Topps Expands Meat Recall

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The Topps Meat Co. has vastly expanded its recall of frozen hamburger patties that may be contaminated with E. coli after federal inspectors discovered inadequate safety measures at its plant.

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The Elizabeth-based company said it's recalling 21.7 million pounds of ground beef products, up from 332,000 pounds of ground beef initially recalled on Tuesday.

Investigators think 25 people may have been sickened in eight states, including New Jersey.

The recall represents all Topps products with either a ``sell by date'' or ``best if used by date'' between Sept. 25 this year and Sept. 25, 2008. The company says this information can be found on a package's back panel.

All recalled products, according to Topps, will have a USDA establishment number of EST 9748, which is located on the back panel of the package and/or in the USDA legend.

The move comes after federal inspectors suspended the grinding of raw products after finding inadequate safety measures at the Topps plant.