- Nearly 30 tons of ground beef were recalled in Georgia, Michigan and Ohio.
- A meat sample contained the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria.
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Nearly 30 tons of ground beef have been recalled in three states for possibly containing a deadly food-poisoning virus.
Routine testing of beef sold by American Foods Group, also known as Green Bay Dressed Beef, in Wisconsin, found that it contained shiga toxin producer E.coli (STEC).
He The bacteria are usually found in the intestines of animals and, if consumed, can cause stomach pains, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and, in rare cases, death from related infections.
The company recalled three varieties of its bulk ground beef that were shipped from Wisconsin to Georgia, Michigan and Ohio, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday.
This equates to just over 58,000 pounds, or almost 30 tons.
The USDA suggests cooking meat to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) and using a meat thermometer to measure the temperature and kill harmful bacteria like E. coli.
The affected products, all packaged in 10-pound plastic tubes, were produced on August 14.
The products were: 90050 Beef Fine Ground 81/19 – lot code D123226026, 20473 Beef Halal Fine Ground 73/27 – lot code D123226027 and 20105 Beef Fine Ground 73/27 – lot code D123226027.
No cases of human contamination have been reported, although the USDA recommended consumers discard affected meat to be safe.
E. coli are bacteria typically found in the intestines of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and deer.
While most are harmless, some can cause a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.
According to the CDC, STEC is most commonly associated with foodborne outbreaks. Contaminated foods may include ground meat, unpasteurized milk, raw produce, and unsanitized water.
This form of E. coli lives in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, although they do not get sick. Exact numbers vary, but it is estimated that E. coli infections cause around 265,000 illnesses and 100 deaths per year.
Young children and older adults are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill, and most of these infections occur between June and September in the U.S., according to the Mayo Clinic, although it’s not clear why.
In rare cases, patients can develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
This is a condition in which there is abnormal destruction of platelets and red blood cells.
According to the Mayo Clinic, damaged blood cells can clog the kidney’s filtering system, leading to life-threatening kidney failure.
E. coli illness is usually treated with rest and fluids to prevent dehydration. There are no treatments developed specifically for the infection.
The USDA suggests cooking meat to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) and using a meat thermometer to measure the temperature and kill harmful bacteria like E. coli.
