Topps Meat Shutting Down After Recall
Friday October 5, 11:35 am ET
Topps Meat Will Go Out of Business Following 2nd-Largest Beef Recall in U.S. History
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) -- Topps Meat Co. LLC, the meat company responsible for the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history, said Friday it will close its plant in Elizabeth, N.J., and go out of business, effective immediately.
Topps on Sept. 25 began a recall of its frozen hamburger meat that was expanded to comprise 21.7 million pounds of the meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli after federal inspectors discovered inadequate safety measures at its plant.
Investigators think 30 people may have been sickened in Indiana and seven other states.
In a statement, Chief Operating Officer Anthony D'Urso said called the events "tragic."
"In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large," he said.
A "small number" of the 87 plant employees will remain at the plant to assist the U.S. Department of Agriculture with its investigation into the meat recall and handle administrative matters.
Topps Meat was founded in 1940.
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