More ground beef recalled over possible E. coli contamination

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Franklin Park, Illinois-based Grant Park Packing issued a recall Wednesday for more than 53,000 pounds of bulk raw ground beef produced Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2018, then shipped to Minnesota for distribution and Kentucky for institutional use.

>> On USDA.gov: Read the complete recall notice here

The recalled meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli O103 bacteria, is labeled "North Star Imports & Sales, LLC. 100% GROUND BEEF BULK 80% LEAN/ 20% FAT" and comes in 40-pound cardboard boxes, the FSIS said in a news release. The products are marked "FOR INSTITUTIONAL USE ONLY" and include lot code GP.1051.18, establishment No. EST. 21781 and pack dates 10/30/2018, 10/31/2018 and 11/01/2018.

"FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F," the news release added.

The recall came amid reports that an E. coli O103 outbreak has sickened 156 people in 10 states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"Further testing is ongoing to determine if the recalled ground beef products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak," the FSIS said. "Based on the continuing investigation, additional product may be recalled."

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The bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting and, in rare cases, a severe kidney infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to the FSIS. Symptoms of the condition, which occurs more frequently in children and older adults, include pallor, easy bruising and a decrease in urine.

For more information about the recall, call Grant Park Packing at 312-421-4096.