A United States beef distributor expanded its beef recall to stores nationwide including Meijer, Sam’s Club and Target.
Cargill Meat Solutions recalled more than 132,000 pounds of ground beef products made from the chuck portion of the carcass. The products could be contaminated with E. coli.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), one person has died and 17 others have been sickened in the outbreak from July 5 to July 25, 2018.
The FSIS says it has reason to believe the ground beef products were shipped to the following retail locations:
- Aldi Stores: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin
- FoodMaxx Stores: California
- Meijer: Nationwide
- Pak N Save Stores: California
- Safeway/Albertson's: Nationwide
- Sam's Club: Nationwide
- Target: Nationwide
- Vons Stores: California
The FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and public health and agriculture partners determined that raw ground beef was the likely source of the reported illnesses. The agency is concerned that consumers have the recalled items stored in their freezers.
The recalled ground beef items were produced and packaged on June 21, 2018. They have an establishment number “EST. 86R” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The following items are subject to recall:
- 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 00228749057646.
- 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 00228749002653.
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 00228749089098.
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 90028749002751.
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 90028749003536.
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 00228749003568.
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 90028749402773.
- 20-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF COMBO” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 90028749073935.
- 10-lb. chubs of “Sterling Silver CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 00228749702416.
- 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 and case code 90028749802405.
- 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 with case code 00228749802413.
- 10-lb. chubs of “Fire River Farms CLASSIC GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a use or freeze by of July 11, 2018 with case code 90734730297241.
People can become sick from E. coli days after being exposed. Those who eat a contaminated meat product may develop diarrhea and experience vomiting. Treatment includes rehydration and antibiotics. Most people recover within one week but infections are possible in more severe cases.
Those who have purchased any of the products above are urged to throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased. The recall has been classified as a Class I recall, meaning there is a "reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."
The FSIS is advising all consumers to only consume ground beef cooked well done to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
Visit the USDA’s website for more information about this recall.
Alex Hider, a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk, contributed to this report.
