Over 14 thousand pounds of ground beef that is potentially contaminated with E. coli has been recalled from 10 states. The beef came from Creekstone Farm Premium Beef but was repackaged into consumer-sized portions and rebranded under various retailers.
The beef was distributed in Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service is working on tracking down all the retail outlets and has so far located all the outlets in Missouri: Price Cutter, Ramey, Country Market, Murfin, Mike's Market, Smitty, and Bistro Market stores.
The specific bacteria, found during a routine inspection by one of the retail outlets, are O157:H7, a very nasty form of E. coli. The very young, elderly and those with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible. Symptoms include dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and can lead to kidney failure in severe cases.
Always take precaution when handling raw meat and be sure to cook meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
For more information about the recall visit the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
