Cargill Meat Solutions product recalled over E. coli risk

Recall date

September 19, 2018

Source

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FSIS)

Official notice title

Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. coli O26 Contamination

Recall number

081-2018

FDA classification

Class I

Brand / firm

Cargill Meat Solutions

Why it was recalled

Product Contamination

Class I is the FDA’s most serious recall level: there is a reasonable probability that using this product will cause serious harm or death.

What was recalled

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 Cargill Meat Solutions, a Fort Morgan, Colo. establishment, is recalling approximately 132,606 pounds of ground beef products made from the chuck portion of the carcass that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O26, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The ground beef items were produced and packaged on June 21, 2018. The following products are subject to recall: ( Products List ) [ View Labels (PDF only)] The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 86R inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide. [ Distribution List PDF ] On Aug. 16, 2018, FSIS was notified of an investigation of E. coli O26 illnesses. FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health and agriculture partners determined that raw ground beef was the probable source of the reported illnesses. The epidemiological investigation identified 17 illnesses and one death with illness onset dates ranging from July 5 to July 25, 2018. The Cargill Meat Solutions ground beef products were identified following further investigation related to Recall 072-2018, conducted on Aug. 30, 2018, where ground beef products were recalled in connection with the E. coli O26 outbreak. FSIS traceback information indicated that case-patients consumed ground beef products purchased at various retail stores that were supplied by Cargill Meat Solutions. E. coli O26, like the more common E. coli O157:H7, is a serovar of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). People can become ill from STECs 28 days (average of 34 days) after exposure to the organism. Most people infected with STEC O26 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recom…