Beware boxes of beef marked "W.B. STOCKYARD"

Almost 40,000 pounds of ground beef and beef patties from New York and California were recalled yesterday due to E. coli contamination, Consumerist reports.

Both recalls have are considered Class I hazards by FSIS, meaning "there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."

The New York beef was destined for food service institutions:

Each package bears establishment number "EST. 20889" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well the Julian dates of "10164" and "10166." These ground beef products were produced on June 11, 2010, and June 15, 2010, and were shipped to food service institutions in Connecticut., N.J., and N.Y.

Photo by Flickr user cobalt123; posted under Creative Commons license.