Guide Note

On September 29, 2007, the Topps Meat Company expanded its recall of frozen hamburger patties suspected to contain E. Coli. The recall totaled roughly 21.7 million pounds of meat that was distributed nation-wide to grocery stores and food service institutions. The initial recall on September 25 was for just over 330,000 pounds of meat.¹

Fast Facts

Toll-free recall help line: (888) 734-0451

Size of recall forced Topps out of business

Recall one of the largest in U.S. History¹

Largest beef recall was by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company in 2008 (143 million pounds)²

Topps operated for almost 70 years

87 lost jobs as a result of shut down¹

30 people sickened with E. Coli from beef¹

Company faces lawsuits from outbreak

E. Coli

Symptoms of E. Coli include:

Topps Meat Recall

The Buffalo News: Analyzing What Went Wrong at Topps Meat (June 10, 2008)
MSNBC: Topps Meat to Close Down After Meat Recall (October 5, 2007)
The New York Times: Meat Company Going Out of Business After Recall (October 5, 2007)
Reuters: Topps Meat goes out of business after recall (October 5, 2007)
CNN.com: 21.7 million pounds of meat recalled (September 29, 2007)
Google News: Topps Meat Company
MSNBC: Raw grinding halted at N.J. plant tied to E. coli (September 29, 2007)