Guess what? There is yet another Ground Beef Ecoli Recall in the news today. This time, Lakeside Refrigerated Services is the implicated company. USDA noted that the problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Here is everything you need to know about this huge recall and what is being done.
According to the recall notice issued by the USDA,
“The raw ground beef items were produced on June 1, 2020. The following products are subject to recall:
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.”
Concerned you may have these products at home, here’s a peek at their packaging:
Ecoli (Escherichia coli) is a bacteria that lives in all animals, including humans. Most types of Ecoli are safe to humans, and even our intestines use Ecoli to break down food. The difference is some of E. coli strains are pathogenic. These are the types that cause unpleasant and sometimes serious illnesses.
Like most other foodborne symptoms, Ecoli is hard to diagnose. This is not due to the ability for hospitals to test to see what has made you ill, it is because the signs are mostly all the same. Do any of these symptoms look familiar?
The majority of people infected with E. coli will exhibit symptoms of diarrhea and abdominal cramps within 2 to 8 days after ingestion of the bacteria.
Urgent medical attention is highly recommended if you or someone you love has the above symptoms. Early medical attention can help reduce the risk of more severe illness and potential long-term complications.
In extreme instances, pay special attention to these indicators that something is severely wrong:
In some circumstances a more serious illness may develop, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a type of kidney failure that develops as a result of E. coli infection.
The USDA advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, as:
| Product | Minimum Internal Temperature & Rest Time |
|---|---|
| Beef, Pork, Veal & Lamb Steaks, chops, roasts | 145 °F (62.8 °C) and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes |
| Ground Meats | 160 °F (71.1 °C) |
| Ground Poultry | 165 °F |
| Ham, fresh or smoked (uncooked) | 145 °F (62.8 °C) and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes |
| Fully Cooked Ham (to reheat) | Reheat cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants to 140 °F (60 °C) and all others to 165 °F (73.9 °C). |
| Product | Minimum Internal Temperature |
|---|---|
| All Poultry (breasts, whole bird, legs, thighs, wings, ground poultry, giblets, and stuffing) | 165 °F (73.9 °C) |
| Eggs | 160 °F (71.1 °C) |
| Fish & Shellfish | 145 °F (62.8 °C) |
| Leftovers | 165 °F (73.9 °C) |
| Casseroles | 165 °F (73.9 °C) |
The Recall calls for more safety standards on beef production:
Ecoli bacteria are ubiquitous in the environment and intestines of animals and people as well. Animals who have Ecoli in their intestine shed it in their feces. Even though most strains of E.Coli are harmless, some can lead to serious cases of food poisoning.
Beef producers take extensive precautions to reduce the risk of STEC contamination in ground beef products. Like maintaining temperatures of beef processing rooms at or below 50 ℉, making sure employees follow proper hygiene and cleaning the surfaces and utensils. FSIS guidelines to beef processors is to “include best practices at slaughter that may be used to prevent, eliminate, or reduce levels of fecal and associated microbiological contamination.”
If you have consumed any of the recalled products and have experienced any of the symptoms listed above it is a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider, even if your symptoms are mild. Linking your illness and experiences may help others by assisting the investigation into a potential outbreak.
You should contact your healthcare provider if you experience diarrhea lasting for more than 3 days or vomit so much that you cannot keep liquids down or pass very little urine. These are signs of severe dehydration that can result in life-threatening illness.
Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by contaminated food or water. When corporations cause Ecoli food poisoning outbreaks or Legionnaires disease outbreaks, we use the law to hold them accountable. The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is the only law firm in the nation solely focused on representing families in food poisoning lawsuits and Legionnaires disease lawsuits.
If you were infected with Ecoli after eating ground beef that is part of this Ground Beef Ecoli Recall and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we have an Ecoli lawyer ready to help you. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here.
By: Candess Zona-Mendola
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