Officials have issued a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli. The raw ground beef products bear the establishment number “EST. 960A” and were produced on March 28, 2024, with a use/freeze by date of April 22, 2024. The products were shipped to food service institutions and retail locations nationwide. Although a recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, the alert was issued to inform consumers that the products should not be consumed. The list of affected products can be found on the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s website.
The Greater Omaha Packing Co. in Nebraska discovered the issue while conducting an inventory of a product that was on hold due to testing positive for E. coli. The company informed the FSIS that some contaminated beef had been inadvertently used to produce products that were then shipped out. There have been no confirmed reports of illness related to the consumption of these products. E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps between two and eight days after exposure. Some individuals, especially children under five and older adults, may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek emergency care immediately.
Consumers are advised not to consume the affected ground beef products and food service institutions should not serve them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. It is important to safely prepare raw meat products and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the meat has reached a safe temperature. For questions related to the public health alert, consumers can contact Gina Adami from Greater Omaha Packing at 402-575-4702 or by email. General food safety inquiries can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline or via email.
Officials have issued a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli. The products were produced on March 28, 2024, and have a use/freeze by date of April 22, 2024. The issue was discovered by the Greater Omaha Packing Co. in Nebraska, which found that some contaminated beef had been used to produce products that were then shipped to various locations nationwide. While there have been no confirmed reports of illness related to these products, consumers are urged not to consume them. E. coli can cause serious symptoms, including dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, with some individuals at risk of developing kidney failure.
Consumers are advised to safely prepare raw meat products and cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that harmful bacteria are killed. A food thermometer should be used to verify that the meat has reached a safe temperature for consumption. If consumers have purchased any of the affected products, they should either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. Questions about the public health alert can be directed to Gina Adami from Greater Omaha Packing, while general food safety inquiries can be addressed by contacting the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. It is essential for consumers to take precautions when handling and cooking raw meat products to prevent foodborne illnesses.
