E. Coli Worry Broadens Recall Of Ground Beef

The government expanded its recall of ground beef produced by an Arkansas company to 1.2 million pounds Friday because of new evidence of possible contamination by E. coli bacteria.

The hamburger was distributed in 33 states in the East and Midwest. It was not distributed to Washington, Idaho or any other Far West state.

Anyone who has purchased frozen ground-beef patties since June 4 should check their freezers to determine if any of the Hudson Foods Co. products are there. If so, they should be returned to the point of purchase, said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

The tainted beef came from the Hudson Foods plant in Columbus, Neb., and government officials are trying to determine if other contaminated products were produced there.

Much of the ground beef probably has already been eaten, officials said.