If you have purchased raw ground beef in the last few weeks, you should take a closer look at the packaging. The meat in your refrigerator or freezer may be contaminated with the bacteria E. coliaccording to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)Part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The products in question are no longer available for purchase, which is why FSIS has not issued a recall. However, the agency has announce a public health alert on Saturday and warned consumers and foodservice establishments across the country not to eat or serve them.
The Greater Omaha Packing Co. notified FSIS that one of its products tested positive E. coli O157:H7, a strain known to cause severe intestinal infections in humans. The company “inadvertently used some of the contaminated beef to produce ground beef products, which it subsequently marketed,” the health alert said.
Which minced meat products can be contaminated?
The potentially contaminated items have a packaging date of March 28, 2024 and a use/freezing date of April 22, 2024. These products also have the establishment number “EST. 960A” within the USDA inspection mark.
Click here to view affected packaging labels and find additional information about the products included in the health alert in the table below.
If a meat product in your home is on the list, throw it away or return it to where you bought it, FSIS advises.
Why is E. coli dangerous?
E. coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a group of bacteria typically found in the human and animal intestines. Most E. coli are harmless and therefore play a crucial role in your intestinal tract Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, some burdens Transmission through contaminated food or wateror contact with people or animals can make you very sick.
The strain specific to this public health alert, E. coli O157:H7, is the most commonly identified species exhibiting this in North America Shiga toxin, according to the CDC. This toxin is so powerful that it can damage the intestinal wall and cause bloody diarrhea.
Watch for these additional symptoms, the CDC says:
- Never inferior (below 101 degrees)
- Severe stomach cramps
- Vomit
While most people recover from E. coli O157:H7 exposure within five to seven days, some infections can be life-threatening. Young children and older adults are most susceptible to serious infections, which may include some form of kidney failure hemolytic uremic syndrome. According to the CDC, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli causes about 265,000 infections annually in the United States.
Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms and think you may have been exposed to the bacteria. To date, FSIS has not confirmed any reports of illness related to this public health alert.
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