Over 100,000 pounds of ground beef recalled due to E. coli contamination risk

More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled in the United States due to concerns over potential E. coli contamination, the US government has announced this week.

Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. is recalling nearly 170,000 pounds of ground beef that was distributed to restaurants across the country, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The recall follows reports from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which alerted the FSIS last week after several illnesses were linked to the product. A sample of the ground beef was collected and later tested positive for E. coli.

The affected products include both fresh and frozen ground beef. The fresh products carry a "use by" date of November 14, 2024, while the frozen products have a production date of October 22, 2024. The FSIS advises restaurants to dispose of any recalled items immediately.

E. coli infection can lead to symptoms such as dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps, typically appearing 2–8 days after exposure, with 3–4 days being the average onset. In rare cases, the bacteria can cause kidney failure, although most individuals recover within a week or less, the FSIS said.