More Ground Beef Contaminated By E. Coli: Health Alert Issued For Tainted Meat Sold At Kroger

A public health alert has been issued by the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service after a number of ground beef products from Empire Packing were found to possibly be contaminated with E. coli.

The warning from the FSIS comes just two days after over 120,000 pounds of ground beef products were recalled by Lakeside Refrigerated Services also because they may be tainted with E. coli.

The FSIS said it only issued a public health alert in the latest round of contaminated ground beef due to the meat no longer being available for purchase. However, the agency is concerned that the infected meat may be in consumers’ freezers.

The health notice from the FSIS affects ground beef items that were produced on Dec. 16, 2021, and Dec. 17, 2021, and primarily sold under the Kroger and Private Selection brands.

Ground beef products affected include:

• 1-lb. foam trays containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.
• 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 96% LEAN 4% FAT.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.
• 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 85% LEAN 15% FAT.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.
• 1.3-lb. foam trays containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721. Additional product is labeled with 351/(timestamp)/Est. 31805/003, with the timestamp ranging from 1549 to 1651.
• 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 93% LEAN 7% FAT.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.
• 1-lb. foam trays containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF CARNE MOLIDA 80% LEAN 20% FAT.” The product is labeled with 350/(timestamp)/Est.31805/002, with the timestamp ranging from 0602 to 1721.

The potentially contaminated meat was distributed to warehouses in Oregon and Washington for sale at retail stores, the FSIS said.

Consumers that have the infected meat in their possession are urged not to consume the products. It should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers should check their freezers for contaminated meat.

The E. coli contamination was discovered when a consumer brought a package of ground beef from Empire Packing to a third-party lab for microbiological analysis, where it tested positive for E. coli. The consumer was previously ill, but it is unclear if it was an E. coli infection as they did not get tested for the organism.

E. coli infections typically occur two to eight days after consumption of infected food. Symptoms of an E. coli illness can include diarrhea that is often bloody and vomiting. Some infections can last longer and be more severe, but most people recover within one week, the FSIS said.

The FSIS urges anyone that is concerned about becoming ill from E. coli to seek medical treatment.

Questions about the public health alert can be directed to Debbie Robinson, vice president of customer service at Empire Packing via email at drobinson@empirepk.com.