Beef off school menus after e-coli scare

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Beef is off the menu in schools across West Michigan after a new e-coli scare.

Schools across West Michigan are scrambling to make sure their kids are safe. Grand Rapids Public Schools says its beef is unaffected, while Kalamazoo Schools have pulled its beef products until it's sure they're not at risk.

Portage Schools does get its beef from a supplier connected to the recall, and has pulled beef from the menu.

The products are from Montebello based Huntington Meat Packing Inc. under the Huntington, Imperial Meat Company and El Rancho brands. The recall now includes an additional 4.9 million pounds of beef and veal products that Huntington says were not produced in accordance with its food safety plan.

Portage Schools cafeterias are supplied by a subsidiary of Huntington called Chartwells, and to err on the side of caution, the district says for the time being, students will not be eating any beef products associated with the Huntington brand.

“We've pulled the items and we'll continue with substitutes, such as the hot dogs that we know are not part of this and other menu items,” said Tom Vance of Portage Public Schools, “and we won't return the beef to our line until it's been cleared.”

Chartwells released a statement about the recall which included; “Chartwells top priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff of the school districts we serve. Products that may be affected include; ground beef, beef burrito filling mix, ground beef patties, veal patties, diced beef, and sliced beef. As a result of these products being recalled under a high health risk classification, all beef and veal products within Chartwells locations have been placed on hold until they are deemed to not be impacted.”

The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Services has received no reports of illness associated with the products. Those concerned about possible food borne illness should contact their doctor.