Meat company shuts down days after hamburger recall

NEWARK - Topps Meat Co. yesterday said it was closing its business, six days after it was forced to issue the second-largest beef recall in US history and 67 years after it first opened its doors.

The decision will cost 87 people their jobs, the company said.

On Sept. 25, Topps began recalling frozen hamburger patties that may have been contaminated with a potentially fatal E. coli bacteria strain. The recall eventually ballooned to 21.7 million pounds of ground beef.

Thirty-two people had E. coli infections matching the strain found in the Topps patties, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. None have died.

"This is tragic for all concerned," said Topps chief operating officer Anthony D'Urso. Topps faces at least two lawsuits filed since the recall.