Cargill Recalls Ground Beef Due to E. coli O26 Contamination
Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling approximately 132,606 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O26. The recall follows an investigation linking the bacteria to 17 illnesses and one death.
What this means for you
Highest-severity recall. Risk of serious injury or death is documented or strongly suspected. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.
Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the investigation identified one death, which mandates a Critical severity score of 5 according to the rubric.
Plain-English summary
Cargill Meat Solutions, a Fort Morgan, Colorado establishment, is recalling approximately 132,606 pounds of ground beef products made from the chuck portion of the carcass. The products were produced and packaged on June 21, 2018, and bear establishment number EST. 86R inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall after being notified of an investigation into E. coli O26 illnesses. FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state partners determined that raw ground beef was the probable source of the reported illnesses. The epidemiological investigation identified 17 illnesses and one death, with onset dates ranging from July 5 to July 25, 2018. The Cargill products were identified through traceback information related to a previous recall (072-2018) connected to the same outbreak.
E. coli O26 is a serovar of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Infection can cause diarrhea, often bloody, and vomiting. In rare cases, it can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, which is most common in children under 5, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. FSIS advises cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill harmful bacteria.
The recalled product
- Product
- Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. coli O26 Contamination
- Brand
- Cargill Meat Solutions
- Manufacturer
- Cargill Meat Solutions
- Category
- Food — Ground Beef
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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