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Topps Meat Company, LLC, an Elizabeth, NJ, establishment, is voluntarily expanding its Sept. 25 recall to include a total of approximately 21.7 million pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The recall is being expanded based on an additional positive product sample reported by the New York Health Department, reported illnesses and findings from a food safety assessment conducted by FSIS at the establishment.

There are currently 25 illnesses under investigation in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. An investigation carried out by the New York Department of Health in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preceded the recall of Sept. 25.

Frozen products still in commerce with an unexpired sell-by date are subject to this recall expansion. The company applies a one-year sell-by date to their frozen products. For best quality, FSIS recommends consumers use any frozen ground beef products within three to four months of the stated sell-by date. It is important that consumers look for the recalled products and return them if found in their freezers.

The frozen ground beef products were produced on various dates between Sept. 25, 2006, and Sept. 25, 2007, and were distributed to food service institutions in the New York metropolitan area and to retail establishments nationwide.

Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a sell-by date between "SEP 25 07" and "SEP 25 08."

For a complete list of recalled products please click here.

Consumers, retails and distributors with questions about the recall should contact the company’s recall line at 888-734-0451. Media with questions should contact the company’s media representative at 917-648-3584.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, seniors and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

The Department of Consumer Protection Food & Standard Division is aware of the recall and will be conducting recall effectiveness checks.

 Please refer to the attached USDA notice for additional product information.  Pictures of the labels can be viewed at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/images_recalls/040_2007_labels1.pdf

Each package also bears the establishment number "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection.