Nationwide Health Alert Issued For Ground Beef Due to E. Coli

A nationwide warning has been issued regarding Greater Omaha ground beef due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7, a strain known for causing severe intestinal illness in humans.

The affected raw ground beef, produced and packaged on March 28, 2024, with a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, and bearing “EST.960A” within the USDA mark of inspection, has been distributed to restaurants and retail outlets across the country.

Although the products in question are no longer available for purchase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has opted not to issue a recall. Instead, they have issued a health alert to notify consumers who may have the ground beef stored in their freezers. Product labels are accessible on the FSIS website.

Consumers are advised by the FSIS not to consume any of the listed beef products. Instead, they should dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase.

While there have been no confirmed reports of illness related to this alert, individuals who experience symptoms after consuming the ground beef should seek medical attention promptly.

E. coli can lead to severe health issues including dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms typically appear within three to four days of consuming contaminated food and can persist for about a week. Severe cases are more common in young children and older adults, but anyone experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical assistance. In severe instances, kidney failure may develop.

In some serious cases, a patient may develop kidney failure, the CDC notes.

The FSIS has issued a health alert for the following products:

If you have questions about the health alert, FSIS says to contact Gina Adami, Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc. Representative, at 402-575-4702 or gadami@gmail.com.