A ground beef recall due to potential E. coli contamination is the second in two days as federal officials try to find the origin of an E. coli outbreak that spans at least 10 states.
A total of 156 people have been infected with a strain of E. coli O103. Twenty of those have been hospitalized.
“Preliminary epidemiologic information suggests that ground beef is the source of this outbreak,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in an April 23 alert.
On that day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a recall for over 100,000 pounds of ground beef, produced by Georgia-based K2D Foods and sold under the Colorado Premium Foods brand name.
On April 24, the service issued a second recall of ground beef, produced by Grant Park Packing, based in Franklin Park, Illinois.
Approximately 53,200 pounds of ground beef was recalled due to E. coli contamination. It was produced on Oct. 30, Oct. 31, and Nov. 1, 2018.
The items were shipped to Kentucky for institutional use and Minnesota for further distribution.
“Unopened, intact, packages of ground beef collected as part of the ongoing investigation tested positive for E. coli O103 at an FSIS laboratory. The sample was collected at a point of service where multiple case patients ate. At this time, there is no definitive link between this positive product and the ongoing E. coli O103 outbreak. Further traceback and product analysis continues to determine if the recalled products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak,” the service stated.
The products subject to recall are 40 lb. bulk cardboard boxes of “North Star Imports & Sales, LLC. 100% GROUND BEEF BULK 80% LEAN/ 20% FAT” marked “FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY” with lot code GP.1051.18 and pack dates 10/30/2018, 10/31/2018, and 11/01/2018.
The E. coli O103 strain can inflict illnesses more severe than other E. coli. Symptoms include diarrhea, often bloody, and vomiting.
“Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended. Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection,” the service stated. In rare cases, kidney failure can take place; if people experience kidney failure, marked by easy bruising and decreased urine output, they were urged to seek emergency medical care.
According to the CDC, the outbreak has spread across at least 10 states. The states are Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. Kentucky has the most reported cases, with 65; Tennessee has 41, Georgia has 33, and Ohio has 8.
The rest of the states only saw one, two, or three cases.
People who have become ill reported eating ground beef at home and in restaurants.
“Traceback investigations are ongoing to determine the source of raw ground beef supplied to grocery stores and restaurant locations where ill people reported eating,” the agency stated.