WASHINGTON, August 18, 2022 – The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that specific ground beef products may be adulterated with E. coli O157: H7. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
Hawaii Big Island Beef brand ground beef products were produced on August 8, 2022. The following products are subject to a public health alert [view labels]:
- 1-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Ground Beef (80) Fine 1#/pkg” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “134R1”.
- 1-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Ground Beef (Ln) Fine 1#/pkg” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “135R1”.
- 2-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Ground Beef (80) Fine 2#/pkg” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “134R2”.
- 10-lb. bags containing “Ground Beef (80) Fine 10# Poly Bag” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “0134P10”.
- 10-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Ground Beef (75) Fine 10# Vac Seal” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “130R10”.
- 10-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Ground Beef (80) Fine 10# Vac Seal” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “134R10”.
- 40-lb. box containing four 10-lb “Ground Beef (80) Fine 10#” with “Packaged 08/08/22” and “Lot 220808” on the label and case code “0134”.
Products bear the establishment number “EST. 1063” within the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail and restaurant locations in Hawaii.
The problem was discovered by FSIS during an evaluation of the establishment’s production records related to a sample that tested positive for E. coli O157: H7.
There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products.
Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur in people of any age, but is more common in children under 5 and older adults. It is characterized by easy bruising, paleness and decreased urine production. People experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical attention immediately.
FSIS is concerned that a product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Customers who have purchased these products are requested not to consume them. These products must be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their own raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and to consume only ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirmed that the ground meat has been cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures the internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.
Media and consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Matt Fornoff, General Manager of Hawaii Beef Producers, LLC, at (808) 776-1109.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll-free at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or chat live through Ask the USDA 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask the USDA or email a question to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
