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A recall for Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef products was announced on November 20, 2024 after at least 15 people fell sick with E. coli bacterial infections related to consuming it.
We may see other cases associated with this outbreak, as information in the current cluster appears to be limited to the state of Minnesota and the recall indicates that the product was shipped nationwide.
Here’s what we know about the Wolverine Packing Co. Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and recall.
The problem was discovered when the Minnesota Department of Agriculture identified a group of people sick with E. coli infections. All with genetically similar strains of E. coli bacteria.
This group of people reported that they ate ground beef prior to their illness.
Sick individuals reported illness onset between November 2, 2024 and November 10, 2024.
This information was reported to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) where Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef was considered a suspect food vehicle.
The link between Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef and the E. coli outbreak cluster was confirmed following laboratory test results.
Sampling activities prompted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture E. coli outbreak investigation identified E. coli O157 in a Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef sample. The same type of bacteria that sickened those in the outbreak cluster.
Following this discovery, Wolverine Packing Co., of Detroit Michigan, announced a recall for over 100 product labels. This amounts to approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that were shipped nationwide.
Affected product includes fresh items with “use by” date of 11/14/2024 and frozen items with a production date 10 22 24.
Recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 25748” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
A complete list of recalled products can be found here.
Ground beef is a commonly frozen food item. A such, the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is concerned that some product may still be stored in restaurant refrigerators or freezers.
Restaurants are urged to not serve these recalled products. Instead, they should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Some E. coli bacteria are a normal part of the human and animal digestive system. These friendly bacteria help your body digest food and help keep harmful germs in check.
This E. coli bacteria is not friendly. E. coli O157 belongs to a group of E. coli that make a harmful toxin capable of causing serious illness or even death. This type of shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria was found in outbreak patient samples and Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef samples.
E. coli causes a gastrointestinal illness with potentially serious, life-threatening complications.
The most common symptoms of E. coli infections include:
Most people recover on their own without needing medical help. This is not always the case. Call your doctor if your condition worsens or does not get better or if you experience the following serious symptoms:
Hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, can be triggered by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections. This complication results when the toxin breaks down blood cells. Those ruptured blood cells can clog the filtering activities in the kidneys leading to potential kidney failure. HUS can result in long-term or permanent health problems. Even death.
Signs of HUS include:
About 5 to 10% of those infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli develop HUS.
If you experience symptoms consistent with HUS following E. coli illness, get emergency medical help immediately! People with HUS require hospitalization to monitor their kidneys and for other complications to reduce the risk of a fatal outcome.
About 85% of people with HUS recover within a few weeks, providing they receive prompt medical care. Unfortunately, others may suffer more permanent damage or even death from HUS related complications.
There are a few things you can do to help yourself and others if you believe you have an E. coli infection. Especially one potentially related to an outbreak, such as the E. coli outbreak associated with Wolverine Packing Co. ground beef.
Diarrheal illnesses can deplete the body of needed fluids. Replenish those fluids with water, electrolytes, and low sugar and caffeine free drinks.
Reporting your illness can help public health officials better understand an outbreak situation. In some cases, an initial recall expands to other products based on patient data and subsequent additional product sampling. You may hold the key to helping prevent future illnesses.
E. coli infections are very contagious. But there are important steps you can take to reduce the risk of spreading illness to others in your household or beyond.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands after you go to the bathroom or help someone in the bathroom. Also after changing a diaper. Wash your hands before and after you eat or prepare food.
Do not prepare food for others. E. coli can spread easily through food. Do not prepare food for others until you are free from infection. Food workers should not report to work if they are infectious.
If you have become seriously ill with an E. coli infection and wish to make a legal claim for compensation, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has an E. coli lawyer that can help.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully won millions of dollars in products liability and food poisoning cases. They can help you too!
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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