Poisoning May Be Linked to Beef

An unusual outbreak of food poisoning in Los Angeles last month may be linked to a roast beef product that was recently recalled by federal authorities, the county health department reported today.

There were 14 reported cases of the illness associated with a strain of bacteria called Salmonella newport, the same type found in a pre-cooked roast beef product produced by Russak’s Cured & Smoked Products, said Shirley Fannin, county health deputy director of communicable disease control. Allen Russak, vice president of Los Angles-based Russak’s, responded that “it is ridiculous to try and dovetail the company’s product to the scattered incidence.” He added that the company had recalled all the product, estimated by the federal government to be 100,000 pounds.