WASHINGTON – Emmpack Foods Inc. of Milwaukee is recalling 471,000 pounds of ground beef because of possible contamination by potentially deadly E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria, the Agriculture Department said Saturday.

The meat was produced on March 6 and distributed nationwide for retail use in five-pound tubes and for institutional purposes in boxes weighing between 5 and 20 pounds. Both products bear a sell-by date of 3-22-01 and bear the establishment number 20654 inside the USDA seal of inspection.

The retail product is identified as “Manufactured by Peck Meat Packing.”

E. coli 0157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.