A nationwide ground beef recall was announced on Wednesday, Sept. 19, for the second consecutive month.
The recall of approximately 132,000 pounds of ground beef came from Cargill Meat Solutions, which was also the target of an August recall of approximately 25,000 pounds of ground beef.
The recalls stem from possible E. coli contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The August recall dealt with items produced on Aug. 16; the new recall deals with items produced on June 21.
A full list of products can be found here. All of the recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 86R” inside the department’s mark of inspection, and were sold nationwide.
The recall comes after authorities identified 17 illnesses and one death caused by the tainted meat, between July 5 and July 25. The investigation was sparked by an Aug. 22 discovery by Cargill that some of its meat tested positive for E. coli.
Officials said some of the contaminated meat may have already been purchased by consumers and placed in freezers in their homes. People should check whatever ground beef they’ve purchased in recent months to make sure it’s not part of the recall.
If it is, they should throw the meat away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
#Recall: Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O26 Contamination https://t.co/EcRJwSqMKQ
— USDA Food Safety (@USDAFoodSafety) September 20, 2018
E. coli
E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria that can cause a number of illnesses, and, in extreme cases, death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli symptoms vary from person to person but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
Some people also have a fever, which is not usually very high.
Most people who contract the bacteria start feeling sick three to four days after ingesting something that contains it, but the illnesses can start anywhere from one to 10 days after ingestion.
Most people recover within a week. People should contact their healthcare provider if they have diarrhea that lasts for more than three days or is accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or so much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down and you pass very little urine.
Five to 10 percent of people who get an infection from the bacteria develop potentially life-threatening complications known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which usually develops about a week after symptoms first appear, when the diarrhea is getting less severe.
“Clues that someone is developing HUS include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids,” the CDC stated.
“People with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys may stop working and they may develop other serious problems. Most people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent damage or die.”
