Over 120,000 pounds ground beef recalled fearing E. coli contamination

Over 120,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled after concerns were raised over a possible E. coli contamination, according to the US federal health officials.  

New Jersey-based Lakeside Refrigerated Services’ recall covers approximately 120,872 pounds of ground beef products that were produced between February 1, 2022, through April 8, 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The recall statement said that the products affected had been shipped across the country. 

The recalled products can be identified by the establishment number “EST. 46841” which is on the inside of the USDA mark of inspection.

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A list of the affected product labels has been released in order to help consumers spot the contaminated ones. The problem was first identified during routine testing.

So far, no confirmed reports of illnesses or “adverse reactions” related to the consumption of the affected products have been reported as of Tuesday. But, health officials were concerned that the contaminated products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria that normally occurs in the environment as well as in the guts of animals and humans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Some of its types are pathogenic that can cause illness through exposure to contaminated food or water, or contact with animals or other people. 

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Symptoms usually vary from person to person. In most cases, symptoms appear three to four days after the bacteria is ingested. The symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea and fever. More adverse cases would lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration and even kidney failure.

Most people who become inflected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can develop symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and vomiting and can recover after a week. Some people can develop a more severe inflection including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for developing HUS, the agency added.