date code of “JUL 25 2001,” and bears the establishment number “4848” inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The fresh ground products were produced on July 25 and distributed to restaurants in Denver, Lakewood, and Westminster, Colo.

“Consumers may wish to ask at restaurants where they consume ground beef or ground pork if the product or meal contains the recalled product,” said Thomas Billy, FSIS administrator.

The problem was discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Consumers and media with questions about the recall may contact Robby Hatch, company owner, at (303) 458-7563.

Consumers with food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. The hotline can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday, and recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.