Sherita Wells took her half-empty box of Topps frozen beef burgers back to the supermarket for a refund. "I told the cashier that these burgers had been recalled but he had no idea what I was talking about," says Wells. "I thought they were supposed to keep up with recalled products�it's wild that these burgers are still being sold." And the lawsuits are next up. [MORE: TOPPS RETAILERS]
Topps Beef Recall: "Ohmigod, I ate E. coli burgers"
Vincent Torres bought a package of quarter-pounder Topps beef burgers and broiled three of them that night�he had a healthy appetite. But it's going to be a long time before he'll eat another burger after becoming violently ill from E. coli, just one week before reading about the Topps beef recall. [MORE: I ATE E.COLI BURGERS]
Topps Beef Burgers Ruined the Party
Denise Shepherd's family was celebrating her son's graduation party�she cooked a box of Topps beef burgers. Luckily, she had other items on the menu and the kids opted for hotdogs; they were the only family members who didn't get food poisoning�the burgers were on the recall list because they were contaminated with E. coli. [MORE: BURGER PARTY]
Topps Beef Burgers: Storing in the Freezer
Miriam S. (not her real name) cooked herself a Topps burger and it tasted pretty good, but later that night she started to get really bad cramps. "They were really painful and I was worried," she says. "I tried to throw up by drinking baking soda and hot water but it didn't work. Then around 4 am a lot of blood was in my stool and that scared me." All she could do was lie on the couch�Miriam was alone and too sick to drag herself to the doctor or the hospital. [MORE: FREEZER STORAGE]
Topps Beef Recall: What About Medical Expenses?
"Obviously there was no stool sample taken (because of my condition). They took Cat Scans, x-rays, blood and urine, the whole gamut. Still they didn't find the cause. They asked what I ate in the last few days, was I stressed. They never said it could be bacteria from food." [MORE: MEDICAL EXPENSES]
Information on the Topps Beef Recall
Nearly 21.7 million pounds of ground beef and related products suspected of E.coli contamination has been recalled by Topps Meat Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The suspected beef is known to have sickened 25 people in eight states so far. Of those, three are known to have contracted E.coli from the beef, with a further 22 reports under investigation.
Initially 332,000 pounds were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, in concert with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Illnesses were reported in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 - the worst strain - are diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and malaise. Symptoms can begin two to five days after food is eaten and can last about eight days. Some, especially the very young, have developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome that causes acute kidney failure. A similar illness, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, may occur in adults.
The recalled meat represents all Topps brand products with either a 'sell by' date, or a 'best if used by' date of September 25th 2007 to September 25th 2008. The recalled hamburger also features a USDA establishment number of EST 9748.
2-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 8 Quarter
Pounders." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08." UPC #74701-00065
2-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 3 OZ., 10
COUNT." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08." UPC #74701-00125
3-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 6 OZ. PUB
Burgers." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08." UPC #74701-00045
3-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 16
Hamburgers." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08." UPC #74701-
00005.
5-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 20 Quarter
Pounders." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08." UPC #74701-00055.
8-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 32 Quarter
Pounders." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or JUL 23 08." UPC #74701-00185.
3-pound boxes of "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers, 12 Quarter
Pounders." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08," "JUL 12 08" or "JUL 23 08." UPC #74701-00025.
Nov-12-07 Update:
"We represent seven of the people who have been impacted by this outbreak," says lawyer William Marler, "and filed two lawsuits in New York: one in Ithaca and the other in Albany." Marler adds that so far, 40 people have reported being sickened by the virulent 0157:H7 strain of the E. coli bacteria.
These people share the same genetic fingerprint of the E coli bacteria in their stool as the E coli bacteria found in the recalled Topps meat. "Consumers should keep the Topps boxes but the most important thing is to collect a stool culture, no matter how sick they are," says Marler. "The fact that these people are culture-positive leaves very little room for Topps to maneuver with respect to causation. If someone is a match to the outbreak strain, the only argument will only be how much the case is worth."
Foodservice Products:
10-pound boxes of "BUTCHER'S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 6
OZ. FLAT, 27 PIECES." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "BUTCHER'S BEST 100% ALL BEEF PATTIES 75/25, 4
OZ. (4-1), 40 PIECES." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "KOHLER FOODS 4 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 40 PCS."
Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "KOHLER FOODS 6 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 27 PCS."
Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "KOHLER FOODS 8 OZ. FLAT HAMBURGER, 20 PCS."
Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF
HAMBURGERS 80/20, 8 OZ. FLAT, 20 COUNT." Each box bears a packed on date of "JUN 22 08."
10-pound boxes of "SAND CASTLE FINE MEAT, 100% PREMIUM BEEF
HAMBURGERS 85/15, 6 OZ. FLAT, 27 COUNT." Each box bears a packed on date of "JUN 22 07."
10-pound boxes of "Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS 5 OZ. (1/2")."
Each box bears a sell-by-date of "JUN 22 08."
10-pound boxes of "Topps HAMBURGERS, 3.2 OZ, 50 COUNT." Each box
bears a sell-by date of "JUL 12 08."
10-pound boxes of "Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 8 OZ. (Pub
Burger)." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "Topps 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGERS, 4 OZ. (4-1)
Homestyle." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUL 23 08."
10-pound boxes of "WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 8 OZ.
FLAT, 20 COUNT." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
10-pound boxes of "WESTSIDE, 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 6 OZ
FLAT, 27 COUNT." Each box bears a sell-by date of "JUN 22 08."
10-pound boxes of "WESTSIDE 100% PREMIUM HAMBURGER, 5 OZ
FLAT, 32 COUNT."
Topps Beef Recall Articles
Topps E. coli Beef: The Lost 18 Days
The Goodwins ate their tainted Topps burgers within that 18-day window. Timelines suggest that Kristin and Lucas consumed the bad beef on, or about September 15th, a full week after Topps would have been informed by regulators of the E. coli link to their product. [MORE: TOPPS BEEF DISASTER]
Topps Beef Recall: Erring on the Side of Disaster
Now that Topps Meat has gone into bankruptcy and the federal USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has promised to tighten up its food inspection protocols in the wake of the 21.7 million-pound recall of Topps products, it's time to ask a simple question: Was this trip necessary? [MORE: TOPPS BEEF DISASTER]
Topps Assets Sold, USDA Vows to Make Improvements
In one of the first positive steps to come out of the massive Topps beef recall in late 2007, a new program announced January 4th by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will see enhanced risk-based sampling and testing for the nasty E. coli 0157:H7 pathogen in raw ground beef. [MORE: USDA TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS]
Topps Tainted Meat: Different Brands Generates Confusion
The trouble with branding is that you sometimes lose sight of whose actually doing the manufacturing. And in the case of the recent Topps Meat recall, various lots of potentially tainted product sold under different trademarks may have confused some consumers�even some retailers�as to the condition, and the pedigree of the allegedly contaminated product. [MORE: TOPPS BRAND CONFUSION]
Topps E. coli Beef: Almost Two Million Pounds Still In Storage
Topps Meat Co. may have closed October 5th, but there are still 1.8 million pounds of meat potentially contaminated with E. coli still languishing in the company's warehouses. What ultimately happens to that meat will hinge on the potential sale of the bankrupt company�its assets as well as trademarks�to a food company in New Jersey. [MORE: TOPPS BEEF IN STORAGE]
Topps Tainted Beef: Recall Could Have Happened Sooner
In the aftermath of the Topps beef recall, one of the largest beef recalls in US history, a number of problems have been identified that may, ideally, serve to improve safeguards and prevent illness and similar recalls from happening again. [MORE: TOPPS RECALL WAS LATE]
Topps Beef Recall Press Releases
OCT-09-07: Initially, about 300,000 pounds of beef and beef products distributed by Topps was recalled - however, that number soon mushroomed to 21.7 million pounds of ground beef, one of the largest meat recalls in recent memory. [MORE: TOPPS BOTTOMS OUT] OCT-08-07: Lawsuits have been filed against Topps Meat Company in the wake of a [recall] due to the discovery of E. coli in some of the company's products. At least two lawsuits have been filed so far, although more are likely to follow. The contamination resulted in the hospitalization of adults and children who contracted E. coli after eating some Topps products. [MORE: TOPPS LAWSUITS FILED] OCT-01-07: As of Saturday, 21.7 million pounds of ground beef and related products suspected of E.oli contamination has been recalled by Topps Meat Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The suspected beef is known to have sickened 25 people in eight states so far. Of those, three are known to have contracted E.coli from the beef, with a further 22 reports under investigation. [MORE: EXPANDED RECALL, LISTS] SEP-29-07: Hamburgers possibly contaminated with E. coli have sickened eight people in eight states, and has resulted in a recall of frozen hamburger, according to a release by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in Atlanta. [MORE: TOPPS BEEF RECALL]
JAN-4-08: Following the Topps Beef recall the USDA has introduced an enhanced risk-based sampling and testing program for E.coli in raw ground beef. [CATTLE NETWORK: TOPPS BEEF]
DEC-26-07: Topps Meat Co., a company that was bankrupted after the recent beef recall, may be sold to Premio Foods. [NEWS: TOPPS MEAT RECALL]
DEC-12-07: This year, 20 beef recalls have been announced, one less than the record set in 2000. The recalls include small companies like Topps Meat, which recalled 21.7 million pounds of frozen hamburger. [TIMES: TOPPS BEEF RECALL]
DEC-05-07: In 2002, the USDA issued recommendations on reducing E. coli contamination of food. However, an investigation of the Topps hamburger recall showed that the Topps plant was no longer following those recommendations. [FARM FUTURES: TOPPS RECALL]
DEC-02-07: The September 29 recall of Topps beef was the second largest ever for ground beef. Despite it being so large, officials still found 141 boxes of the recalled burgers in 12 state stores a month after the recall. [USA TODAY: TOPPS BEEF]
OCT-29-07: In the months before issuing a massive recall of its frozen hamburgers, Topps Meat Co. curtailed testing of ground beef and skipped other safeguards aimed at preventing contaminated meat from reaching consumers, according to a published report Tuesday. [MSNBC: REDUCED INSPECTIONS]
OCT-19-07: A lawsuit for punitive damages has been filed against Topps Meat Company on behalf of a mother and son who became ill after eating a tainted hamburger. "We are asking for punitive damages because had the company acted responsibly and recalled its products the day they discovered the E. coli contamination, Kristin and her son's infections could have been prevented." [JOURNAL: TOPPS MEAT LAWSUIT]
OCT-18-07: The Topps beef recall has been expanded to include some other branded products. Consumers are urged to check for these brands: Shop Rite, Pathmark, Sam's Club, Kohler, Rastelli's, Roma, Sand Castle and Westside. [AAP: TOPPS BEEF]
OCT-05-07: Due to the incredible economic pressure of the massive beef recall, Topps Food Inc. announced today they will be going out of business. [REUTERS: TOPPS FOOD]
OCT-04-07: A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of those people made sick by tainted Topps beef. The suit names Topps as well as stores that stock its frozen meat, including Wal-Mart, ShopRite and Pathmark. [NY TIMES: TOPPS BEEF RECALL]
SEP-30-07: Topps Meat Co. has widened it's recall to 21.7 million pounds of ground beef product, up from 332,000 pounds originally recalled on Sep-25-07. [WASHINGTON POST: TOPPS BEEF RECALL]
Topps Beef Recall Legal Help
If you or a loved one has suffered damages in this beef E. coli case, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Elizabeth, NJ: It grew to become the second-largest beef recall in US history. And yet an 18-day delay issuing the Topps beef recall after the first positive E. coli test put consumers at risk [READ MORE]
Elizabeth, NJ: Now that Topps Meat has gone into bankruptcy and the federal USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has promised to tighten up its food inspection protocols in the wake of the 21.7 million-pound recall of Topps products, it's time to ask a simple question: Was this trip necessary [READ MORE]
Elizabeth, NJ: In one of the first positive steps to come out of the massive Topps beef recall in late 2007, a new program announced January 4th by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will see enhanced risk-based sampling and testing for the nasty E. coli 0157:H7 pathogen in raw ground beef [READ MORE]
Miriam S. (not her real name) cooked herself a Topps burger and it tasted pretty good, but later that night she started to get really bad cramps. "They were really painful and I was worried," she says. "I tried to throw up by drinking baking soda and hot water but it didn't work. Then around 4 am a lot of blood was in my stool and that scared me." All she could do was lie on the couch�Miriam was alone and too sick to drag herself to the doctor or the hospital. [
"Obviously there was no stool sample taken (because of my condition). They took Cat Scans, x-rays, blood and urine, the whole gamut. Still they didn't find the cause. They asked what I ate in the last few days, was I stressed. They never said it could be bacteria from food." [
Initially 332,000 pounds were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, in concert with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Illnesses were reported in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Now that Topps Meat has gone into bankruptcy and the federal USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has promised to tighten up its food inspection protocols in the wake of the 21.7 million-pound recall of Topps products, it's time to ask a simple question: Was this trip necessary? [
In one of the first positive steps to come out of the massive Topps beef recall in late 2007, a new program announced January 4th by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will see enhanced risk-based sampling and testing for the nasty E. coli 0157:H7 pathogen in raw ground beef. [
In the aftermath of the Topps beef recall, one of the largest beef recalls in US history, a number of problems have been identified that may, ideally, serve to improve safeguards and prevent illness and similar recalls from happening again. [
OCT-09-07: Initially, about 300,000 pounds of beef and beef products distributed by Topps was recalled - however, that number soon mushroomed to 21.7 million pounds of ground beef, one of the largest meat recalls in recent memory. [
OCT-08-07: Lawsuits have been filed against Topps Meat Company in the wake of a [recall] due to the discovery of E. coli in some of the company's products. At least two lawsuits have been filed so far, although more are likely to follow. The contamination resulted in the hospitalization of adults and children who contracted E. coli after eating some Topps products. [
OCT-01-07: As of Saturday, 21.7 million pounds of ground beef and related products suspected of E.oli contamination has been recalled by Topps Meat Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey. The suspected beef is known to have sickened 25 people in eight states so far. Of those, three are known to have contracted E.coli from the beef, with a further 22 reports under investigation. [
Elizabeth, NJ: In one of the first positive steps to come out of the massive Topps beef recall in late 2007, a new program announced January 4th by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will see enhanced risk-based sampling and testing for the nasty E. coli 0157:H7 pathogen in raw ground beef 
