Officials have issued a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli.
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the raw ground beef products subject to the alert bear the establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to food service institutions and retail locations nationwide.
They were produced on March 28, 2024, have a use/freeze by date of April 22, 2024 and packaging data of “032824,” the FSIS said in a news release.
A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, but the FSIS issued the alert to ensure consumers are aware the products should not be consumed.
The list of products subject to the recall can be found on the FSIS’s website here.
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The issue was discovered by the Greater Omaha Packing Co. in Nebraska while conducting an inventory of a product that was on hold because it was found positive for E. coli. The company notified the FSIS that they had inadvertently used some of the contaminated beef to produce products that were then shipped, the service said.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to the consumption of these products.
E. Coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps between two and eight days after exposure. Most people recover, but some can develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome which is most common in children under five and older adults. Those with the condition are at risk of bruising easily and decreased urine output. Anyone with these symptoms should seek emergency care immediately.
The FSIS urged consumers who have purchased the products to not consumer them and food service institutions to not serve them. They should be thrown away or retuned to the place of purchase.
Consumers are also advised to safely prepare raw meat products, both fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The only way to confirm that ground beef has been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is by using a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.
Consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Gina Adami, Greater Omaha Packing at 402-575-4702 or by emailing [email protected].
Consumers with food safety questions 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].
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