The Recall Desk
HighUSDA FSIS·PHA-09102022-01·Announced 2022-09-10

USDA Issues Public Health Alert for HelloFresh Ground Beef Due to E. Coli Risk

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for specific HelloFresh ground beef packages linked to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Consumers are urged to discard the product.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The alert involves a high-risk pathogen (E. coli O157:H7) associated with reported illnesses, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a High severity score (3) when dealing with high-risk pathogens and risk-of-harm products.

Plain-English summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on September 10, 2022, regarding specific ground beef products found in HelloFresh meal kits. The alert was issued due to concerns that the ground beef may be associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 illness. A formal recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

The affected products are 10-oz. plastic vacuum-packed packages containing “GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN/15% FAT.” These packages bear the codes “EST#46841 L1 22 155” or “EST#46841 L5 22 155” on the side of the packaging and “EST.46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The meal kits containing this ground beef were shipped to consumers nationwide from July 2 to July 21, 2022.

FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health partners are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, with raw ground beef identified as the probable source of reported illnesses. Traceback information indicates that multiple case-patients received ground beef produced at establishment M46841 and distributed by HelloFresh during the specified period. FSIS is concerned that some product may remain in consumers' freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and should throw them away. FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare raw meat products and to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 F, using a food thermometer to confirm the temperature.

The recalled product

Product
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Specific Ground Beef In HelloFresh Meal Kits Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
Category
Food — Ground Beef
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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