EXCELLENT way to get rid of all of that beef!


[url]http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020726/ap_on_re_us/contaminated_beef_inmates_1[/url]


BUENA VISTA, Colo. (AP) - Hundreds of inmates were served meatloaf that prison officials knew was made with beef recalled because of E. coli contamination, state officials acknowledge.

 

About 2,500 pounds of recalled ConAgra ground beef was given to inmates at Buena Vista Correctional Complex and two other state prisons since June 5. Only those at Buena Vista were knowingly served the meat, at lunch on Saturday, the Department of Corrections said Thursday.

None of the inmates became ill from the meat, officials said.

"The decision to cook it was because they could prepare the meat safely," corrections department spokeswoman Alison Morgan said, adding that no disciplinary review was expected.

Buena Vista inmates told prison officials that they found recalled meat in a kitchen freezer Saturday, The Denver Post reported Friday. Warden Tony Reid ordered it cooked and served, the newspaper said.

There was no listing for Reid's home telephone number, and he did not immediately return a message left at the prison by The Associated Press.

The Post said corrections supervisors learned of the matter when contacted by the newspaper. As a result of the inquiry, the department will issue a written policy mandating the return of all food products subject to recall, Morgan said.

"It clearly was an erroneous decision to serve the recalled beef," said Dan Hopkins, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens. "The executive director of corrections has assured the governor's office that such lapses will not occur in the future."

It is unclear how many Buena Vista prisoners ate the meat, Morgan said, but about 850 of the 1,230 inmates come to lunch each day. Some guards also may have eaten it, she said.

Delta Correctional Center and Rifle Correctional Center also served the contaminated beef, Morgan said.

The meat processed at ConAgra's center in Greeley was recalled June 30 because of E. coli contamination. It became the second-largest recall in U.S. history in July, when the company expanded it to 18.6 million pounds.

Cool.

Now if only the rest of the prisons could follow suit.