40,000 Pound E.Coli Ground Beef Recall Announced

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture has announced that Lakeside Refrigerated Services is recalling around 43,000 pounds of ground beef products as they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The FSIS says that the ground beef was produced on June 1, 2020 and that the products subject to the ground beef recall show the establishment number “EST. 46841” on the USDA mark of inspection. The products were reportedly shipped to retail locations nationwide.

According to the FSIS, the following items are subject to the ground beef recall:

• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P-53298-82.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four 1/4 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES” and a use or freeze by date of June 27, 2020 and lot code P-53934-28.
• 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53929-70.
• 1-lb. tray packages containing four 1/4 lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53944-10.
• 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 1/4 lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53937-45.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four 1/4 lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and lot code P53935-25.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53930-18.

The possible contamination was discovered during routine testing, according to the FSIS. Luckily, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consuming the products in the ground beef recall.

Some types of E. coli cause diseases by producing Shiga toxin. The bacteria that make these toxins are named Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The most commonly found STEC in the United States is the E. coli O157:H7.

According to CNN, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are around 265,000 infections every year in the United States and that E. coli O157:H7 causes more than 36 percent of these infections.

The FSIS notes that E. coli O157:H7 is a possibly deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps two to eight days after exposure.

Most people will recover within a week, but some could develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – a deadly type of kidney failure.

According to the FSIS, HUS can occur among individuals of any age but it is most common in children under 5-years-old as well as older adults.

HUS is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. The FSIS says that any individuals who experience these symptoms should seek immediate emergency medical care.

“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” the ground beef recall press release goes on to state.

In addition, FSIS is advising consumers to only consume ground beef that has been cooked at a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The agency notes that the only way to make sure that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill bacteria is to use a meat thermometer that measures the internal temperature of the meat product.

The FSIS has classified this recall as Class 1, which is defined as “a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

FSIS states that it routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to make sure that recalling firms notify their customers about the recall and that steps are taken to make sure that the products are no longer available to consumers.

Customers with questions about this ground beef recall should contact the Lakeside Processing Center Call Center at (856) 832-3881, according to the FSIS. 

Ground beef recall announcements are not unheard of, whether the meat is contaminated by E.coli or other bacteria such as salmonella. The FSIS states that any individuals with food safety questions should call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline.

Are you worried about getting sick from E. coli O157:H7 bacteria as a result of the ground beef recall? Leave a message in the comments section below.

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