The Recall Desk
Agency classClass IOur severity:CriticalUSDA FSIS·031-2024·Announced 2024-11-20

Wolverine Packing Recalls Ground Beef Due to E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

Wolverine Packing Co. is recalling approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination linked to an illness cluster in Minnesota.

The agency’s classification

USDA FSIS: Class I

Class I is a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 5/5 (Critical).

Highest-severity recall. The hazard can cause serious injury or death. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the agency classification is 'High - Class I' and 'Class I'. According to the rubric, if the agency's own classification is FDA Class I or USDA Class I, the score must be 5 (Critical). Additionally, the source mentions a 'potentially deadly bacterium' and an active illness cluster, supporting the highest severity level.

Plain-English summary

Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit, Michigan establishment, is recalling approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recall was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on November 20, 2024. The affected products include fresh items with a “use by” date of 11/14/2024 and frozen items labeled with production date 10 22 24. These products bear establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection and were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide.

The recall was initiated after FSIS was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill persons who reported consuming ground beef prior to their illness. FSIS determined a link between the Wolverine Packing Co. products and this illness cluster after a ground beef sample tested positive for E. coli O157. To date, 15 case-patients have been identified in one state with illness onset dates ranging from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. While most people recover within a week, some develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Consumers should contact a healthcare provider if concerned about an illness. Restaurants are urged not to serve these products and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Consumers are advised to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 F using a food thermometer.

The recalled product

Product
Wolverine Packing Co. Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
Brand
Wolverine Packing Co.
Manufacturer
Wolverine Packing Co.
Category
Food — Ground Beef
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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