The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a statement last Saturday in which it announced that a New Jersey processing company had issued a voluntary recall for nearly 43,000 pounds of raw ground beef products. The reason for the recall was based on a fear that the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
Where the Beef Came From
The raw ground beef products were produced by Lakeside Refrigerated Services, a company located in Swedesboro, New Jersey. According to FSIS, the recalled products were shipped to retail locations nationwide, including a number of Walmart markets. Â They were produced on June 1 and stamped with the establishment number “EST. 46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
E. coli O157:H7 ( E. coli) is a bacterium that happens to be the most common form of E. coli bacteria. In some extreme situations can result in death for the victim. E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms can appear at any time during the first 2-8 days, although the average is 3-4 days, after exposure to the organism. Most people infected by E. coli will recover within a week, but there are many exceptions to that. In some cases, victims of E. coli exposure can develop a potentially lethal form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is fatal to about 10 percent of those who contract it.
While these symptoms can affect people of any age, they are most common in small children under 5 years old and elderly adults, as well as people with compromised immune systems. Among the most common symptoms to show contamination include easy bruising, paler-than-normal skin tone, and decreased urine output. Those who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 265,000 E. coli infections each year in the United States. Of those, about 36 percent of those infections come from E. coli O157:H7.
The Recall Was Issued Out of Caution
In the current case of potential contamination, the FSIS says the problem was found during routine testing and there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products had been reported. The recalled ground beef products being recalled include the following:
- 1-pound packages containing “Value Pack Fresh Ground Beef 76% Lean / 24% Fat” with a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and a lot code of P53930-18
- 1-pound packages of “Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef” with a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and a lot code of P-53298-82
- 1-pound packages containing four quarter-pound pieces of “Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties” with use or freeze by date of June 27, 2020 and a lot code of P-53934-2
- 3-pound packages containing three 1-pound pieces of “Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef 93% Lean/7% Fat” with a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and a lot code of P53929-70
- 1-pound tray packages containing four quarter-pound pieces of “Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 85% Lean/ 15% Fat” with a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and a lot code of P53944-10
- 4-pound tray packages containing 10 quarter-pound pieces of “Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 80% Lean/20% Fat” with a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and a lot code of P53937-45
- 1-pound packages containing 4 quarter-pound pieces of “Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 85% Lean /15% Fat” with a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and a lot code of P53935-25
The FSIS encourages consumers to check both their refrigerator and freezers for the recalled product. If you find some of these products, you should either throw them away or return them to the store of purchase for a refund. You can check out the product labels here.
It would be a good idea to check your refrigerator and freezer to see if you have one of these products and to keep your family safe. If you or a loved one has been sickened by contaminated food, you owe it to yourself to hire a Texas Foodborne Illness attorney, like those at the Hill Law Firm, to help you with your next move. All initial consultations are free and you will never pay anything to us unless you win your case.