Quantum Foods, an Illinois-based meat processor, is voluntarily recalling 406,000 pounds of frozen beef products, including some intended for use by Applebee’s International Inc restaurants.
Tests indicated the beef may be contaminated by E coli bacteria. Each box has the establishment code “EST. 213-D” inside the United States Department of Agriculture seal of inspection.
Applebee’s said its best first estimate is that “only about 80,000 pounds” were packaged for use by the Overland Park KS-based restaurant chain, according to spokesman Frank Ybarra. He said Applebee’s likely didn’t still have any of the tainted meat because “this is the kind of inventory we would burn through pretty quickly.”
Products undergoing recall were produced June 23–24 and distributed nationally, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.