Costco Recalls Beef After E. Coli Illness

Costco Wholesale Corp. on Monday recalled frozen ground beef patties from 24 states, including California, after an elderly woman in New York became sick from deadly E. coli bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

The USDA tested Costco beef from the same batch eaten by the woman and found traces of E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria.

About 172,000 pounds of beef are subject to the voluntary recall by Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco.

The recalled beef includes 6-pound packages of Kirkland Signature Ground Sirloin and Loin of Beef Patties, item 18508, in a box of 18 individual third-pound frozen patties, and Kirkland Signature Ground Beef Patties, item 18498, in a box of 24 individual quarter-pound frozen patties.

Customers should return boxes of grilled sirloin dated “04/07/98” or “04/06/98.” The recalled ground beef patties are dated “04/07/98,” USDA said.

For more information, consumers can call the USDA, (800) 535-4555, or Costco, (800) 727-8248.