The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall this week of some 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef sold in six states.
“The problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing and the sampling results showed the presence of E. coli O26,” FSIS officials said.
The product was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington for the purposes of retail sales.
The FSIS further stated that E. coli O26 is a type of Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can cause consumers to become ill within 34 days of exposure to the organism.
However, there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of the meat so far.
Mountain West Food Group company leaders did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
The recall is applicable to packages that have the number “EST 2083” stamped on the side.
Symptoms of STEC O26 infection include diarrhea with or without blood and vomiting.
“Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe,” FSIS officials said. “Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment.”
The ground beef recall is the latest in a series of meat withdrawals that were announced leading up to the holidays.
Earlier in December, Ghanaianway Restaurant and Grocery LLC of Newark, New Jersey, voluntarily withdrew its salted lamb product because it was produced without federal inspection.
The fresh and raw meat was shipped to restaurants and retail locations in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The recall applies to 15-pound plastic-lined boxes of the product that were packaged between March 11 and Dec. 3 and bear the “Ghanaianway African Foods Salted Lamb (Koobi)” stamp on it.
Retail surveillance activities by FSIS resulted in the discovery of the problem, but there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of the lamb meat so far.
“The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label,” FSIS officials said.
The 8-piece portions were packed on Oct. 16 in 18-pound cases containing four units with code P-1380 126237 B30851 23:11 K04 printed on the side.
