WASHINGTON – The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert due to concerns regarding ground beef products in HelloFresh meal kits possibly associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 illness.

The agency did not request a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. The products containing ground beef were shipped to consumers from July 2-21, 2022.

The following products are subject to the public health alert:

10-oz plastic vacuum-packed packages containing “GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN/15% FAT” with codes “EST#46481 L1 22 155” or “EST#46481 L5 22 155” on the side of the packaging.

The ground beef packages bear “EST.46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection and on the plastic ground beef package.

FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health partners are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 centered on raw ground beef as the probable source of the reported illnesses.

Ground beef in HelloFresh meal kits produced at establishment M46841 from July 2-21, 2022, were found in traceback information identifying the beef in multiple cases of illness. Traceback of materials used to produce the ground beef is ongoing and FSIS continues to work with suppliers and public health partners on the investigation.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away.