Report of E. Coli Illness Prompts Costco to Issue Food Recall for Ground Beef
A Minnesota Costco has issued a food recall for a batch of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli.
Reportedly, a child became sick with a dangerous strand of the food-borne pathogen, prompting the food recall.
The ground beef under the food recall is about 383 units of 88% lean fresh ground beef, and bears the Costco number 33724 under the Costco label. Costco said the product was sold directly to 342 consumers at the Costco in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, between September 4th and September 7th.
On October 17th, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified of the E. coli infection. After an investigation, the FSIS determined that it was contaminated ground beef from the Costco in question, prompting a food recall from the retail store. The FSIS is continuing to work with Costco to determine the exact locations where the beef could have originated – currently, there are as many as 16 federally-inspected establishments that supply that Costco with beef.
E. coli of the strain O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can infect a consumer if beef is not fully cooked. E. coli infections can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Most people recover from the infection in about a week, but sometimes patients can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can cause kidney damage and sometimes leads to death. Symptoms of HUS include easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Although the disease is most dangerous to children ages 5 and younger, and older adults, anyone with those symptoms should seek medical treatment.
The USDA and Costco are concerned that “some product may be frozen in consumers’ freezers,” a USDA statement said. “We’re pretty confident they were able to reach everybody affected,” said Alexandra Tarrant, a USDA spokeswoman.
E. Coli Food Recall Notice May or May Not Be In Time to Stop Contagion
To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products, foods, and medications have been recalled because they are defective or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers. The USDA monitors food safety and potential contamination. However, these agencies act only after they hear reports of potential contamination, either from the manufacturer, or from consumers. By the time consumer reports of illness or injury make their way to these federal agencies, it may be too late to stop harm done with a product or food recall.
Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products and foods. A personal injury lawyer can help you with an injury you may receive. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and other defective products such as toys, cars, food, medication, and automotive parts.
The Strom Law Firm Protects Citizens Harmed by Delayed Defective Product Recalls
The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm keep a close watch on prescription, product, vehicle, and food recalls in the US. We aim to protect our clients’ health and safety, and hold manufacturers to the highest possible standard of safety. Product recalls are especially important because defective drugs, medical devices, food, and toys can seriously injure or even kill consumers. If you or a loved one have experienced severe, life-limiting side effects from a defective product or drug, and believe that your pain stems from a product recall that came too late, you may be entitled to compensation. The Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today.803.252.4800
