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A recall of over 165,000 pounds of ground beef has been issued because of possible E. coli contamination.
About 167,277 pounds of ground beef products, both frozen and fresh, that may be tainted with E. coli O157:H7 were recalled by the Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co., according to a Wednesday announcement from the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill persons who had reported that they consumed ground beef prior to their illness,” according to the FSIS.
Recall details for ground beef
The “use by” date of the recalled beef is November 14, 2024, and the manufacture date on the label for the frozen items is October 22, 2024.
With the USDA mark of inspection, the products have the establishment number “EST. 2574B” on them. To view all of the product details and photographs, click this link.
All of the recalled products were transported to eateries across the country.
Following its initial notification of the illnesses on November 13, the FSIS stated that it “determined that there was a link between the ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. and this illness cluster, working in conjunction with Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health.”
“On November 20, 2024, a ground beef sample collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as part of an outbreak investigation tested positive for E. coli O157,” said the department. “To date, 15 case-patients have been identified in one state with illness onset dates ranging from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024.”
The agency stated that it is still conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health.
Restaurants have been warned by the FSIS not to serve these items and to be aware of the possibility “that some product may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers.”
“These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the recall notice told consumers.
According to the FDA, “anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.”
E. coli symptoms
To quote the Minnesota Department of Health, Escherichia coli O157 “is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli.”
“The majority of E. coli strains are benign and reside in the intestines of both healthy humans and animals. Nonetheless, the government notes that the O157 strain generates a potent toxin that can result in serious sickness. An E. Coli O157 infection can cause severe diarrhea, which is frequently bloody, as well as cramping in the abdomen. E. coli O157 infections typically do not cause fever or vomiting.
The government states that signs of an E. Coli O157 infection usually appear two to five days after the germ is first encountered.
Most patients recover from their infection without therapy within five to seven days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, according to the organization, “some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.”
“The best ways to prevent infection are by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely, and drinking safe water,” the CDC adds.
