The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a public health alert for certain raw ground beef products sold at Whole Foods due to potential E. coli contamination.
The affected items are one-pound (0.45 kg) vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher 85% lean ground beef with use-by dates of June 19 or 20. Produced by Vermont-based NPC Processing (Est. 4027), the beef is no longer on shelves, but may still be in home refrigerators or freezers.
Consumers are advised not to eat the beef and to discard it or return it. No illnesses have been reported, but anyone with concerns should contact a health provider.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in your gut (GI tract), urinary tract, and other parts of your body. Most types of E. coli are harmless, causing only mild symptoms. However, certain types can cause an intestinal infection, which can lead to severe, potentially life-threatening complications.
But what causes the infection, and how can you prevent it? To learn more about E. coli infection, click on and check out the following slides.