E. Coli Food Poisoning Risk Results in Marketside Butcher and Thomas Farms Ground Beef Recall

More than 40,000 pounds of raw ground beef products sold by Walmart and other retailers are being recalled, due to a risk of E. coli food poisoning.

The ground beef recall was announced by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on June 13, after routine testing at a Lakeside Refrigerated Services production facility discovered the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in certain raw ground beef products. No incidents of E. coli food poisoning have been linked to the meat, but it may pose a serious risk for consumers nationwide.

The recall involves approximately 42,922 pounds of mostly grass-fed ground beef products manufactured by Lakeside Refrigerated Services of Swedesboro, New Jersey, which were produced on June 1, 2020 and distributed throughout the United States under the Marketside Butcher and Thomas Farms brands, with a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection number “EST. 46841”.

The recall affects 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF”, 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES”, 3-lb. vacuum packages containing three 1 lb. pieces of “MARKETSIDE BUTCHER ORGANIC GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN / 7% FAT”, 1-lb. tray packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”, 4-lb. tray packages containing 10 ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 80% LEAN / 20% FAT”, 1-lb. vacuum packages containing four ¼ lb. pieces of “THOMAS FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF PATTIES 85% LEAN / 15% FAT”, and 1-lb. vacuum packages containing “VALUE PACK FRESH GROUND BEEF 76% LEAN / 24% FAT”.

Customers are being warned the products may still be in refrigerators or freezers at this time. Any remaining products should be either discarded or returned to their place of purchase.

FSIS officials have classified the recall as Class I, indicating it is the most serious of its kind and that the consumption or use of the product has a high probability of resulting in serious adverse health consequences or death.

E. coli is a foodborne bacteria that causes mild to severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps, bloody stools, and sometimes minor fevers lasting between five and 10 days. For individuals like young children, the sick and the elderly, the consequences may be more severe due to weakened immune systems, potentially resulting in the infection causing a serious condition known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which may lead to kidney failure or even death.

Customers with recalled products are being asked to either throw them away or return them to their place of purchase. For additional questions or concerns regarding the recall customers may contact the Lakeside Processing Center Call Center at (856) 832-3881.