On January 6, 2022, the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced arecallof 28,356 pounds of ground beef. The affected beef may have been contaminated withE. coliO157:H7, a strain of the bacteriumEscherichia colithat can lead to serious illness.
The company issuing the recall, Interstate Meat Dist. Inc., produced the impacted raw ground beef on December 20, 2021. The items were then shipped to Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming retailers.
Here's what you should know about the Department of Agriculture recall—including how some beef could become accidentally contaminated with E. coli, symptoms of infection, and what to do if you become sick.
The 11 impacted items were certain one- and three-pound chubs of ground beef from WinCo, Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons. At the time of the recall, the Food Safety and Inspection Service provided a complete list of the impacted products—and pictures of the product labels.
The recalled items had an establishment number of "EST. 965." Consumers could find that number either inside the Department of Agriculture mark of inspection or next to the time stamp and use or freeze by date. All of the recalled products also had a use or freeze-by date of January 11, 2022.
The Department of Agriculture urged consumers with any of the affected products not to eat them and either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
A third party reported the issue to the Department of Agriculture after someone bought the ground beef and submitted it to a laboratory for analysis. Because the sample tested positive forE. coliO157:H7, the Department of Agriculture assessed and found that the test results were accurate.
Symptoms of E. Coli Infection
Infection fromE. coliO157:H7 can be a big deal. People who eat contaminated products can develop the following symptoms:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Diarrhea (usually bloody)
- Vomiting
- Fever
While most people get better within five to seven days, some can develop severe or life-threatening infections. Infections can include a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS causeseasy bruising, pallor (an ashen appearance), and decreased urine output.
"The most vulnerable population includes the very young, elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems,"Darin Detwiler, LPD, associate professor of food safety at Northeastern University, toldHealth. "However, people of all ages and health status can be severely affected."
People who develop those symptoms should get emergency medical care as soon as possible.
"E. coliis found in cows' large intestines, and the bacteria are shed through their feces,"Candice Christian, MPH, a consumer and retail food safety expert at North Carolina State University, toldHealth. "Sometimes in slaughterhouses, the meat can be cross-contaminated with manure."
Christian said that E. coliO157:H7 dies off when the cooking temperature reaches 160 degrees. But it's best to play it safe and toss or return a product recalled over contamination concerns.
What To Do If You Become Sick
If you happen to get sick and you suspect it's due toE. coli, Detwiler recommended doing the following:
- Hydrate well:Replace electrolytes with drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
- Don't take anti-diarrheal medications:"They can lengthen the duration of infection and may also increase the risk of HUS," Detwiler said.
- Don't take antibiotics:Antibiotics may increase the risk of developing severe disease.
- Protect other family members:E. colimay spread by person-to-person transmission. So, washing your hands well after using the bathroom or changing diapers is essential. Also, avoid preparing food for others. "Person-to-person transmission is a common cause of infection for young children," Detwiler said. "This is how my son became sick and ultimately died in 1993."
Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms aren't improving after several days or seem to be getting worse.
In January 2022, the Department of Agriculture recalled more than 28,000 pounds of ground beef from store brands like WinCo, Albertsons, and Walmart. The affected meat was contaminated withE. coli.
Consuming foods infected withE. colican lead to severe illness, including vomiting, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. In some cases, illness can progress into kidney infections.
If you become ill after eating contaminated meat, ensure that you stay hydrated, don't take antidiarrheals or antibiotics, and stay away from other family members to avoid spreading the bacterium.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of food safety and inspection, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge backed by extensive experience in the domain. Having worked closely with regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders, I have gained a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in ensuring the safety of our food supply.
Now, let's delve into the article about the Department of Agriculture's recall of ground beef contaminated with E. coliO157:H7. The incident in question, which occurred on January 6, 2022, involved the recall of 28,356 pounds of raw ground beef produced by Interstate Meat Dist. Inc. The contamination with E. coli, a potentially harmful strain of Escherichia coli, raised serious health concerns.
The affected ground beef, produced on December 20, 2021, was distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The recall encompassed specific one- and three-pound chubs of ground beef sold under brands such as WinCo, Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons, all carrying the establishment number "EST. 965." Each recalled product had a use or freeze-by date of January 11, 2022.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service, a division of the Department of Agriculture, provided a comprehensive list of the impacted products and accompanying images of the product labels to facilitate consumer awareness. The recall was initiated following a third-party report, where a sample of the ground beef purchased by an individual tested positive for E. coliO157:H7. The Department of Agriculture confirmed the accuracy of the test results, prompting the recall.
Understanding the severity of E. coliO157:H7 contamination is crucial. The symptoms of infection include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. While most individuals recover within a week, certain populations, such as the very young, elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, are more vulnerable to severe or life-threatening infections. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, can also occur in some cases.
To prevent the spread of E. coli, the Department of Agriculture advised consumers not to consume the affected products and either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. If consumed and symptoms manifest, individuals should seek emergency medical care, especially if symptoms persist or worsen over time.
In the unfortunate event of illness, the article provides practical advice on staying hydrated with electrolyte-rich drinks, avoiding anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics, and taking measures to protect others from potential person-to-person transmission.
This recall serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous food safety measures in the production and distribution of our food supply, underlining the potential risks associated with E. coli contamination and the critical role of regulatory bodies in safeguarding public health.
