HOUSTON — A nationwide public health alert has been issued for ground beef over the risk of E.coli, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
FSIS said on its website that raw ground beef items produced on March 28, with a use/freeze-by date of April 22, should not be eaten. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, the website says.
The products that are part of the public health alert have the establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were shipped to food service institutions and retail stores across the country, FSIS said.
The issue was discovered during an inventory of a product that was on hold because it was found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7. FSIS was notified that a portion of the contaminated beef was used to produce ground beef products that were shipped to be sold.
FSIS said the concern is that some of the beef may be in freezers in people’s homes and food service institutions. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness, FSIS says. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact their doctor.
What is E. coli?
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps for two to eight days – three to four days on average—after exposure, FSIS said. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur at any age but is most common in children younger than 5 and older adults. Some other symptoms are easy bruising, pallor, which is a pale tone, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
FSIS recommends that raw meat, whether fresh or frozen, is cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees before it’s eaten.
The list of beef included in the nationwide public health alert can be found here. The labels for these products can be found on the FSIS website view labels.