Costco Recalls Frozen Beef Patties

Costco recalled frozen ground beef patties from stores in 24 states because they may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Costco said Monday there had been one report of an illness, in New York state, from frozen ground beef patties produced in April at its central processing facility in Tracy, Calif.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the woman who got sick might not have washed her hands after handling the uncooked meat. Seven other people who ate the patties at the same barbecue were fine.

The recall is aimed at two products:

• Costco's frozen 1/3-pound Kirkland Signature Ground Sirloin and Loin of Beef Patties in 6-pound packages. The patties carry item number 18508 and can be identified by looking on the bottom of the plastic package bag and finding one of two production codes designated as follows:
  "xx:xx 04/06/98 MFG" or
  "xx:xx 04/07/98 MFG"
  The portion marked "xx:xx" designates the time of day.
• Frozen 1/4-pound Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Patties in 6-pound packages. They carry item number 18498 and are identified by a production code of "xx:xx 04/07/98 MFG," with "xx:xx" again designating the time of day.

Costco said the patties could be returned for a full refund, regardless of whether the package had been opened.

Costco has stores in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

(Consumers with questions about the recall can call Costco Wholesale's Membership Hotline toll-free, at 1-800-727-8248, between 9 a.m. and midnight EDT.)