Routine testing revealed the presence of E. coli O26, a less-common strain of Shiga toxin–producing E. coli. Exposure to this strain can cause diarrhea, often bloody, as well as vomiting.
The recall, by Mountain West Food Group, involves 16 ounce (1 lb) vacuum-sealed packages produced on December 16. The recalled beef was labeled “USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26” on the side of the packaging and bears the establishment code EST 2083.
The recalled ground beef was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington, then sent to retail grocery stores.
The FSIS said it was concerned that people may have the recalled ground beef in their fridges or freezers. If you have this in your kitchen, you should not eat it and throw it away or return it. Stores usually issue refunds for recalled products.
Also be sure to sanitize any surfaces that came into contact with the recalled raw meat.
What to Know About E. coli Infection
Food contaminated with Shiga toxin–producing E. coli doesn’t cause illness right away. It takes about a month (34 days, on average) from when you ate contaminated food to get sick, the FSIS said.
Vigorous rehydration is the usual treatment for infection with this strain of E. coli, and antibiotics are not recommended. Most people recover on their own within a week, but some illnesses may last longer or be more intense.
Rarely, more vulnerable groups — like people with weakened immune systems, and the very old and very young — can develop severe infection, which could progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. HUS is not common for people sick with E. coli O26.
Symptoms of HUS include:
- Easy bruising
- Pallor (looking pale, gray, or ashen)
- Decreased urination
If you or a loved one develops these symptoms, you should seek emergency medical care immediately — but again, it’s rare for E. coli O26 infection to progress this far.
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