Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, a Henderson, Colo. establishment, has recalled 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized steak bison products that have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Colorado and New York.

Officials became aware of the problem during the course of an on-going investigation into a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Colorado with illness onset dates between June 4, 2010 and June 9, 2010.  Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the New York Department of Health, 5 case-patients have now been identified in Colorado as well as 1 case-patient in New York with identical strains of E. coli O157:H7.  Officials have now determined there is an association between the Rocky Mountain Natural Meats’ ground bison products and the cluster of illnesses in the state of Colorado.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN.” These products have a lot number of 0147.
• 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and June 24, 2010
• 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010.
• 15-pound boxes of “ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK.” These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 20247” inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were produced between May 21, 2010 and May 27, 2010.  Most of the products have a sell-by date of June 20 to June 24.  The products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide and also to food service distributors in Utah and Arizona.

Although the sell-by dates for these products have passed, consumers may have frozen the products before use and there is concern that some product may still be left in consumers’ freezers.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure.  The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Weis Markets, a Sunbury , Pa grocery chain, has already pulled the products from its shelves: “While we do not sell an enormous quantity of these products, we wanted to get this information to the public,” the company said in a statement.”

The outbreak comes just one week after Robert Dineen, President and CEO of Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, was named a finalist for “Rocky Mountain Entrepeneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young. It also comes just three days after Dineen met with city officials in Brush, Colorado.  The company intends to build a meat processing facility there that would begin with 25 employees including management, and process 100 head of bison a day, in its six-day-a-week operation.

“We hope we bring something to the City of Brush with this project,” Bob Dineen, president of RMNM, told councilors. “We looked at a number of locations and we like this one.”

In his letter to the City of Brush, Dineen, stated, “The facility proposed to be built will be state-of-the-art and the location will benefit both the City and the residents because it is in City limits, yet separated from everyday traffic. This location is suited for industrial and will be compatible with the surrounding businesses, landowners and future development in the area.”

The land, said Schminke, has been inactive for the past decade, with RMNM wanting the re-zoning to move the property back to its original industrial designation and re-subdivide it into one 10-acre parcel.

During the hearing, councilors asked Dineen several questions pertaining to odor and noise control, with the president stating, “There will be some noise, but I don’t believe it will impact anyone,” further explaining the hours of operation. “Our intent is not to create odors as we will follow USDA and animal welfare guidelines,” he added.

Hmmmm.   I wonder if Mr. Dineen promised that the company would not poison its customers?

Simon & Luke Can Help

If you have tested positive for E. coli after eating bison meat from Rocky Mountain Natural Foods, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your illness – including payment for all of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering you endured.

The E. coli lawyers at Simon & Luke are currently investigating this E. coli outbreak.

We have represented over 2000 victims of food poisoning across the United States, filing hundreds of food poisoning lawsuits and recovering millions of dollars in food poisoning settlements for our clients.  Call us toll free at 1-888-335-4901 or contact us by email at ron@simonluke.com – we are happy to answer your questions free of charge.