The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for contaminated beef products. According to a press release on April 20, the agency reports that ground beef items may be tainted with E. coli O157:H7. FSIS has issued this warning to inform consumers to avoid consuming these products.
The raw ground beef items in question were produced on March 28, 2024, and have a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, with packaging date of “032824.” A list of affected products can be found on the FSIS website. These items carry the establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped nationwide to food service institutions and retail locations.
The Greater Omaha Packing Co. LLC was identified by the USDA as the source of the contaminated beef products. The issue was discovered during an inventory check of products on hold due to a positive test for E. coli O157:H7. The company informed FSIS that tainted beef had accidentally been shipped into commerce, leading to the public health alert.
Although there have been no confirmed cases of illness due to consumption of these products, the USDA advises consumers who are concerned about their health to contact their healthcare provider immediately. FSIS is concerned that some of the contaminated product may still be in consumers’ and food service institutions’ freezers and advises against consuming or serving them. The products should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
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