Just in time to ruin your  holiday cookout, the JBS Swift Beef Company of Greeley, CO today expanded its June 24 beef recall to include 380,000 pounds of assorted beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The expanded recall comes as the result of an ongoing investigation into 24 illnesses in multiple states, 18 of which appear to be associated with the meat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

According to the earlier recall notice, the beef products were produced on April 21 and 22, 2009, and were shipped to distributors and retail establishments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. The FSIS has not yet released a list of retailers where the meat was sold.

The recalled products include intact cuts of beef typically used for steaks and roasts rather than ground beef. However, some of the larger cuts may have been made into ground beef by other companies. The recalled meat was shipped in boxes bearing the establishment number "EST. 969" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the identifying package date of "042109" and a time stamp ranging from "0618" to "1130." If the meat has been processed and repackaged it would no longer bear the establishment number "EST. 969." Concerned consumers should check with their retailer to be sure.

E. coli O157:H7 H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.