Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Continues to Spread
Yesterday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updates on the current Escherichia coli O103 outbreak linked to ground beef. So far, CDC has reported a total of 196 illnesses in 10 states. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
Although CDC still maintains that no common supplier, distributor, or brand of ground beef has been identified that could account for the whole outbreak, their notice did identify two processors that have recently recalled their ground beef products due to E. coli O103 contamination.
Grant Park Packing in Franklin Park, IL, recalled approximately 53,200 pounds of raw ground beef products on April 24, 2019. Recalled products were sold in 40-lb. bulk cardboard boxes that were marked “FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY” with lot code GP.1051.18 and pack dates 10/30/2018, 10/31/2018, and 11/01/2018. Recalled products are labeled with establishment number “EST. 51308” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection on the boxes.
K2D Foods, doing business as Colorado Premium Foods, in Carrollton, GA, recalled approximately 113,424 pounds of raw ground beef products on April 23, 2019. Recalled products were sold in two 24-lb. vacuum-packed packages in cardboard boxes containing raw “GROUND BEEF PUCK” with “Use Thru” dates of 4/14/19, 4/17/19, 4/20/19, 4/23/19, 4/28/19, and 4/30/19. Recalled products are labeled with establishment number “EST. 21781” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
CDC says that investigators are continuing to trace other sources for ground beef eaten by ill people in this outbreak, and more product contaminated with E. coli O103 may be recalled.
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