The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The alert aims to inform consumers that these products should not be consumed.
A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
The affected ground beef items were produced on May 22 and May 23, 2025.
The specific product subject to the public health alert is one-pound vacuum-packed packages of “ORGANIC RANCHER ORGANIC GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN 15% FAT,” labeled with “Use or Freeze By 06-19-25” and “Use or Freeze By 06-20-25.”
The product bears the establishment number “EST. 4027” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
It was shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland and further distributed to Whole Foods Market retail locations nationwide.
The issue was identified when the establishment notified FSIS that they had shipped ground beef that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.
There have been no confirmed reports of illness related to the consumption of these products.
Anyone concerned about potential illness should contact a healthcare provider.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps two to eight days (three to four days on average) after exposure.
While most people recover within a week, some may develop a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
This condition can affect individuals of any age, but is most common in children under five years old and older adults.
Symptoms include easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output.
Those experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.
FSIS is concerned that some of the affected products may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and to dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase.