Cargill ground beef recalled after E.coli contamination reports

The beef is said to be contaminated with E. coli O26, a rare strain of shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli.

Three confirmed victims
The recall comes after three people, two in Maine and one in New York, fell sick in June and July after consuming the said beef. It could not be confirmed if any of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.

The USDA released a statement saying, its Food Safety and Inspection Service “determined that there is an association between the ground beef products subject to recall and the cluster of illnesses in the states of Maine and New York.”

The problem was recognized by the USDA on Aug. 5.

The recall has been listed by the government as Class 1, which means “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

None of the sufferers required hospitalization, said a relieved Cargill Inc. spokesman Mike Martin. “It was a relief it wasn't more serious,” he told CNN.

The recalled beef
Certain BJ's Wholesale Club stores in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia are believed to have received the tainted products.

The beef was shipped on June 11 to distribution centers in Connecticut and Maryland. It was packed into smaller, consumer-size packages and further sold under different retail brand names.

The USDA did not disclose the names of the brands under which the tainted beef was being sold.

The USDA establishment number on the recalled beef is “EST. 9400.” It bears a product code of "W69032" and a "use/freeze by" date of July 1.

Consumers cautioned about tainted products
The E.coli strain in this product can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and other symptoms of food poisoning. In severe cases it may also lead to kidney failure.

The government “strongly encourages consumers to check their freezers and immediately discard any product subject to this recall.”

The recall has been listed by the government as Class 1, which means “there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

For any queries regarding the recall, consumers can contact the Cargill consumer line at (877) 788-4953.