The US Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has sounded an alarm out of a well-founded fear that different ground meat products people bought recently at Walmart stores throughout twelve states may contain a potentially deadly pathogen.

According to reports, authorities found traces of
E. coli in meat that should never have been used for but was. The contaminated product was used in about 16,243 pounds of fat beef, and the FSIS warned people to discard any they had.

On May 1, 2024, the FSIS revealed that over 16,000 pounds of ground beef originating from Cargill Meat Solutions in Pennsylvania may contain the dreaded E. coli. These products include the “93% Lean 7% Fat All Natural Ground Beef, “ Prime Rib Beef Steak Burger Patties,” “85% Lean 15% Fat All Natural Angus Premium Ground Beef,” 80% Lean 20% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck,” 80% Lean 20% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Chuck Patties,” and “90% Lean 10% Fat All Natural Ground Beef Sirloin Patties.”

According to the original recall, the contaminated beef was distributed to Walmart stores all over the US; however, Cargill said the contaminated beef only went to 12 states. These include Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Hampshire, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ohio, and New York.

According to the FSIS, the beef in question will have the USDA mark of inspection with the establishment number “EST. 86P”; however, it is anything but safe. The USDA performed a routine check as usual but detected no contaminants, so it passed the meat for consumption. Fortunately, the FSIS ran a secondary routine test, which is when they discovered the pathogen. It is not the first time the USDA has missed such a contaminant; in 2023 alone, there were at least 60 food recalls, and five had to do with E. coli.

Escherichia coli, popularly called E. Coli, is a bacteria that causes infections in the GI and urinary tracts. It is not found naturally in the human body but, once consumed, makes its way to the intestines, where it lives. Some can ingest this bacteria without suffering dangerous consequences, but it can be potentially fatal for others.

The E.Coli is often found in contaminated food or water, especially raw ground beef, raw milk, and unclean vegetables. It can also be found in animal feces. Raw meat often gets infected with the bacteria in the slaughterhouse due to the dirty environment and bodily fluids in the air.

As earlier stated, some lucky people are unsusceptible to E. coli, but they become carriers capable of passing it on to someone else who may not be so fortunate. Its most common symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, which often contains blood. This will go away for most people in about a week, but others will endure more severe infections, including extreme urinary tract infections, kidney failure, and pneumonia. Children are also at greater risk of developing a severe condition as a result of an infection compared to adults.

An infected person will usually start noticing symptoms within three to four days. However, that timeframe may be shorter. They can begin anywhere from one to ten days after exposure. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you need to get to a hospital. If the diarrhea has lasted for over three days, you notice decreased urine output, or cannot keep down liquids, reach out to your doctor immediately.

Even though the contamination went out to as many as 12 states, there have been no records of people falling sick. Nevertheless, the CDC and the USDA remain on high alert if that changes. They hope most people will dump the beef before it it has a chance to make anyone sick.

The FSIS has advised citizens, especially residents of the 12 affected states, to ensure they don’t have any recalled ground beef. Walmart stores may offer a refund for the product if you return it, but whether or not that happens, it is in everyone’s best interests that the meat be disposed of.

Raw meat must be handled with care as it is one of the most common sources of E. Coli. It is advisable that raw meat be separated from other food in the shopping cart, grocery bags, and refrigerators. It must also be well cooked to kill whatever germs may be present on it.

They do their best but the USDA is not fool proof and can often miss contaminants. This is why it is crucial that you keep an eye on the FSIS recalls page to catch news like this. It just might save tour life.