A single-state outbreak of fifteen cases of E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to raw ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. of Detroit, Michigan.
On November 15, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that it was investigating eleven cases of E. coli O157:H7 in the Twin Cities area. Ten of the victims reported having eated burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow, a restaurant chain. The eleventh victim had eaten at Hen House Eatery, a Minneapolis restaurant.
The case count has since risen to fifteen.
Outbreak victims range in age from 9 to 70 years. Two people have been hospitalized.
All of the locations were supplied with ground beef products from the same source—Wolverine Packing.
On November 20, 2024, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reported having found E. coli O157 in a sample of ground beef collected as part of the outbreak investigation.
In response to the MDA’s finding, Wolverine has recalled approximately 167,277 pounds (more than 83 tons) of fresh and frozen ground beef products, supplied to restaurants across the United States.
The fresh ground beef products have a “Use by” date of 11/14/2024, and the frozen products are labeled with production date 10 22 24. All of the recalled products bear establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. A complete list of recalled products is available here.
Restaurants are urged not to serve any of the recalled products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
To date, there have been no reports of outbreak cases outside of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that anyone who believes they may have developed an E. coli O157 infection should contact their health care provider.
Ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York may be the source of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella, according to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The federal agency is investigating sixteen (16) cases of Salmonella Saintpaul infections in Connecticut (1), Massachusetts (1), New Jersey (9), and New York (5).
Four of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths.
Victims range in age from less than one year old to 97 years old. Nineteen percent (19%) of the victims are children under five years of age.
Ground beef is the only common food that victims who were interviewed remembered having eaten in the days before become ill.
All of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate and where they bought it reported eating 80% lean ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Timeline
The first victim began to experience symptoms on April 27, 2023. The most recent victim developed symptoms of Salmonella infection on June 16, 2023.
The number of reported cases is likely to grow, as it can take as long as three to four weeks for suspected cases to be confirmed as part of an outbreak.
The CDC is currently searching its PulseNet data base to check for additional hitherto unidentified outbreak cases.
In March 2023, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recovered a strain of Salmonella SaintPaul closely related to the current outbreak strain in a sample of ground beef analyzed as part of a routine surveillance program.
There was no recall, as the FSIS does not consider Salmonella-contaminated raw ground beef to be adulterated.
Salmonella and raw beef
Raw beef is a common source of Salmonella illnesses.
The 27 outbreaks resulted in 1103 illnesses, 254 hospitalizations, and two deaths. The most common category of beef behind the outbreaks was raw, ground beef.
In spite of this clear connection between Salmonella illnesses and the presence of the pathogen in raw beef, the FSIS has resisted efforts over the years to name Salmonella as an adulterant in raw beef.
The agency’s position is that raw beef is meant to be cooked before being consumed, thus minimizing the risk to consumers.
USDA recommends that consumers cook raw ground beef to an internal temperature of 160ºF to ensure that any Salmonella present will be killed.
The situation is different in Europe.
The presence of Salmonella or any other foodborne pathogen in raw meat is grounds for issuance of a recall in member countries of the European Union and in the United Kingdom.
The CDC offers the following recommended practices to avoid becoming infected with Salmonella:
Clean:
Wash any bowls, utensils, and surfaces that touch raw ground beef with soap and water before using them to prepare other foods.
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after preparing raw ground beef and before touching other kitchen items.
Separate:
When shopping, separate raw ground beef from other foods in your shopping cart and grocery bags. Place packages of raw ground beef into individual plastic bags to avoid cross-contamination.
Keep raw ground beef separate from foods that will not be cooked.
Store raw ground beef in a container or sealed, leakproof bag on the lowest shelf in the fridge or freezer.
Cook:
Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked meat to a temperature high enough to kill germs. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F, and leftovers should be heated to an internal temperature of 165°
Do not eat raw or undercooked ground beef.
Chill:
Raw ground beef that has been refrigerated should be used or frozen within 1 or 2 days.
Refrigerate or freeze ground beef within 2 hours of cooking. If the food is exposed to temperatures hotter than 90°F, like a hot car or picnic, refrigerate or freeze within 1 hour.
Freeze any meat that will not be used within a few days. Although freezing can help keep ground beef safe until you can cook it, it does not kill existing harmful germs.
Thaw frozen ground beef in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:
Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
Bloody diarrhea
So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, such as:
Not peeing much
Dry mouth and throat
Feeling dizzy when standing up
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OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA, the CDC and state agencies are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses associated with raw ground beef distributed by HelloFresh in meal kits from July 2-21, 2022. The FSIS has released a Public Health Alert with details on the implicated product.
Public Health Alert: FSIS issues a public health alert for GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN/15% FAT in HelloFresh meal kits (10-oz vacuum packages; Codes EST#46841 L1 22 155 or EST#46841 L5 22 155; Shipped to customers from July 2-21, 2022) due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The products are no longer available for purchase, but may still be in consumers’ freezers.
Allergy Alert: ANKUR” Muktanand Foods Inc. recalls ANKUR GOLDEN RAISIN (14 oz (400g); UPC 8904 1704 10327; All batches) due to undeclared sulfites.
Europe
Allergy Alert (Spain): AESAN warns consumers that DIA SNACK MANIAC! Popcorn with salt (80g; Batch 22213; Best before 01/31/2023) contains undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (UK): ASDA recalls ASDA Plant Based Lemon Cheesecake (2 x 100g; All date codes) due to undeclared walnuts and hazelnuts.
Food Safety Recall (Austria): LACTALIS Österreich GmbH recalls Sainte Maure Chèvre 200g PDT X6 / Goat cheese (200g; Best before 02.10.2022, 05.10.2022 and 11.10.2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lactalis Danmark recalls Président Sainte Maure goat cheese (200g; Batch nos. 227AD05192, 234EC05192, 241AD05192, 241DD05192; Best before 06.10.2022, 17.10.2022, 20.10.2022, 23.10.2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Lidl Danmark recalls Chêne d’argent – Fransk gedeost rulle / French goat cheese roll (200g; Use by 06.10.2022, 11.10.2022 and 15.10.2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Finland): Lidl Suomi Kyrecalls Chêne d’argent”, 200 g -vuohenjuustoja / Goat cheese (200g; Best before 6/10/2022, 11/10/2022 and 15/10/2022; Product of France) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): MONTBEDIS E.LECLERC MONTBELIARD recalls Le Chevrotin brand Sandwich au chèvre / Goat cheese sandwich (Use by 09/09/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): CARREFOUR recalls Carrefour Classic brand Bûche de chèvre / Goat cheese log (180g; All lots; Multiple Best before dates) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (France): TOURLAVILLE DISTRIBUTION E.Leclerc Tourlaville recalls MAGASIN PIZZA 4 FROMAGES / Four-cheese pizza (600g; Use by 05/09/2022 et le 10/09/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): DIPA CEMOI recalls CEMOI brand LES IRRESISTIBLES COEUR GUIMAUVE / Irresistable marshmallow hearts (197g; Lots beginning with L22131 and L22132; Best before 31/05/2023) due to foreign matter contamination (flexible metal wire).
Food Safety Recall (France): MONTBEDIS E.LECLERC MONTBELIARD recalls E.LECLERC MONTBELIARD brand baguettine fromagère / cheese baguette (Use by 12/09/2022 and 13/09/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): MONTBEDIS E.LECLERC MONTBELIARD recalls E.LECLERC MONTBELIARD brand pizza au chèvre 28cm / Goat cheese pizza (Use by dates between 12/09/2022 and 13/09/2022) due to possible foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERE DE RIBLAIRErecalls Buche de chèvre Carrefour and Buche de chèvre En Cuisine / Carrefour and En Cuisine brands of goat cheese logs (180g; Best before dates between 27/09/2022 and 13/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERE DE RIBLAIRErecalls Buche de chèvre Sainte Maure Les Croisés and Buche Fondante Les Croisés / Goat cheeses (300g & 180g, respectively; Best before dates between 25/09/2022 and 14/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERE DE RIBLAIRE recalls Sainte Maure Leader Price / Goat cheese (200g; Best before dates between 02/10/ 2022 and 13/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): FROMAGERE DE RIBLAIRE recalls Sainte Maure Leader Price / Goat cheese (200g; Best before dates between 14/10/2022 and 25/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE U ENSEIGNE recalls U brand FROMAGE DE CHEVRE PASTEURISE STE MAURE 25%MG BUCHE / Pasteurized goat cheese lot, 25% milk fat (200g; All lots; Multiple Use by dates) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (France): Lidl recalls Chêne d’Argent brand Bûche de Chèvre / Goat cheese log (180g; Multiple Best before dates) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (France): SCAMARK E.LECLERCrecalls Buche de chèvre Sainte Maure Les Croisés and Buche Fondante Les Croisés / Goat cheeses (300g & 180g, respectively; Best before dates between 29/09/2022 and 14/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE U recalls U brand MOULES DE BOUCHOT ELEVEES EN FRANCE / Bouchot mussels, raised in France (1.4 kg; Lot 2220609250; Use by 15/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SOMIRA INTERMARCHE LONS LE SAUNIER recalls MERGUEZ FABRIQUEES DANS NOS ATELIERS / sausages (Lot 1 1 234/817185; Use by 01/09/2022) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): ARGENTAN DISTRIBUTION recalls Point Chaud brand Pizza 4 Fromages et Gourmande Chèvre Fabrication Interne / 4-cheese pizza and goat cheese gourmande, made in-house (Lots 31/08/2022 to 09/09/2022, inclusive) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Germany): Lactalis Deutschland GmbH recalls multiple goat cheese products due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (Italy): Société Fromagere De Riblaire recalls PRESIDENT brand Tronchetto di Capra / Goat cheese log (1 kg; Lot 227A; Best before 25-10-2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Italy): Société Fromagere De Riblaire recalls PRESIDENT brand Tronchetto di Capra / Goat cheese log (200g; Lot 227A; Best before 06/10/2022-12/10/2022) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
Food Safety Recall (Italy): Wojnar’s Wiener Leckerbissen recalls Good Choice brand Insalata di patate con olio e aceto / Potato salad with oil and vinegar (1kg; Best before 21.09.22) due to foreign matter contamination (glass).
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Lasociétéfromagère de Riblaire recalls multiple President brand cheeses due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): ICA recalls ICA Chèvre / goat cheese (170g; Best before 2022-10-04, 2022-10-14, 2022-10-15, 2022-10-19 and 2022-10-30) due to foreign matter contamination (metal particles).
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