Massive Ground Beef Recall Linked To Salmonella Food Poisoning Expanded

Following several hundred food poisoning illnesses reported in at least 25 different status, more than 12 million of pounds of raw ground beef products have been recalled due to a risk of salmonella contamination. 

A JBS Tolleson ground beef recall was expanded this week, adding another 5 million pounds of meet to a prior action initiated in early October 2018.

The initial recall impacted approximately 6.9 million pounds of product, after 120 cases of salmonella food poisoning were reported nationwide.

According to an update provided by the U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), another 126 reports of food poisoning have surfaced in recent weeks, leading to the expansion, bringing the total of potentially contaminated raw beef products to 12,093,271 pounds.

Recalled JBS Tolleson ground beef products may be contaminated with salmonella Newport bacteria, impacting packages marked with establishment number “EST.267”. The meat was produced and packaged from July 26, 2018 through September 7, 2018 and was sold by more than 100 retailers including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Brookshire Brothers, Winn Dixie Supermarkets, Harvey’s Supermarket and many more.

To date, illnesses have been reported in Arizona (42), California (66), Colorado (50), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (4), Idaho (3), Iowa (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (3), Montana (8), New Mexico (9), Nevada (3), Ohio (9), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (1), South Dakota (6), Texas (13), Utah (9), Washington (3), and Wyoming (4).

FSIS officials are warning customers to check their freezers to ensure no recalled products are remaining. If the source of the ground beef products is unknown, customers are being asked to throw it out to avoid further contamination and illness.

Symptoms of salmonella food poisoning usually appear with in 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food, and may result in severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and fever. Although most healthy adults recuperate within a few days or weeks, in severe cases the bacteria may spread from the intestines through the bloodstream to other sites in the body.

Young children, the elderly and those with a weak immune system are most at risk for severe injuries and hospitalization from food poisoning after eating meat contaminated with salmonella. In some cases, if the food poisoning is not properly treated it can lead to fatal injuries.