A company in Fresno, California, is issuing a product recall after concern over food poisoning relating to its ground beef products that are believed to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. According to news report in the Fresno Bee, Beef Packers Inc. is recalling more than 825,000 pounds of ground beef shipped this summer because of an outbreak of a drug-resistant salmonella that may have sickened consumers – including two in Tulare County, California and 21 people in Colorado.

The meat was produced between June 5 and June 23, 2009 and distributed to retail centers in California, Arizona, Colorado and Utah. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that the beef was repacked under different retail names. So, consumers should check with the store where they bought the beef to determine if they have bought any of the recalled, salmonella-contaminated beef. The recalled beef products bear the establishment number "EST. 31913" printed on case code labels.

Biggest Beef Recall this Year

A news report in the Fresno Bee also states that this is the country's biggest beef recall this year. The USDA is classifying this defective product recall as Class I, reflecting the highest level of risk. State health officials in Colorado say 21 people in that state were sickened in June by a strain of salmonella called "Newport" that has been traced to ground beef shipped by the Fresno company. Of the 40 food poisoning cases in nine states, five have been reported in California.

Salmonella infections can not only be expensive to treat, but also extremely painful and in some cases, even life-threatening. The most common symptoms of such food poisoning include chills, headache, nausea, diarrhea, painful abdominal cramps and fever within eight hours to three days of consuming the contaminated products.

In food poisoning cases that lead to serious personal injury or death, victims and/or their families may seek compensation from the food producer to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings and other related damages. In cases were negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent manufacturer.

Consulting a Food Poisoning Attorney

If you have consumed any of this contaminated beef and are experiencing symptoms of salmonella food poisoning, please get medical attention immediately. Your doctor or physician will conduct lab tests that will help determine whether you are suffering from a salmonella infection. If you still have the package of meat you consumed, please preserve it so it can be tested for the bacteria as well. These tests will help determine what caused your salmonella infection. Please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will help guide you through the process, inform you about your legal rights and options and hold the negligent parties accountable.