The Recall Desk
Agency classClass IOur severity:SevereUSDA FSIS·053-2014·Announced 2014-08-15

Whole Foods Recalls Ground Beef Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

Whole Foods Market is recalling 368 pounds of ground beef products in Massachusetts due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination linked to three confirmed illnesses.

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 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-risk pathogen (E. coli O157:H7) with three confirmed illnesses and a potential for serious injury (hemolytic uremic syndrome), meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Whole Foods Market locations in South Weymouth and Newton, Massachusetts, are recalling 368 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recall includes various iBEEF ground beef products, such as ground sirloin, ground beef, and grass-fed patties, produced on June 8, June 10, and June 21, 2014.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall after an investigation linked the ground beef to a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. Three case-patients in Massachusetts have been identified with illness onset dates ranging from June 13 to June 25, 2014. Laboratory results confirmed linkages between these patients and ground beef purchased from the affected Whole Foods Market locations.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In some cases, it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Consumers who have purchased these products should check their freezers, as some product may still be frozen. Persons experiencing symptoms such as easy bruising, pallor, or decreased urine output should seek emergency medical care immediately.

The recalled product

Product
Massachusetts Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
Category
Food — Ground Beef
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed in 1 state:

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