RECALL of Bison Meat from Rocky Mountain Natural Meats

The United States Department of Agriculture is recalling 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized bison products from Rocky Mountain Natural Meats after it was linked to sickening five people in Colorado with E.coli.

According to a USDA news release, the recall includes:
- 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.

All of the products included in the recall have the establishment number "EST. 20247" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The USDA says the contaminated meat was produced between May 21, 2010 and May 27, 2010 and was sent to stores nationwide and to food service distributors in Utah and Arizona. The sell-by dates on the meat has past, but the USDA says it recognizes that people may freeze their bison meat for long-term storage.