Beef Recall: Kansas Beef Company Product Sold Nationwide Can Cause Kidney Failure, Bloody Diarrhea
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Fifty-thousand pounds of ground beef are being recalled by a Kansas company fearing Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination.
CNN reports that although there haven't been any reported cases of illness so far, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspects that ground beef from The National Beef Packing Co. may carry the bacteria E. Coli 0157:H7 — a pathogen known to cause severe food poisoning.
In a statement released Wednesday, The National Beef Packing Co. announced a "recall for NatureSource Natural Beef, Naturewell Natural Beef and National Beef commodity ground beef due to one 10 pound chub testing positive for E. coli O157:H7."
"This recall is voluntary, and there have been no reported illnesses related to the recall. We are working closely with authorities to investigate this matter and are contacting our customers who have purchased this product," it continued, stressing that the recall concerned a relatively small group of products amounting to about 50,100 lbs., packaged on July 18 with a use/freeze by date of August 7.
The USDA said that the ground beef had been shipped in 40- to 60-lb. consignments to retailers and wholesalers nationwide. However, it is unclear if it was actually sold at a retail level.
"We are working closely with authorities to investigate this matter and are contacting our customers who have purchased this product," the company told reporters.
Is your ground beef included in the recall?
Recalled products can be recognized by the establishment number "EST . 208A."
According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although some strains are virtually harmless, others can result in serious illness. About 76,000 individuals are affected each year. Symptoms are usually limited to nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, and fatigue; however, pernicious cases can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia. The USDA warns that the relevant strain can cause "bloody diarrhea, dehydration and in the most severe cases, kidney failure."
To learn more about the beef recall and how to avoid infection, consult the USDA's and the CDC's online databases.