A recall has been initiated by Mountain West Food Group, headquartered in Heyburn, Idaho, involving close to 3,000 pounds of raw ground beef potentially contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The affected items are 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages marketed under the "Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef" brand.
These packages were produced on December 16 and carry a use-or-freeze by date of January 13. On the packaging, the establishment number "EST 2083" is prominently displayed on the side, which identifies the production facility.
The recalled beef was distributed to several states, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington. It was shipped to various distributors within these regions.
The recall announcement was made public by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on a Saturday, although specific retailers that sold the implicated product were not disclosed. When contacted, neither FSIS nor Mountain West Food Group provided further comment.
According to the USDA, no confirmed cases of illness linked to the consumption of this ground beef have been reported to date. The contamination was uncovered after routine sampling and testing procedures detected the presence of E. coli bacteria.
The strain of E. coli identified can cause health issues within 28 days after exposure, with typical symptoms including diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Diagnosis is performed through stool sample analysis.
To protect consumers, the USDA advises that anyone who has purchased the implicated ground beef discard it or return it to the point of purchase. Additionally, the agency recommends ensuring ground beef reaches an internal cooking temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate harmful bacteria.