Ground beef potentially contaminated with E. coli, USDA warns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert regarding ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli.

Raw ground beef produced by Greater Omaha Packaging Co. on March 28, 2024 is no longer available for purchase and therefore “no recall is requested.” Still, the government agency issued an alert last week warning consumers and food service establishments who may have the product in their refrigerators.

“Consumers who purchase these products are urged not to eat these products and food service establishments are urged not to serve these products,” the USDA warned. “These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

The “use/freeze date” of the beef products is April 22, 2024, and the packaging date is “032824”.

Click here to view a complete list of products affected by the public health alert, as well as additional labeling information from FSIS.

There is a number “EST.960A” in the USDA inspection mark of this product.

“The company discovered the issue while taking inventory of product that had been put on hold due to a positive test for E. coli O157:H7,” the USDA said. “The company notified FSIS that they had inadvertently used some of the affected products. contaminated beef to produce ground beef products, which are then shipped to commercial markets.”

As of press time, there have been no confirmed reports of illness resulting from consumption of these products.

Greater Omaha Packaging did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for additional comment.

Some forms of E. coli can cause diarrhea, and the bacteria can be spread through contaminated food or water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Anyone can become infected with E. coli, but adults over 65, children under 5 and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk.

E. coli symptoms typically last five to seven days and include “diarrhea, which may be bloody, and severe stomach cramps in most people,” as well as vomiting and possibly a high fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.