WASHINGTON, May 19, 2014 – At least 11 people have been sickened by E. coli bacteria linked to ground beef now under recall by Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co., according to USDA.
The company is recalling 1.8 million pounds of potentially contaminated ground beef products produced between March 31 and April 18, the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a news release.
The products were shipped to distributors for restaurant use in Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. None went to the National School Lunch Program, to the Department of Defense, or to internet or catalog sales, FSIS said.
FSIS was notified of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses on May 12. Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FSIS determined that there is a link between Wolverine’s ground beef products and the illness cluster, according to the release.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps within a few days of exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can affect persons of any age but is most common in children under five and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output.
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