Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Last weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that 42,922 pounds of ground beef were being recalled due to E. coli contamination.
The meat was produced by the Lakeside Refrigerated Services and sold at Walmart stores around the nation.
The raw ground beef was produced on Monday, June 1 (so any ground beef purchased previously is not under recall).
The products included in this recall are:
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P-53298-82.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES” and a use or freeze by date of June 27, 2020 and lot code P-53934-28.
• 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1-lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53929-70.
• 1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53944-10.
• 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20 and lot code P53937-45.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20 and lot code P53935-25.
• 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT” and a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20 and lot code P53930-18.
The FSIS considers this recall to be a Class I situation, meaning the recalled products could have serious, adverse health problems or result in death.
The E. coli contamination was discovered during routine testing conducted by the FSIS. At this time, there have been no reports of consumers suffering adverse affects due to the recalled ground beef.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps three to four days after exposure. It can also potentially result in kidney failure for older adults and children under the age of five.
Anyone who may have consumed the recalled ground beef and is concerned about illness should contact their healthcare provider.
While the product has been pulled from grocery store shelves, the FSIS is concerned that the purchased product may still be in some consumers' freezers. Consumers who have recently purchased any of the ground beef products listed above are urged not to consume the meat, but instead throw the contaminated meat away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact the Lakeside Processing Center Call Center at (856) 832-3881.