Idaho-based CS Beef Packers LLC is recalling roughly 22,912 pounds of raw ground beef products due to potential contamination with E. coli bacteria, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a Feb. 11 announcement.
The recalled products are multiple chubs of “Beef, Coarse Ground, 73 L,” “Fire River Farms Classic Beef Fine Ground 73L,” and “Fire River Farms Classic Beef Fine Ground 81L,” with case codes 18601, 19583, and 19563, respectively.
All the products were manufactured on Jan. 14 and have a “Use/Freeze By” date of Feb. 4. The products were shipped to distributors in three states—California, Idaho, and Oregon—from which they were sent to various foodservice locations, FSIS said.
“The problem was discovered during FSIS testing at a downstream customer, and the sampling results showed the presence of E. coli O145,” the service added.
No confirmed cases of illness from consuming the recalled items have been reported. FSIS asked people concerned about becoming sick after consuming the product to contact a healthcare provider.
The recall has been designated with a “High-Class I” classification, which is the most severe of the three recall designations of the Department of Agriculture, under which FSIS operates.
A Class I recall is issued in circumstances where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will result in serious, adverse health consequences or death.
FSIS said it was concerned that some of the recalled items may still be in the freezers of foodservice companies that bought the products. The agency requested that these products not be served and advised them to discard the items or return the goods to the place of purchase.
E. coli O145 is a variant of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). People infected with STECs may become ill two to eight days after exposure.
“Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection,” FSIS said.
“Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, is uncommon with STEC O145 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.”
The Epoch Times reached out to CS Beef Packers for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Multiple other recalls have been issued over the past year due to E. coli contamination.
Earlier in October, New York-based Purity Products withdrew a portion of its MyBladder dietary supplement from the market due to potential E. coli contamination.
According to a May 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people with E. coli infection experience severe stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea that may be bloody and watery.
The agency advised people to get in touch with a doctor in case they experience diarrhea or if vomiting lasts for more than two days, have a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, excrete bloody feces or urine, or display signs of dehydration.
“Dehydration is not having enough fluids in the body. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can happen quickly in young children. Give children with diarrhea or vomiting extra fluids, such as Pedialyte or oral rehydration salts. Do not wait,” the CDC said.
