Ground beef recalled over possible E. coli contamination

Food safety is something most people only think about when something goes wrong.

From festive Christmas leftovers lingering in the fridge to bulk supermarket buys destined for the freezer, raw meat often sits quietly in our kitchens long after it’s been purchased. While proper storage and thorough cooking are widely advised, risks can still emerge before food even reaches a plate.

Ground beef is one of the most commonly consumed meat products, but it also carries particular vulnerabilities. Produced from multiple cuts blended together, it offers more opportunities for bacteria to spread if contamination occurs at any point during processing. For this reason, food safety agencies routinely monitor it for harmful pathogens as part of standard inspection procedures.

Among those pathogens are Shiga toxin-producing strains of E. coli, which can cause serious illness if ingested. Symptoms may not appear immediately, and in some cases can progress beyond typical stomach upset. This delayed onset can make it difficult for people to trace the source of infection, especially when contaminated products are widely distributed.

(USDA)

That concern has prompted a new recall involving raw ground beef products distributed across several US states. Idaho-based meat distributor Mountain West Food Group, LLC has recalled nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef after routine testing by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) detected the presence of E. coli O26. The affected products were shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington.

According to FSIS, their report published on 27 December, the beef tested positive during routine sampling. E. coli O26 is a serovar of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, also known as STEC. Most people infected with STEC O26 experience bloody diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to ‘more severe’ health consequences. The agency noted: “Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended,” adding that symptoms typically clear up within a week.

Another potential complication linked to STEC infections is haemolytic uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure. While it is reportedly not common with E. coli O26, it occurs most frequently in children under five, older adults and those with weakened immune systems. FSIS advised that anyone experiencing symptoms such as easy bruising, pallor or decreased urine output should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Certain E. coli strains can cause severe illness if contaminated food is consumed (Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library)

The recalled products consist of 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages labelled ‘FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF’, produced on 16 December 2025. Packaging includes the markings ‘USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26’ and ‘EST 2083’. At the time of writing, there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the beef, though FSIS said it is ‘concerned’ that some of the products may already be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Consumers who have purchased the affected ground beef are urged not to consume it, and instead discard it or return it to the place of purchase. FSIS also reminded consumers that ground beef should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, noting: “The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.”