Wake-Up Call for Food Safety: Significant Ground Beef Recall

In a surprising turn of events that has caused concern throughout the food industry, nearly 30 tons of ground beef have been recalled due to the potential contamination of E. coli.

The recall was initiated by American Foods Group, LLC, a company based in Wisconsin, after routine testing discovered the presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in a sample of their product.

E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals, and its consumption can lead to severe health problems. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and, in rare cases, death from related infections.

This incident serves as a strong reminder of the importance of strict food safety measures and the potential risks that exist in our food supply chain.

There’s a ground beef recall and Wendy’s is selling bacon cheeseburgers for a penny from September 18th-September 22nd. 🤔 McDonald’s is doing 50 cent burgers 🍔 Is this an E. coli special?#beef #recall #groundbeefrecall #ecoli #conspiracy #DepopulationAgenda #news #wendys…pic.twitter.com/BlsFIZQawt

— I’m the Lit Phoenix (@M_C_Phoenix) September 19, 2023

The recall affects three types of bulk ground beef that were shipped from Wisconsin to grocery stores in Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio. The affected products, which were packaged in 10-pound plastic tubes, were produced on August 14.

The specific products involved in the recall are 90050 Beef Fine Ground 81/19, 20473 Beef Halal Fine Ground 73/27, and 20105 Beef Fine Ground 73/27, each with their own lot codes.

No cases of human contamination have been reported thus far, but as a precautionary measure, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises consumers to discard any affected beef.

E. coli is a type of bacteria that resides in the intestines of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and deer. While most strains are harmless, certain strains, like STEC, can cause serious gastrointestinal symptoms.

Foods that are commonly linked to E. coli contamination include ground beef, unpasteurized milk, raw produce, and non-disinfected water.

It’s a recall on 58,000 pounds of beef that’s been tainted with E. coli now all of a sudden these places selling $1 burgers?? Today ain’t even #NationalCheeseburgerDay pic.twitter.com/K1VhzZvlwq

— .😈 (@AyoKiyoshi) September 18, 2023

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), STEC is commonly associated with foodborne outbreaks. It is estimated that E. coli infections cause approximately 265,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the U.S. each year, with young children and older adults at higher risk of severe illness.

The USDA recommends cooking meat to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) and using a meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking, as this can effectively kill harmful bacteria like E. coli.

This article appeared in StatesmanPost and has been published here with permission.