A national government agency warns consumers about potentially harmful E. coli found in both fresh and frozen ground beef.
More Than 165,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled Nationwide
Published on Nov. 21, 2024
Fifteen people have fallen ill as a result of eating meat contaminated with a dangerous strain of the bacteria E. coli.
According to a November 20, 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), roughly 167,277 pounds of ground beef products distributed by Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit, MI company, are at the root of the outbreak. The items were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide. At press time, it was reported the individuals reporting infection are all in Minnesota.
The problem was discovered last week by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, at which point the state-level authority notified FSIS of the cluster of illnesses on November 13. The impacted individuals, all of whom experienced symptoms between November 2 and November 10, reported that they had consumed ground beef before developing their infections.
On November 20, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirmed their suspicions of Wolverine Packing Co.’s involvement when they collected samples of the company’s ground beef products. Those items tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, a strain of bacteria that can cause severe intestinal infection or even death in vulnerable people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those at highest risk for serious illness include:
- Children who are younger than 5 years
- Adults who are 65 years and older
- People who have a weakened immune system
- International travelers
The FSIS report notes that there are several symptoms to look out for if you believe you may have consumed food that is contaminated with E. coli.
“E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure [to] the organism,” they write. “While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS),” a condition that often presents with “easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output.”
FSIS urges anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek emergency medical care and report their illness to health authorities.
The recall notice also warns that some products may still be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers—and says it’s important that these items are discarded and not served. The fresh beef products bear a “use by” date of November 14, 2024, and the frozen products are labeled with production date October 22, 2024. They also include the establishment number “EST. 2574B,” which is printed inside the USDA mark of inspection. You can view the product labels here on the FSIS website.
“FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 [degrees Fahrenheit]. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,” the notice states.
Individuals with questions about food safety can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline 888-674-6854 or send a question via email to [email protected].
To report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, you can visit the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System.
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