In a recent development, Valley Meats LLC, an Illinois-based meat producer, has issued a recall for approximately 6,800 pounds of uncooked beef patties and ground beef.
The recall was prompted by concerns that the meat products could be contaminated with a potentially lethal strain of E. coli, as reported by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in a recall alert issued on Sunday.
The FSIS, a branch of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), identified the affected meat as being packaged in boxes of varying sizes, all bearing the USDA inspection mark "EST. 5712". The recalled meat was distributed to facilities in four states - Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan - for subsequent delivery to restaurants and other institutional consumers.
The FSIS expressed concern that some of the potentially contaminated products may still be in institutional or restaurant refrigerators or freezers. The agency strongly advised against serving these products and recommended that they be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
Despite the potential risk, the FSIS confirmed that there have been no known adverse reactions related to the consumption of the affected ground beef and patties. FOX Business reached out to Valley Meats for further comment on the recall but had not received a response at the time of publication.
The recall was initiated after Valley Meats informed the FSIS that samples sent to a third-party laboratory had tested positive for E. coli 0157:H7. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this strain of E. coli is the most common cause of illness in humans.
Symptoms of exposure to this bacteria can include dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In some cases, exposure can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition most frequently seen in young children and older adults, as stated by the FSIS. Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates that E. coli 0157:H7 is responsible for approximately 70,000 illnesses annually.
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