Establishment of Topps Meat Recall Registry for Victims of E. Coli Poisoning

08/10/07 The following statement was issued by the law firms Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP, and Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC:

Out of public health concerns and in light of the recent 22 million pound recall of potentially E. coli contaminated ground beef products, SCHIFFRIN BARROWAY TOPAZ & KESSLER, LLP and JANET, JENNER & SUGGS, LLC. have established a registry for victims of E. coli poisoning to document their injuries and illnesses. If consumers purchased or ingested the recalled Topps ground beef products and are concerned that they have been exposed to E. coli, they can go to http://www.topps-meat-recall-registry.com and register their complaints and/or injuries. Upon investigation, registered complaints of injury will be forwarded to the proper health authorities.

According to the CDC, 25 people in eight states may have fallen ill after eating hamburgers possibly contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Three cases -- two in New York and one in Florida -- are confirmed as being linked to the ground beef, with the other 22 cases possibly linked and under investigation. Illnesses were reported in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The New Jersey Health Department has stated that there are four suspected cases under investigation. Numerous contacts or reported injuries from the recalled beef have been received from the law firms from states around the country.

"We believe that there may be significant underreporting to state and federal health agencies of E. coli exposure. With a recall of over 21 million pounds of ground beef, you would expect that more then 20-25 consumers suffered E. coli poisoning," said Tobias L. Millrood, partner with Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP, in Radnor, Pennsylvania and Robert K. Jenner, partner with Janet, Jenner & Suggs, LLC in Baltimore, Maryland.

On September 29, 2007, Topps Meat Company, LLC, announced that it was expanding its September 25, 2007 recall to include a total of 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef products distributed to retail grocery stores and food service institutions. The recall now includes all products produced by Topps with a "sell by date" or "best if used by date" that falls between September 25, 2007 and September 25, 2008. All recalled products have the USDA establishment number of EST 9748 located on the back panel of the package and/or in the USDA legend.

The expanded recall now includes frozen ground beef products sold under the brand names Butcher's Best 100% all beef patties; Kohler Foods flat hamburger; Mike's seasoned beef patties; Pathmark 100% all beef burger; Rastelli's Fine Foods 100% premium beef hamburger; Roma - Topps 100% premium hamburger; Sam's Choice Backyard Gourmet Beef Burgers; Sand Castle Fine Meat 100% premium beef hamburger; Sand Castle Fine Meat Angus Chuck burger; Shop Rite 100% pure ground beef hamburgers; Shop Rite 100% pure quarter pound ground beef hamburgers; TOPPS 100% premium hamburger; TOPPS 100% pure ground beef hamburgers; TOPPS sirloin steak burgers; and West Side 100% premium hamburger.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.