The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has alerted the public that ground beef sold across the country may be tainted with E. coli.
The contaminated ground beef was produced on March 28, 2024, and is labeled with a use or freeze-by date of April 22, 2024. The USDA said that the affected products would have “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
No illnesses have been reported yet, according to officials. The contamination was discovered during a routine check of inventory on hold by the beef producers after it tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.
The USDA expressed concern that some of the contaminated beef may still be in consumer and restaurant freezers. They are advising anyone who has the affected ground beef to discard it or return it to the place of purchase.
“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ and food service institutions’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and food service institutions are urged not to serve these products,” the USDA said. “These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”
A full list of affected products is available on the USDA’s website.
There has been no recall of these products as they are no longer being sold.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms of E. coli infection usually surface three to four days after consuming the contaminated food and can persist for about a week. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.
The CDC advises cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to effectively eliminate E. coli bacteria.
