Over 130,000 Pounds of Ground Meat Recalled, Possible E. Coli Contamination
Approximately 132,606 pounds of ground beef shipped from Cargill Meat Solutions was recalled on Wednesday, September 26, due to possible E. coli (Escherichia coli O26) contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service. Twelve (12) products packaged on June 21, 2018, with a use/freeze by date of July 11, have been recalled from the Fort Morgan, Colorado-based company. They all have "EST.86R" printed inside the USDA inspection stamp.
Below is a list of the stores across the country where the ground beef was shipped:
- Aldi (Stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin)
- FoodMaxx (Stores in California)
- Meijer (Nationwide)
- Pak N Save (Stores in California)
- Safeway/Albertson's (Nationwide)
- Sam's Club (Nationwide)
- Target (Nationwide)
- Vons (Stores in California)
There has reportedly been 17 illnesses and one death with illness onset from July 5 to July 25, 2018. A person can become infected with E. coli within 2-8 days (average 3-4 days) after exposure. Symptoms include diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting with some illnesses lasting longer and being more severe than others. Anyone experiencing those symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. Read more.
Most people recover within a week, but rarely, some develop a more severe infection.
Ground beef products should always be prepared safely and cooked to a temperature of 160°. Read the USDA's Safe Minumum Internal Temperature Chart for more. "Consumers should take proper precautions when handling raw meat products. Proper hand washing after handling raw meat, poultry and eggs can greatly reduce the risk of bacterial cross-contamination to other foods and kitchen surfaces. It is important to prevent cross-contamination by washing counter tops and sinks with hot, soapy water", said a USDA media release.