Pennsylvania-based company, Cargill Meat Solutions, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products due to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination, as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). These beef items were produced on April 26-27 and distributed to the various Walmart retail locations nationwide.
The products involved in this call-back include plastic-wrapped trays of 2.25 lbs. "93% Lean 7% Fat All Natural Lean Ground Beef", 1.33 lbs. four "Prime Rib Beef Steak Burgers Patties", and 2.25 lbs. "85% Lean 15% Fat All Natural Angus Premium Ground Beef". The company has also recalled 2.25 lbs. trays of "80% Lean 20% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck", 1.33 lbs. tray of four "80% Lean 20% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck Patties", and 1.33 lbs. tray of four "90% Lean 10% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Sirloin Patties".
All these products bear lot codes of 117 or 118 and the establishment number "EST. 86P" on the label's back. A USDA inspection mark is present on the front of the label as well.
The decision to recall this batch of products was made after the company found that a previously segregated product had mistakenly been used in ground beef production.
E. coli O157:H7 is a hazardous bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 2-8 days after exposure. Most people recover within a week, but there are critical instances where some, particularly children under 5 years and older adults, develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Yet, no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from consuming these products have been documented so far.
Due to the shared concern that some of the products might still be in consumers' homes, FSIS urges customers to either dispose of or return the affected products to their place of purchase.
Furthermore, FSIS advises all consumers to prepare their raw meat products safely, whether fresh or frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F or higher, effectively killing dangerous bacteria.
In recent events, FSIS had warned against the potential E. coli contamination in ground beef products produced by Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc. in late April.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recently aired a food safety alert following an E. coli outbreak in 12 people that seemed to have connections to the consumption of organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores in California and Washington.
