The Recall Desk
Agency classClass IOur severity:SevereUSDA FSIS·114-2018·Announced 2018-11-17

Swift Beef Company Recalls Ground Beef Due to E. coli O157:H7

Swift Beef Company is recalling approximately 99,260 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products were distributed in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

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 source text explicitly classifies the recall as '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 never go below 4. Additionally, E. coli O157:H7 is a high-risk pathogen.

Plain-English summary

Swift Beef Company, a Hyrum, Utah establishment, is recalling approximately 99,260 pounds of raw non-intact 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 17, 2018. The affected products include bulk pallets and plastic-wrapped chubs of various lean percentages (73/27, 81/19, 85/15, and 93/07) produced on October 24, 2018. These items bear establishment number EST. 628 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The recall was initiated after an FSIS ground beef sample collected at a further processing establishment tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. FSIS confirmed that Swift Beef Company was the sole source supplier for the affected ground beef. The products were shipped to retail distributors for further processing and food service distributors for institutional use in California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

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 should cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure harmful bacteria are killed. Those concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers may call the JBS USA Consumer Hotline at (800) 727-2333 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
Swift Beef Company Recalls Ground Beef Products due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
Brand
Swift Beef Company
Manufacturer
Swift Beef Company
Category
Food — Raw Ground Beef
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed in 5 states:

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