A Cherokee, Iowa, production facility owned by Tyson Deli, a division of Tyson Foods Inc., was named the 2008 Yum! Brands Inc. Overall Supplier of the Year, as well as the Taco Bell Supplier of the Year and the Pizza Hut Supplier of the Year.

"This is an incredible recognition by a valued partner," said Neal Simco, vice president national accounts sales, Tyson Foods. "The two companies have worked together for many years, and we look forward to our continued partnership as both businesses grow. We have worked hard to be the go-to supplier for YUM! Brands for an array of food products, and this recognition is the result of many Team Members from throughout Tyson Foods over several years. We thank each team member at the Cherokee, Iowa facility for their hard work and commitment," Simco said.

The facility was selected based on the Supplier Tracking Assessment and Recognition (STAR) audit system, Yum! Brands' criteria for evaluating its suppliers. Suppliers go through a rigorous operations audit and business review, and input from QA, R&D, marketing and purchasing leaders within each Yum! Brands concept are factored into the results.

Sources: Tyson Foods Inc., Cherokee Chronicle Times

Illinois company recalls 6,000 pounds of ground beef products

International Meat Co., Inc., a Chicago, Ill., establishment is recalling approximately 6,152 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

The products included in the recall are:
* 5-pound, plastic lined boxes of "International Meat Co., Purveyor of Fine Meats to Hotels and Restaurants, Beef Patties."
* 5- and 10-pound bags of bulk "International Meat Co., Beef Pattie Mix."
* 10-pound bags of "International Meat Co., Ground Beef."
* 10-pound bags of "Packed For, Purely Gourmet & Organic, Ground Beef."

Each box bears the establishment number "EST. 22080" inside the USDA mark of inspection and identifying package codes of "061709," "061809" or "061909." These ground beef products were produced on June 17, 2009, through June 19, 2009, and were shipped to distributors and restaurants in the Chicago, Ill., metropolitan area.

The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service