American Foods Group LLC, doing business as Green Bay Dressed Beef LCC, of Green Bay, WI, is recalling 58,281 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
There is concern that some consumers or businesses may have the implicated ground beef in their freezers.
The raw, ground beef items were produced on Aug. 14, 2023. The following products are subject to recall:
- Approximately 80-lb. cases containing 10-lb. plastic tubes (chubs) of “90050 BEEF FINE GROUND 81/19” with lot code D123226026.
- Approximately 80-lb. cases containing 10-lb. plastic tubes (chubs) of “20473 BEEF HALAL FINE GROUND 73/27” with lot code D123226027.
- Approximately 80-lb. cases containing 10-lb. plastic tubes (chubs) of “20105 BEEF FINE GROUND 73/27” with lot code D123226027.
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 18076” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio.
The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a sample collected by a state public health partner tested positive for E. coli O103. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC, such as O103, because it is harder to identify than STEC O157:H7.
People can become ill from STECs 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after consuming the organism.
Distributors and customers who have purchased these products for further processing should not use or distribute them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
About E. coli infections
Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications.
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, tiredness, decreased frequency of urination, minor unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other severe and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.
