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Over 40,000 pounds of ground beef has been recalled by the manufacturer due to possible contamination with E. coli, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The recall applies to Marketside Butcher and Thomas Farm brands produced by Lakeside Refrigerated Services, a New Jersey company, on June 1. Marketside Butcher is commonly sold a Walmart stores nationwide, and Thomas Farms products are sold at other retailers including Publix, Giant and Food City.
If you have one of the recalled products in your refrigerator or freezer, the USDA recommends that you throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The “use or freeze” date could be as late as July 1, 2020.
"As soon as we were notified by Thomas Foods of the recall, we immediately began the process of alerting our stores and distribution centers to remove the affected product from our store shelves and inventory, including a sales restriction,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement to AARP. “Customers who have purchased the items identified in the recall should dispose of the product and return to their nearest Walmart for a full refund."
E. coli can be dangerous to older adults
The possible contamination was discovered during regular testing by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, part of the USDA. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reaction from consuming the recalled ground beef.
E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Although most people can recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This serious complication happens most commonly in older adults and children under 5, according to the USDA. Signs of HUS include easy bruising, paleness and decreased urine output.
The specific strain of E. coli tied to this ground beef recall is O157:H7.
