USDA ANNOUNCES RECALL OF ADDITIONAL HUDSON FROZEN GROUND BEEF 

                                            Release No. 0276.97
                                           
                                                               
                                   Jacque Knight (202) 720-9113
                                    Johna Pierce (202) 720-4623
                                          johna.pierce@usda.gov



USDA ANNOUNCES RECALL OF ADDITIONAL HUDSON FROZEN GROUND BEEF 

     WASHINGTON, August 15, 1997--The U. S. Department of Agriculture today
announced that the size of the recall of ground beef from Hudson Foods
Company of Rogers, Ark., is greater than originally estimated.  Over 1.2
million pounds are being recalled because of possible contamination with the
E.coli O157:H7 bacterium.  The product was distributed nationwide in retail
grocery stores and wholesale stores.

     Consumers who have purchased frozen ground beef patties since June 4
should doublecheck their freezers to determine whether they still have
unused product and should return it to the point of purchase.

     "USDA is conducting a thorough investigation at the plant to ensure
that no unsafe product is being allowed to go into commerce," said
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.  Glickman also said he is asking the
USDA's Office of Inspector General to review reporting procedures involved
in the recall.

     "USDA is examining records at the Columbus, Neb., plant to determine
the explanation for the delay in the full report of the production records,"
said Cathy Woteki, Under Secretary for Food Safety. "USDA will pursue the
appropriate corrective action."  

     There could be additional product codes involved in the Hudson Foods
recall, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said today.  Those codes
will be announced as soon as they are identified.

     USDA urged consumers to continue to look for the following Hudson
codes:

    All 48-oz. (3-lb.) packages of "Hudson Beef Burgers, Individually
     Quick Frozen," containing 12 one-quarter-pound frozen patties, with
     the code "156A7" embossed on the bottom of the bag;

    All 3-lb. packages of "Hudson 100% Pure Beef Patties, Individually
     Quick Frozen," containing 12 one-quarter-pound frozen patties, with
     the code "156B7" embossed on the bottom of the bag; and

    All 15-lb. boxes of "Hudson 60 - 1/4 lb. Beef Patties, Uncooked
     Individually Quick Frozen" containing 60 one-quarter-pound frozen
     patties, with the code "155B7" printed near the bar code on the side
     panel of the box.

     "Est. 13569" appears inside the USDA inspection seal on the label of
the three products.  No other products are affected by the recall.
                            
                                
     FSIS said today it had determined that ground beef production at the
Hudson plant in Columbus amounted to an estimated 475,419 pounds on June 4,
329,869 pounds on June 5 and 407,024 pounds on June 9.

     "We are continuing to examine the records to determine if there is any
further product implicated," said FSIS Administrator Tom Billy.

      USDA announced Hudson's voluntary recall of 20,000 pounds on Tuesday
and an additional 20,000 pounds of frozen ground beef sent to fast food and
other restaurants on Wednesday.

     "We appreciate the cooperation from the distribution centers in
response to the recall," said Billy.

     FSIS maintains a liaison with the Centers for Disease Control in
Atlanta to determine whether reports of foodborne illness are linked to the
recall. CDC has no deaths reported that have been linked to this recall and
is continuing to investigate to determine whether reported E. coli 0157:H7
infections are related.

     E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause severe
abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and dehydration.  The very young, the
elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most
susceptible to foodborne illness.  Persons with any of these symptoms should
immediately contact their doctor or hospital.

     "Because of the potential hazard of foodborne disease from consumption
of undercooked or underprocessed meat and poultry products contaminated with
pathogens such as the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, we continue to urge
consumers who may have purchased the suspect product to return it to the
place of purchase," said Billy.  

     Consumers with questions about the recall may phone the toll-free USDA
Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555, which will be manned 24 hours a
day during this recall. This number also provides access to a
telecommunications device for the deaf and the hearing impaired.

#                               

Editor's Note:  Media inquiries to the Hudson Foods Company should be
directed to John White at 501-636-1100.
                                 
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