Jul 1, 2007 12:00 PM

In a precautionary measure, United Food Group LLC, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is voluntarily expanding its recall to include fresh and frozen ground beef products produced April 6-20 at its California plant. An estimated 5.3 million pounds may have been contaminated with the E coli O157:H7 bacteria.

Included in the recall are fresh ground beef packaged in tubes, fresh tray packs, and frozen hamburger patties. United Food Group emphasized that the fresh ground beef it produced April 6-20 is no longer available in stores. However, some of the ground beef affected by this recall could be stored in consumers' freezers for future use.

Labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 1241” inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All stores were notified to remove all product included in the recall. Recalled products were distributed in 11 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Details on specific products affected and code date information can be found at www.unitedfoodgrouprecall.com. For more information, phone the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 800-325-4164.