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Nearly 8 tons of ground beef sold at Walmart recalled over possible E. coli contamination
A food distributor in Pennsylvania is recalling about eight tons of ground beef because the meat might contain E. coli.
Packages of the beef, produced last month by Cargill Meat Solutions, were shipped to Walmart locations nationwide, according to a recall notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There have been no confirmed reports of anyone being harmed from eating the beef, the agency said.
Officials at Cargill Meat reported the possible contamination “after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef,” the recall states.
Cargill Meat told CBS MoneyWatch in an email that it reported the incident “out of an abundance of caution,” adding that the meat was shipped to Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.
E. coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that often causes dehydration, bloody stool and stomach cramps in humans. The bacteria typically strikes three or four days after a person consumes food tainted with E. coli. Most people recover from exposure within a week, the USDA said, but some who get infected — particularly children — can suffer from kidney failure.
Last month, walnuts sold at Whole Foods were recalled because of potential contamination with E. coli, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
The recalled beef from Cargill was shipped in six forms, according to the recall. They are:
- All Natural Lean Ground Beef with lot code 117 (2.25 pounds)
- Prime Rib Beef Steak Burgers Patties with lot code 118 (1.33 pounds)
- Fat All Natural Angus Premium Ground Beef with lot code 117 (2.25 pounds)
- Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck with lot code 118 (2.25 pounds)
- Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck Patties with lot code 118 (1.33 pounds)
- Fat All Natural Good Beef Sirloin Patties with lot code 118 (1.33 pounds)
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
All six forms have a USDA mark of inspection on the front of its packaging and establishment number “EST. 86P” on the back, according to the recall. Customers who purchased the beef products should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Anyone with questions about the recall can contact Cargill at 1-844-419-1574.
The Cargill announcement marks the second major beef recall this year due to an E. coli risk. The USDA in January recalled nearly 7,000 pounds of ground beef from producer Valley Meats of Illinois. Those products were shipped regionally to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan.
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A food company known for popular grocery store condiments has recalled a package of tortilla strips that may be contaminated with wheat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The product is meant to be gluten-free.
Sugar Foods, a manufacturing and distribution corporation focused mainly on various toppings, artificial sweeteners and snacks, issued the recall for the “Santa Fe Style” version of tortilla strips sold by the brand Fresh Gourmet.
“People who have a wheat allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product,” said Sugar Foods in an announcement posted by the FDA.
Packages of these tortilla strips with an expiration date as late as June 20, 2025, could contain undeclared wheat, meaning the allergen is not listed as an ingredient on the label. The Fresh Gourmet product is marketed as gluten-free.
Sugar Foods said a customer informed the company on Nov. 19 that packages of the tortilla strips actually contained crispy onions, another Fresh Gourmet product normally sold in a similar container. The brand’s crispy onion product does contain wheat, and that allergen is noted on the label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
No illnesses tied to the packaging mistake have been reported, according to the announcement from Sugar Foods. However, the company is still recalling the tortilla strips as a precaution. The contamination issue may have affected products distributed between Sept. 30 and Nov. 11 in 22 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Sugar Foods has advised anyone with questions about the recall to contact the company’s consumer care department by email or phone.
CBS News reached out to Sugar Foods for more information but did not receive an immediate reply.
This is the latest in a series of food product recalls affected because of contamination issues, although the others involved harmful bacteria. Some recent, high-profile incidents include an E. coli outbreak from organic carrots that killed at least one person in California, and a listeria outbreak that left an infant dead in California and nine people hospitalized across four different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The E. coli outbreak is linked to multiple different food brands while the listeria outbreak stemmed from a line of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold by Yu-Shang Foods.