Nationwide Health Alert for E. Coli in Greater Omaha Ground Beef

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing a public health alert for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli.

This public health alert informed consumers that Greater Omaha Ground Beef products should not be consumed. The raw ground beef items were produced on March 28, 2024. The products have a “Use/Freeze by” date of April 22, 2024, and a packaging date of “032824.” Labels for these products detailing information about the aforementioned dates can be found on the FSIS website.

These particular beef items were shipped to food service institutions and retail locations nationwide. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Subsequently, the company that produces Greater Omaha Ground Beef discovered the problem while conducting an inventory of on-hold products. The affected product was on hold because it had tested positive for E. coli. However, upon realizing that a portion of the contaminated beef had been used to produce products that were mistakingly shipped to consumers, the company notified FSIS.

RECALL ALERT: A nationwide health alert has been issued for Greater Omaha ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli.https://t.co/DdhPOOj9kd

— WPRI 12 (@wpri12) April 21, 2024

The FDA expressed concern that some of these products may remain in the freezers of customers and businesses who purchased the contaminated meat. Therefore, they urge customers not to consume the affected beef. They should throw it away or return it to the point of purchase. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available.

According to the FDA, E. coli O157:H7 bacteria could make consumers very sick. It has the potential to cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps two to eight days after exposure to the organism.

Although most people affected recover within a week, there are still some who could develop kidney failure. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults.

This type of kidney failure has symptoms that include easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.