Are you planning a big Labor Day cookout? You may want to double check the label on your ground beef. According to a recent recall notice, Cargill Meat Solutions recalled more than 25,000 pounds of ground beef products due to “possible contamination with E. coli.” According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Cargill beef was transported to warehouses throughout Colorado and California from a “Cargill plant in Fort Morgan, Colorado.”

USDA Logo; image courtesy of Hamiltonham via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org

The recalled products were “produced on Aug. 16, 2018, and carry an 'EST. 86R' label inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, mark of inspection,” according to the recall notice. Additionally, the products also have a “use-or-freeze-by-date of Sept. 5.” The issue itself was detected earlier this month on August 22 when Cargill Meat Solutions “looked at records and found the beef might have been associated with a product believed to have tested positive for E. coli.”That said if you think you may have some of the recalled beef products in your refrigerator or freezer, toss it in the garbage or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.For those who don't know, E. coli is a dangerous bacterium that causes symptoms such as “dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps,” to name a few. Typically, symptoms appear between two and eight days after being exposed to the bacteria, and most people recover within a week. However, in rare cases, E. coli can cause kidney failure and death. Older adults and children under the age of five are most vulnerable to the bacteria.

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Cargill Beef Recall: 25,000 Pounds May Be Tainted With E. coliOver 25,000 pounds of ground beef recalled due to possible E. coli contamination