A company based in Idaho, Mountain West Food Group, LLC, is recalling 2,855 pounds of ground beef because of possible contamination with E. coli. An announcement about the issue was made on December 27 by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ground beef was sent to "California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington for further distribution for retail sales," according to the announcement.
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Routine testing uncovered the problem. There are no reports of anyone getting ill from consuming the beef.
Consumers who bought this ground beef are being strongly advised not to eat it. They should either discard it or bring it back to the establishment where it was bought. Labels of the recalled products' packaging can be seen here.
Symptoms of E. coli Illness
Typical symptoms after ingesting food containing E. coli are vomiting and diarrhea. A diagnosis can be made from analyzing a stool sample. People usually recover in about a week. More serious infections can set in, such as kidney failure. Per the FSIS release, that "is uncommon" with this particular type of E. coli. Those most susceptible are youngsters under 5 years, older individuals, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
How To Get More Information
Anyone with questions or seeking information can reach out to Jeremy Anderson, CEO of Mountain West Food Group, LLC, at 208-679-3765, You can also email info@mountainwestfoodgroup.com.
Safely Cooking Raw Meat Products
Cooking raw meat to the appropriate temperature before consuming it is essential to make it safe to eat, advises the FSIS. It should be "cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees F." You can determine that by using a food thermometer that registers a product's internal temperature.
What the FSIS Does To Keep Food Safe
According to its website, the FSIS "protects public health by preventing illness from meat, poultry, and egg products." This agency is constantly doing everything possible, using the most rigorous and sophisticated methods, to ensure that the food people buy and consume is pure and safe. Preventing contamination is one of the FSIS' chief goals.
