HEALTH
USDA detects the presence of E. coli in some ground beef products: these are the affected batches
Affected products are no longer on sale but were sent to restaurants and retailers around the United States before the health threat was detected.
The US Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert for certain ground beef products which may be contaminated with E. coli (specifically E. coli O157:H7, a strain that typically causes severe intestinal infection in humans).
According to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the raw ground beef items in question were produced and packaged on March 28, 2024, with a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, and “EST.960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
They were sent to restaurants and retail locations across the United States before the threat was detected.
Products impacted by possible E. coli contamination
The list of products has been taken from the FSIS’s website, which also provides pictures of the product labels.
| Product Description | Case/Product Label | Lot Code | Case Code/Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-lb ground beef chub | GROUND BEEF 85 FINE GRIND 10#/6 | 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 | 263085 |
| 5-lb. ground beef chub | GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB RIB BRISKET CHUCK CRAFT BURGER 5LB | 26 | 66500 |
| 5-lb. ground beef chub | Greater Omaha 100% ALL NATURAL 5 LBS. GOURMET BLEND RIB*BRISKET*CHUCK | ||
| 5-lb. ground beef chub | GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB 81 FINE GRIND 5#/12 EXACT WEIGHT | 26 | 663581 |
| 4 / 8-oz ground beef patties | GROUND BEEF GOANG GB Patty 8OZ Homestyle Rib/Brisket/CH | 34 | 716800 |
| 4 / 8-oz ground beef patties | LOT 34 Ground Beef GB GOANG 75 PATTY PUCK 8 OZ | 34 | 728075 |
| 4 / 7-oz ground beef patties | LOT 34 GROUND BEEF GOANG Rib/Brisket/Chuck 7OZ HOMESTYLE | 34 | 716700 |
| 6-oz ground beef patties | LOT 34 GROUND BEEF GOANG GB PATTY 6 OZ HOMESTYLE RIB/BRISKET/CHUCK | 34 | 716600 |
| 5-lb. ground beef chub | GROUND BEEF GOHERF GB 81 FINE GRIND 5LB EXACT WEIGHT | 26 | 63581 |
| 6 / 5.33-oz ground beef patties | Ground Beef GOHERF RIB BRISKET CHUCK 5.33oz HOMESTYLE | 27 | 616500 |
| 4 / 8-oz ground beef patties | LOT 27 Ground Beef GOHERF Homestyle GB PATTY RIB/BRISKET/CHUCK 8 OZ | 27 | 616800 |
| 10-lb ground beef chub | GROUND BEEF 73 FINE GRIND 10#/6 | 37 | 263073 |
| 4 / 8-oz ground beef patties | LOT 51 Ground Beef GB GOANG 75 PATTY PUCK 8OZ | 51 | 728075 |
What should I do if I have bought or consumed the affected products?
A recall hasn’t been requested because the affected products are no longer for sale. However, there is a chance customers may have already bought the packages at an earlier date and have them in storage.
The FSIS advises against consuming the ground beef and instead recommends throwing it away or returning it to the point of sale.
What are the symptoms of E. Coli poisoning?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, E. Coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, and can be deadly, in the worst-case scenario.
Symptoms typically begin three to four days after consuming an affected food, and can last about a week.
At the time of writing, there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses as a result of consuming the products, but anyone who feels ill after discovering they have eaten the ground beef should contact their healthcare provider immediately.