As contaminated beef is recalled, a reminder to clean refrigerators to keep the family safe

Nearly 94,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled for safety reasons, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) warned that meat supplier Tyson Fresh Meat’s plant in Amarillo, Texas issued a recall on Nov. 16 for 93,697 pounds of ground beef products. believed.

The contaminated items were shipped to retailers across Texas, FSIS reported on its dedicated webpage. The group said Tyson Foods informed FSIS that it had received complaints from people who found “mirror-like” material in ground beef products they purchased.

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The recalled products include 10 lbs. and 5 pounds. chub (tube ground beef) labeled “HILL COUNTRY FARE GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN / 27% FAT” with the “best before or freeze before” date of November 25, 2022 and 5 lbs. chub labeled “HEB GROUND CHUCK 80% LEAN/20% FAT GROUND BEEF.”

The items also have the establishment number “EST. 245E” printed on the seam, FSIS noted.

In a press release dated Nov. 15 and shared with Fox News Digital, Tyson Foods said, “Tyson Fresh Meats is voluntarily recalling 93,679 pounds of ground beef product which may be contaminated with hard, mirror-like pieces.

The company continued, “The affected product was manufactured at a facility in Amarillo, Texas. on November 2, 2022, and distributed to a retail customer in Texas. No other ground beef products are affected by this voluntary recall and there have been no reports of injury or illness. »

It is not enough to throw contaminated food out of the refrigerator due to a food recall.

The statement also noted, “Consumers with questions can call Tyson’s Consumer Relations Department at 1-855-382-3101 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.”

Take care of food products, contamination

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, friends and family are preparing to cook and bring food and recipe ingredients into homes – so it’s important to stay safe.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds Americans that it is not enough to throw contaminated food out of the refrigerator due to a food recall.

“When foods are recalled due to germs like E. coli or Listeria, check your refrigerator,” the CDC recently shared on Twitter.

“Throw out the recalled foods if you have them and clean out your refrigerator immediately.”

Germs from contaminated food can spread to refrigerator shelves and drawers, the CDC added.

“There are two different families of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria, those that cause foodborne illnesses, and spoilage bacteria, the type of bacteria that spoil food and develop unpleasant odors, tastes and textures” , said the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). notes on its website.

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People also need to watch out for cross-contamination, such as with deli meats and surfaces in the fridge.

It’s easier to be aware of spoilage bacteria, which thrive in cold temperatures and cause food to smell or taste bad, the USDA added.

“Even when contaminated deli meats are wrapped and in the fridge, people may not realize they may have touched the lunch meat, then touched the fridge door handle or opened a drawer in the fridge. refrigerator after making a sandwich,” Jennifer J. Quinlan, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.

Know the “danger zone”

“Bacteria grow rapidly between temperatures of 40°F to 140°F,” the USDA warns on its website.

This is called the “danger zone”.

People may not be aware of the presence of disease-causing bacteria because they generally do not alter the smell, taste, or appearance of food.

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It’s easier to be aware of spoilage bacteria, which thrive in cold temperatures and cause food to smell or taste bad, the USDA added.

“Most people wouldn’t choose to eat spoiled food, but if they did, they probably wouldn’t get sick,” the USDA also said.

“Listeria was also more likely to be present the higher the temperature in the refrigerator was above the recommended 40-45 degrees F.”

Some bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, grow well in cold temperatures, so they can grow in the refrigerator and cause illness.

“Since Listeria loves cold, then it could survive in the refrigerator and you could actually touch it and contaminate another food that is not usually associated with Listeria,” added Quinlan, who has conducted research on bacterial contamination. and foodborne pathogens found in household kitchens.

“So it’s really [the] potential for cross-contamination,” she added.

Some 45% of homes that tested positive in his study found a foodborne pathogen, with Listeria present in 15% of homes on refrigerator doors, shelves and meat drawers.

“Listeria was also more likely to be present the higher the temperature in the refrigerator was above the recommended 40-45 degrees F,” Quinlan said.

She added: “So it’s also really important to make sure your fridge is running cold enough to stay safe.”

“Do not leave food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours,” the CDC advised.

Here are five simple steps to keep your fridge germ-free in the event of a food recall.

1. Throw away recalled foods

Remember to have the following items ready first: sealable bags; hot soapy water and clean towels.

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The first step is to throw out the recalled foods. Don’t forget to also throw away any food that is stored in it or that has touched it.

Place contaminated food in a sealed bag in the trash, but if it was in a reusable container, wash the container with hot soapy water before using it again.

2. Empty the refrigerator

The second step is to remove all items from the refrigerator and set them aside on a flat surface.

“Do not leave [food] out of the refrigerator for more than [two] hours,” the CDC advised.

3. Wash all the elements as well as the removable parts of the refrigerator

The third step is to wash all removable parts of the refrigerator by hand with hot soapy water, but “do not run cold glass shelves or drawers under hot water as the glass may crack”, noted the CDC.

The agency reminds people to use hot, soapy water to wipe down any surface containing items or parts of the refrigerator during the cleaning process.

“Let them come to room temperature first.”

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Then use a clean towel to dry the shelves and drawers.

4. Clean the inside of the refrigerator

The fourth step is to clean the inside of the refrigerator with hot soapy water, then rinse with plain water, the CDC said.

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“Remember to wipe down the inside of doors and drawers that cannot be removed.”

After using hot, soapy water, the CDC noted an optional step to sanitize the refrigerator with a solution of one tablespoon of liquid bleach in one gallon of water to further clean it.

Use a clean towel to dry the inside of the refrigerator.

5. Replace items carefully

The final step is to put all the shelves, drawers, and items removed back into the refrigerator.

The agency reminds people to use hot, soapy water to wipe down any surface containing items or parts of the refrigerator during the cleaning process.

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Also, “wash towels you used to dry out the refrigerator before using them again,” the CDC advised.

Also, remember to wash your hands with soap and water after cleaning.

Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Reilly contributed reporting for this article.