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yesterday

USDA warns of E. coli risk in organic ground beef at Whole Foods

With no recall requested since the products are off shelves, consumers are urged to discard or return packages labeled with June 19 or 20 use-by dates.

A health alert about organic ground beef products says they're no longer for sale but may still be in refrigerators and freezers.
© Shutterstock / HVEPhoto

Overview

  • The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert on June 4 for Organic Rancher ground beef over possible E. coli contamination.
  • The alert covers 1-pound vacuum-packed “Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat” packages produced May 22–23 by NPC Processing Inc. with use-by or freeze-by dates of June 19 and 20 and establishment number EST.4027.
  • Products were distributed to Whole Foods Market stores in 27 states following initial shipments to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland.
  • FSIS did not request a recall since the beef is no longer on store shelves, but it recommends consumers check home freezers and discard or return any affected packages.
  • No illnesses have been linked to the ground beef so far, but officials warn E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea and kidney failure in vulnerable groups.