Omaha’s Greater Omaha Packing recalled 295,236 pounds of raw beef products late today. The beef was for non-intact use but was suspected of contamination of E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
A complete list of products and product codes for the beef products that are subject to recall is here. The recalled products bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The recalled beef distribution included Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
FSIS discovered the possible contamination when it collected a routine product sample that confirmed positive for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. No adverse reactions were associated with the recall.
About E. coli infections
Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that the process makes certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.
When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume beef products that have been cooked to a temperature of 145°F and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes and ground meat products that have been cooked to a temperature of 160°F.
The only way to confirm that the beef product is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.