Minn. Ground Beef Recall May Affect Your Thanksgiving
Just in time for Thanksgiving, a Minnesota meat company has issued a recall for 1,200 pounds of ground beef after testing revealed possible E. coli contamination.
Ranchers Legacy Meat Company issued the recall when a routine inspection by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service discovered the contamination, reports WISC-TV. The recall includes all meat products that were produced on November 19, the same day as the product that tested positive for E. coli
E. coli is a form of bacteria that can cause severe and sometimes fatal food borne illness in humans. Although there have been no reports of any illnesses associated with the recalled meat, E. coli can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and cramps, with symptoms typically appearing two to eight days after exposure.
Recalled Products
According to the USDA news release, the products subject to the recall all have a use-by date of 12/10/2014 and bear the establishment number "Est 40264" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The products, all of which are ground beef products sealed in plastic packets, include:
- Ranchers Legacy Ground Beef Patties 77/23
- Ranchers Legacy Ground Chuck Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy USDA Choice Ground Beef 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy USDA Choice WD Beef Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy RD Beef Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy Chuck Blend Oval Beef Patties
- Ranchers Legacy WD Chuck Blend Patties
- Ranchers Legacy USDA Choice NAT Beef Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy NAT Beef Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy USDA Choice NAT Beef Patties 80/20
- Ranchers Legacy Ground Chuck Blend
- Ranchers Legacy Chuck Blend Bulk Pack NAT Patties
- Ranchers Legacy Chuck Blend NAT Beef Patties
- OTG Manufacturing Chuck/Brisket RD Patties
The recall is a Class I recall, defined as a "health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death."
What Should Consumers Do?
According to the USDA, the products subject to the recall were shipped to distributors for sale nationwide and may have been purchased by consumers. Consumers should avoid consuming any of the products subject to the recall. Those who may have already consumed potentially contaminated beef should look for signs of potential food borne illness and contact a health care provider if symptoms appear.
Consumers with questions about the recall can call Jeremy Turnquist, Vice President of Operations for Ranchers Legacy Meat Co. at (651) 366-6575.
Related Resources:
- Minnesota company recalls ground beef (Associated Press)
- Ground Beef Recall: Cargill Meat Recalled After 33 Sick in Northeast (FindLaw's Common Law)
- 1.8M Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled: 11 Illnesses in 4 States (FindLaw's Common Law)
- National Beef Recall Over E.Coli Fears (FindLaw's Common Law)