Topps Meat Co., saying the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history is too much for it to bear, announced Friday it was going out of business immediately.

"This is tragic for all concerned," said Anthony D'Urso, chief operating officer of the Elizabeth, N.J., company. “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."

Nearly 22 million pounds of Topps Meat frozen hamburger was recalled in late September for E. coli contamination.

A contingent of the company's 87 employees will remain at the Elizabeth plant to assist the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its investigation and to handle administrative matters.

"We sincerely regret the impact this will have on our employees, our customers and suppliers, and the

community," D'Urso said. "Most of all, we regret that our products have been linked by public health agencies to recently reported illnesses. We hope and pray for the full recovery of those individuals.”

Topps Meat Co. was founded in 1940 and was a leading manufacturer and supplier of frozen hamburgers and other portion-controlled meat.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 06 October 2007   

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