Over 167,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled Nationwide Due to E. coli Contamination

A significant recall of ground beef has been issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recall affects approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products packaged by Wolverine Packing Co. in Detroit, Michigan, and distributed to restaurants across the country.

The recall was prompted after the FSIS was notified on November 13, 2024, about several illnesses in Minnesota linked to the consumption of ground beef from Wolverine Packing Co. Since then, 15 people have been confirmed to have been sickened by the beef, with illness dates ranging from November 2 to November 10.

The contaminated products include both fresh and frozen ground beef. The fresh products have a “use by” date of November 14, 2024, while the frozen products are labeled with a production date of October 22, 2024. These products bear the establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause severe symptoms such as dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. While most people recover within a week, some may develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is particularly dangerous for children under 5 years old and older adults.

Restaurants and consumers are advised not to serve or consume these products and to either discard them or return them to the place of purchase. FSIS recommends cooking all raw meat products to at least 160°F to kill potentially harmful bacteria.