A ground beef recall has been issued for nearly 2 million pounds of product processed at a Michigan packing company after officials learned that the meat might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said the 1.8 million pounds of potentially tainted meat was produced between March 31 and April 18 at the Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Company.
According to a news release, the meat was only distributed to restaurants in Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio.
"There was no distribution of the products to the Department of Defense, the National School Lunch Program, or catalog/Internet sales," the news release stated.
Urgent: Do You Approve Or Disapprove of President Obama's Job Performance? Vote Now in Urgent Poll
According to the Wolverine Packing Co.'s website, the firm has been in business for 75 years, distributing beef, pork, veal, lamb, poultry, and seafood and has served its customers with "pride and integrity."
"Our honest attention to detail, strict quality standards and purposeful focus on customer service have made us a leader in the marketplace," the website states.
FSIS first learned of the contaminated meat on May 12, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 11 people in four states had developed E. coli-related illnesses. The E. coli symptoms were reported in the patients between April 22 and May 2.
"E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism," according to FSIS. "While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under five years old and older adults."
FSIS officials remind consumers to carefully handle their fresh and frozen ground beef, making sure to heat the product to 160 degrees Fahrenheit before eating.
Urgent: Assess Your Heart Attack Risk in Minutes. Click Here.