Latest news with #OrganicRancher
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Ground Beef Sold Nationwide May Be Contaminated With E. Coli
Sale Dates: May 26, 2025 to June 3, 2025 Product Name: Organic Rancher organic ground beef Use or Freeze By Dates: 06-19-25 and 06-20-25 Establishment Number: Look for "EST. 4027"The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public health alert because Organic Rancher ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli. The ground beef was sold at Whole Foods Market stores across the country. The FSIS issued this alert because the ground beef could be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers. The beef wasn't officially recalled because it's already been pulled from store shelves. E. coli is a type of bacteria. The strain of E. coli found in this ground beef can cause bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Symptoms often start within a few days of eating contaminated food. Most healthy adults feel better within a week or so. However, children under five years of age, adults 65 and over, and people with weakened immune systems have a greater chance of becoming seriously ill. If you have symptoms that don't resolve quickly, see your doctor. The ground beef was sold at Whole Foods Market locations from May 26 through June 3. To check whether your ground beef is affected by this public health alert, look for the following details on the packaging. Name: Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% lean 15% fat Size: 1-pound vacuum-sealed packages Dates: "Use or Freeze By 06-19-25" and "Use or Freeze By 06-20-25" The potentially contaminated packages will have the establishment number "EST. 4027" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the front label. This is what the label looks like. The ground beef was shipped to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland and was then distributed to Whole Foods Market locations around the country. Whole Foods sold the raw ground beef in 26 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Organic Rancher website: Alabama Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Iowa Illinois Indiana Kentucky Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi North Carolina New Hampshire New Jersey New York Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Virginia Wisconsin The FSIS was made aware of the issue when Whole Foods notified the agency that some ground beef they had shipped had tested positive for E. coli. If you have the affected ground beef at home, do not eat it, says the FSIS. Instead, throw the package away or return it to Whole Foods for a refund. Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
PSA: E-Coli-Contaminated Ground Beef Could Be In Your Freezer
If you have big plans to grill burgers this weekend or have a hankering for homemade meatballs, you might want to double-check that freezer before you get your hopes up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli. While the contaminated products are no longer available for purchase, they do have a "use or freeze by" date of June 19, 2025 and June 20, 2025, so there's a possibility they could be stored in your fridge or freezer. The ground beef affected by the public health alert is Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% lean 15% fat in 1-pound vacuum-sealed packages. The beef was produced on May 22, 2025 and May 23, 2025 and has establishment number EST. 4027. The contaminated items were shipped to distributor locations across Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland, as well as Whole Foods Market retail locations across the country. Although there have been no confirmed reports of illness as of yet, the product was found to test positive for E. coli O157:H7 so anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider, according to the alert. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that, when ingested, can cause symptoms such as cramps, dehydration, and diarrhea. FSIS urges customers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. You Might Also Like Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Week 29 Insanely Delicious Vodka Cocktails
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Ground beef sold at Whole Foods may be tainted with E. coli, USDA says
U.S. agriculture officials are warning that ground beef sold at Whole Foods markets nationwide may be contaminated with potentially dangerous E. coli bacteria. Officials on Tuesday issued a public health alert for 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef, produced on May 22 and May 23, by NPC Processing Inc., of Shelburne, Vermont. The products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. However, they may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. The meat was produced in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the U.S. It was sent to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland and then to Whole Foods stores nationwide. The problem was discovered when company officials notified FSIS that they had shipped beef products that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness. To date, no illnesses linked to the product have been reported, officials said. Consumers who have the product should throw it away or return it to the store. E. coli bacteria can cause infections with symptoms that include dehydration, diarrhea and cramps. Most people recover within a week, but some people can become severely ill and develop a dangerous kidney condition. Children under age 5 and older adults are most at risk.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ground beef sold at Whole Foods may be contaminated with E. coli, officials say
It's time to check your meat — or risk foodborne illness . Some ground beef sold at Whole Foods may be contaminated with dangerous E. coli bacteria, U.S. officials warned this week, according to the Associated Press. The specific product causing concern are the 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef. Images of the packaging can be found here. The contamination was discovered when the company alerted federal food safety officials that certain batches had tested positive for E. coli. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service did not order a recall of this beef as packages are no longer on shelves. However, it's possible customers still have them in their homes, as the products have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20 and could have been stored in a freezer to use beyond those dates. If you have these packages of beef, it's recommended that you toss them, and also clean the area around where they were stored in the fridge or freezer as an extra precaution. E. coli is a type of bacteria that lives in the intestines. However, certain strains — like the one found in contaminated food — can cause serious illness. Contamination usually happens when feces get into food or water. This can occur if someone doesn't wash their hands properly after using the bathroom before handling food. It can also come from drinking unpasteurized milk (aka 'raw milk') or coming into contact with animals, such as at a petting zoo. E. coli was in the news earlier this year, when a deadly outbreak of the bacteria linked to contaminated lettuce hit 15 states. Last year, McDonald's also had an E. coli problem, with more than 75 people sickened by an outbreak linked to the yellow onions in some of their burgers. Symptoms of E. coli infection often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It also may lead to more serious complications like kidney failure. If you suspect you were infected with E. coli, drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and contact your doctor. While E. coli is typically not treated with medication and typically resolves on its own between two days and two weeks, it's important to keep track of your symptoms. Diarrhea that persists beyond that time, intense abdominal pain or problems urinating could be a sign of a secondary complication.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ground beef sold at Whole Foods might be contaminated with E. coli, USDA warns
The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for some raw ground beef products sold at Whole Foods Market because of a risk of E. coli contamination. The products are 1-pound, vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher organic 85% lean and 15% fat ground beef with use- or freeze-by dates of June 19 or June 20. They came from Vermont-based NPC Processing and have an establishment number Est. 4027 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The raw ground beef is no longer available for purchase, but FSIS says it's concerned that the packages may still be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. They should not be used and should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. According to FSIS, there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses related to these products, but people should contact a health care provider if they're concerned. Organic Rancher says the products were available from May 26 through June 3 in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia. Other states were not affected, it says, and products with different use- or freeze-by dates are not involved and are safe to use. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps for two to eight days after exposure. Although most people recover within a week, some may develop a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure or death. It can happen in any age group but is most common in children younger than 5 and older adults. 'The root cause of the issue has been identified, and immediate corrective actions have been put in place to ensure the ongoing integrity of the Organic Rancher brand,' the company said in its alert. 'We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and are fully committed to ensuring the safety and satisfaction of our customers.' FSIS emphasizes that all consumers should consume only ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and the only way to confirm that ground beef has reached a temperature high enough to eliminate harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that can measure internal temperature.
