WASHINGTON — On Oct. 13, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for a Frank’s Butcher Shop (FBS) ground beef product that might be contaminated with E. coli O103. Because the product is no longer available for purchase, a recall was not requested.

The following product, which was produced on Oct. 4, 2022, is subject to the public health alert:

• 1-lb plastic vacuum-packed packages containing “FRANK’S BUTCHER SHOP GROUND BEEF” with “PACKED ON” dates of 10-07-2022 and 10-09-2022 on the label.

The items were sold directly to consumers from FBS’ retail location in Hudson, Wyo. According to FSIS, the company is actively attempting to contact consumers who may have purchased 14 packages of the ground beef.

The problem was discovered when FBS Hudson alerted FSIS that its routine microbial testing results found Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103 in a sample of the ground beef.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.