Sam’s Club hamburger subject of voluntary recall

WASHINGTON – Carneco Foods LLC of Columbus, Neb., is voluntarily recalling 131,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The meat was sold at Sam’s Club warehouse stores around the country, including in Bangor, Augusta and Scarborough, Maine, according to Sam’s Club national spokeswoman Melissa Berryhill.

Bangor Sam’s Club manager Ervin Dehmlow said Tuesday his store no longer has any of the recalled meat in stock.

Speaking from the company’s Bentonville, Ark. national headquarters, Berryhill said the Maine stores “had the product at one time,” and that “it’s likely the product was already purchased.”

“Locally we will deal with people who have concerns,” Dehmlow said. “If anyone has any concerns with a package that they purchased, we will take it back without question.”

The labels on all the products being recalled bear the establishment code “EST.245P” inside the USDA seal of inspection. The beef was produced on Feb. 22 and distributed to stores nationwide between Feb. 23 and May 6.

The USDA referred questions to the Carneco Foods Customer Hotline at (866) 824-6243. People with food safety questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (800) 535-4555.

The ground beef products being recalled are:

. 6-pound bags of “Northern Plains Beef Sirloin and Beef Patties 85/15.” Each bag bears a code of “0205321P.”

. 6-pound bags of “Northern Plains Ground Beef Patties 80/20.” Each bag bears a code of “02053A1P” or “0205321P.”

. 10-pound boxes of “Northern Plains Gourmet Beef Patties.” Each box bears a production code between “20020531317” and “20020530500.”

. 7-pound boxes of “Seasoned Beef Patties (Misformed).” Each box bears a production code between “20020531317” and 200205305000.”