WASHINGTON, April 27, 2022 — The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert amid concerns that certain ground beef products may be adulterated with E. coli O26. A recall was not requested as the products are no longer available for purchase.
The ground beef items for this health alert were made on December 16th and 17th, 2021. The following products subject to the health warning are [view labels]:
- 1 pound. Foam inserts with “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% MEAN 8% FAT MINCE”. The product is labeled 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002 where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721.
- 1 pound. Foam inserts with “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 96% LEAN 4% FAT”. The product is labeled 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002 where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721.
- 1 pound. Foam inserts with “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 85% LEAN 15% FAT”. The product is labeled 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002 where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721.
- 1.3 pounds. Foam inserts with “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT GROUND ROCK” The product is marked with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721. Additional product is dated 351/(timestamp)/Est. marked. 31805/003, with the time stamp from 1549 to 1651.
- 1 pound. Foam inserts with “Kroger HROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 93% LEAN 7% FAT”. The product is labeled 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002 where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721.
- 1 pound. Foam inserts with “Kroger HROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 80% LEAN 20% FAT”. The product is labeled 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002 where the timestamp ranges from 0602 to 1721.
The ground beef products were distributed to warehouses in Oregon and Washington and sold at retail locations.
The issue was discovered after a consumer received a retail package of ground beef manufactured by Empire Packing with a use-by or freeze date of “May 24th”. December 2021″ to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis. The consumer stated that he had been ill before, but did not have himself tested for E. coli. The third-party lab confirmed that the ground beef sample was positive for E. coli O26.
Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should see a doctor.
Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC such as O26 because it is more difficult to identify than STEC O157:H7. Humans can develop STECs 2-8 days (average 3-4 days) after ingesting the organism.
Most people infected with STEC O26 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more serious. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive measures are the usual treatment; Treatment with antibiotics is generally not recommended. Most people recover within a week, but rarely do some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure, rarely occurs with STEC-O26 infection. HUS can affect people of any age, but is most common in children under the age of 5, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems. It is characterized by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical attention immediately
FSIS is concerned some products may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be discarded or returned to the point of sale.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures the internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart .
Media and consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Debbie Robinson, vice president of customer service, Empire Packing at [email protected].
Consumers with food safety questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll-free at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat through Ask USDA Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Consumers can also view food safety news at Ask USDA or email a question to [email protected]. Consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product can access the online Electronic Consumer Complaints Monitoring System 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.