Swift: “systemic breakdown” led to beef recall

JBS Swift says a “systems breakdown” at its Greeley, Colorado plant on April 21st might have led to possible E. coli contamination. Today, JBS is recalling over 41-thousand pounds of meat. Swift spokesman Chandler Keys tells Brownfield that a random USDA test at a retailer that ground up the sirloin product turned up the E. coli bacteria. Keys says through the investigation, it was discovered there had been a technical breakdown on the line that workers had NOT reported to higher-ups. Had supervisors known, he says the meat would have been “walled off.” Keys says, “Unfortunately it wasn’t – it was a systems breakdown on our part. So, we’ve moved to correct that.”The beef was shipped in late April and early May to distributors and retail outlets in 13 states, including: Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin and South Carolina. The other states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah.

Keys says the product most likely has already been consumed and there are no reports of illness associated with it. He says Swift is continuing to cooperate with USDA.

 JBS Swift – “Fresh Approach to Beef Safety”

AUDIO: Chandler Keys, JBS Swift spokesman, (8:00 min., MP3)