I would think twice before making a juicy hamburger or a meatloaf this week. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and their Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released a statement regarding Cargill Meat Solutions, a Fort Morgan, Colo. establishment, is recalling over 25,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. Coli.
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The following products were produced on August 16, 2018 and are subject to recall:
- 10-lb. chubs of "EXCEL 93/7 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF" with "Use/Frz. By Sep 05" on the chub label and a "PACK DATE 08/16/2018" on the box label.
The items were shipped to warehouses in California and Colorado with the establishment number "EST. 86R" inside the USDA mark of inspection. It wasn't until August 22 that the product may have been associated with another product which tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. From there the company notified the FSIS.
USDA
Retail stores that carried the affected products are Safeway located in Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota, and Wyoming and Albertsons located in New Mexico and Wyoming. The affected stores are no longer selling the product, however, make sure to double check any packaging you may have bought and placed in your freezer. If you have the affected product throw it away or return it to the store for a refund.
While there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses directly correlated to the ground beef, anyone who is concerned that they may have become ill should consult their healthcare provider. E. Coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea, dehydration and abdominal cramps 3-4 days after exposure. Most people recover without complications, but some may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a type of kidney failure. This complication can happen at any age but it is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults. If you seem to have easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output seek medical help immediately.
