Over 3,400 Pounds of Ground Beef Have Been Recalled Due to E. Coli Contamination
The United States Department of Agriculture says to toss out the product as soon as possible.
If you purchased ground beef during your recent trip to the grocery store, you may need to toss it out. Kansas-based Elkhorn Valley Packing company is recalling 3,436 pounds of its boneless beef chuck due to E. coli contamination, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The agency announced that the ground beef, which was packed on February 16, is contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) O103, a strain of E. coli.
The packaged beef was sold in a variety of weights and featured the following label information: Elkhorn Valley Pride Angus Beef 61226 BEEF CHUCK 2PC BNLS. For the list of all serial numbers and box count numbers of the recalled product, click here. The ground beef was sent to distributors, federal establishments, retailers, hotels, and restaurants across Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The contaminated ground beef was detected during a routine Food Safety and Inspection Service testing, as a sample of the ground beef tested positive for STEC O103. While there haven't been confirmed reports of illness from the ground beef, the USDA team says to avoid eating the product. Consumers should also throw the ground beef away or return it where it was purchased, they say.
If you eat a product that has been contaminated with E. coli, there is a chance of experiencing foodborne illness. The strain of E. coli in the contaminated ground beef could cause vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Customers with any questions about this recall or food safety questions can call 888-674-6854 (the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline) or live chat with a USDA team member from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
