WASHINGTON – Approximately 132,606 lbs. of ground beef produced at the Cargill Meat Solutions Fort Morgan, Colorado, processing plant were recalled after health officials determined the products may be contaminated by E. coli O26, according to the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The ground beef was made from the chuck portion of the carcass, produced and packaged on June 21 and shipped to retail customers in the US. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 86R” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Cargill products were linked to an Aug. 16, 2018, investigation of E. coli O26 illnesses. FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state public health and agriculture officials determined that raw ground beef was the probable source of the illnesses. The epidemiological investigation identified 17 illnesses and one death with illness onset dates ranging from July 5 to July 25, 2018.                                 

Cargill products were identified following further investigation related to a recall of ground beef announced on Aug. 30, 2018 (Recall 072-2018), which was connected to the E. coli O26 outbreak. FSIS’ traceback information concluded that patients consumed ground beef products purchased at retail stores supplied by Cargill Meat Solutions.

The ground beef items were produced and packaged on June 21, 2018. The product list includes:

• 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a USE

OR FREEZE BY JUL/11/18 and case code 00228749057646.

• 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a USE

OR FREEZE BY JUL/11/18 and case code 00228749002653.

• 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul

11 and case code 00228749089098.

• 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul

11 and case code 90028749002751.

• 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul

11 and case code 90028749003536.

• 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul

11 and case code 00228749003568.

• 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a

Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749402773.

• 20-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF COMBO” with a

Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749073935.

• 10-lb. chubs of “Sterling Silver CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a

Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 00228749702416.

• 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE

GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749802405.

• 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE

GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 with case code 00228749802413.

• 10-lb. chubs of “Fire River Farms CLASSIC GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND”

with a USE/FREEZE BY: 07/11/2018 with case code 90734730297241.

The FSIS said the E. coli O26 strain is considered a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). People can become ill from STECs from two to eight days after exposure to the pathogen.