OMAHA, Neb. — Greater Omaha Packing is recalling approximately 295,236 pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Some of the meat was distributed to processors in Indiana, according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The raw beef products intended for non-intact use were produced on July 13, 2021. The complete list of products and product codes for the beef products that are subject to recall can be found here.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 960A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were distributed to further processors in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska.
The problem was discovered during a routine FSIS product sample inspection that confirmed the presence of E. coli. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps within 2–8 days after exposure. While most people recover within a week, some can develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 and older adults. Symptoms are bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
Any retail distribution list(s) for the meat will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
FSIS advises consumers to safely prepare raw meat, 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.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
