Breaking! More Than 62,000 Pounds Of Beef Products Are Recalled For Possible E. Coli Poisoning Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend

With Memorial Day 2019 quickly approaching, now is more important than ever to fill your plate with healthy and fulfilling plant-based options.

While Beyond Meat stocks continue to soar, reflecting the growing appetite for plant-based meals and the many benefits inherent with eating them, comes another reminder about the serious risks associated with human consumption of food made from animals or animal by-products.

As per a statement released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) yesterday, an estimated 62,112 pounds of raw beef products, that were already shipped nationwide for further distribution and processing, may be contaminated with E. coli.

The raw beef products that are currently being recalled were packaged on April 19, 2019 at Aurora Packing Company, Inc., in North Aurora, Illinois. This spreadsheet contains a list of the products that are subject to the recall. All include the establishment number “EST. 788” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The department warns that E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps for 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure.

While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Consumers with food safety questions can contact the FSIS virtual representative that is available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline number is 1-888-674-6854 and can be reached from 10:00am to 6:00pm EST Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem

Eating should not come with such risks and anytime there is raw or cooked meat from animals used for human consumption, the threat exists.

This is even more reason to eliminate meat and animal by-products from your diet permanently. It is better for your health, the planet, the environment, and equally important, for the innocent animals used for their meat.