The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) received reports from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the spate of E. coli O157: H7 illnesses just before Christmas Eve.

These illnesses are extremely detrimental to the health of children, senior adults and those with low resistance. Consequently, National Steak and Poultry, the producer, was instructed to recall over 25 types of steaks bearing an "EST. 6010T" establishment label with packaging dates "10/12/2009," "10/13/2009," "10/14/2009," or "10/21/2009."

The company, in its recorded message has been reiterating that this is the first of its kind action in its history. Following the outbreak of E. coli caused ailments in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington; the USDA officials have issued a Class I recall of nearly 248,000 pounds of beef products. The items are being sold under the brand names, Carino's Boneless Beef and Moe's Beef Steak apart from the Company’s own name.

The Oklahoma based company, without actually confirming the probable contamination, has promised to be cautious to the extent of erring in its operations. In the meantime, the USDA says that anyone who shows signs of stomach flu may be a probable victim of E. coli O157: H7 infection and should consult a physician at once.