Ground Beef Recalled over Possible E. Coli Contamination: Details

An unexpected discovery by health officials has uncovered a potentially deadly contamination in ground beef, prompting urgent action and a sweeping recall nationwide.

Detroit’s Wolverine Packing Co. has recalled approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef due to concerns over possible contamination with E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on November 20, 2024.

The affected fresh ground beef carries a “use by” date of November 14, 2024, while frozen products are marked with a production date of October 22, 2024. These items were distributed to restaurants across the country.

Consumers can identify the products by the establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The issue came to light after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture reported a group of people had illnesses linked to ground beef consumption.

On November 13, FSIS was alerted to the cases and, in collaboration with Minnesota’s Agriculture and Health Departments, traced the illnesses to Wolverine Packing Co.’s products.

After a ground beef sample was collected, it tested positive for E. coli during an ongoing outbreak investigation. The announcement on November 20, confirmed the presence of the bacterium in Wolverine Packing Co.’s products.

So far, 15 cases have been reported in one state, with illness onset dates ranging from November 2 to November 10. FSIS is actively collaborating with Minnesota’s Agriculture and Health Departments to track the outbreak and ensure public safety.

E. Coli is a serious health threat. Symptoms like bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal cramps typically appear 2–8 days after exposure, with most cases resolving within a week.

However, in some instances, the infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare but life-threatening form of kidney failure. Young children and older adults are...