Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. has initiated a recall of 167,277 pounds of ground beef due to potential contamination with E. coli, a bacteria that can cause serious health issues. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that the affected products were distributed to restaurants across the country.
The recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Fresh products have a “use by” date of Nov. 14, while frozen products were produced on Oct. 22. FSIS cautioned that some adulterated products may still be in restaurant storage and asked establishments to either discard or return them as soon as possible.
Outbreak and Ground Beef Link Confirmed
The recall was initiated after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture traced the illnesses to the products. Reports indicated that 15 people in Minnesota became ill from the adulterated ground beef between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10. Testing confirmed the sample of ground beef contained E. coli on Nov. 13, after which regulators and Wolverine Packing Co. took fast action.
E. coli infections generally result in symptoms of dehydration, abdominal cramping, and bloody diarrhea within two days to eight days after exposure. While many recover in a week, some individuals, especially children and the elderly, may experience a severe kidney complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
FSIS has called on all restaurants to thoroughly check their inventory for products linked with the recall. The adulterated ground beef should not be served at any cost. Instead, it needs to be discarded or returned to suppliers.
Consumers are advised to monitor their health for signs of illness if they feel they have consumed an affected product. Anyone with symptoms of E. coli infection, especially those with symptoms of HUS, should seek medical attention immediately.
In a statement, Wolverine Packing Co. vowed their commitment to the safety of their consumers while promising to cooperate fully with federal authorities. The firm is running an internal audit to ensure production means are up to strict safety standards. As a family-owned business in operation since 1937, Wolverine Packing Co. is similarly dedicated to its goal of upholding the customer’s trust in its products.
This is not the first incident to happen with the company. In 2014, Wolverine Packing Co. recalled 1.8 million pounds of ground beef after a different outbreak of E. coli that sickened consumers in several states. These setbacks do not deter the company from remaining a large supplier in the meat industry as it supplies more than 250 brands and 4,000 protein products from its Detroit headquarters.
The food safety authorities recommended cooking all ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F, a temperature needed to kill harmful bacteria. Handling correctly and cooking well are critical steps in foodborne illness prevention.
