A Georgia company is recalling more than 110,000 pounds of ground beef over possible E. coli contamination, federal health officials said Tuesday.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Carrollton, Georgia-based K2D Foods, which does business as Colorado Premium Foods, issued the recall Tuesday for raw ground beef products produced from late March through early April and shipped to restaurant distributors in Georgia and Florida.
The recalled meat, which may be contaminated with E. coli O103 bacteria, is labeled "Ground Beef Puck" and comes in two 24-pound vacuum-sealed packages in cardboard boxes, the FSIS said in a news release. The products include establishment No. EST. 51308 and "Use Thru" dates of 4/14/19, 4/17/19, 4/20/19, 4/23/19, 4/28/19 and 4/30/19.
Restaurants that have the recalled products should throw them away or return them, officials said.
"FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F," the news release added.
The recall came amid reports that an E. coli O103 outbreak has sickened 156 people in 10 states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
"Further testing is ongoing to determine if the recalled ground beef products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak," the FSIS said. "Based on the continuing investigation, additional product may be recalled."
The bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting and, in rare cases, a severe kidney infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to the FSIS. Symptoms of the condition, which occurs more frequently in children and older adults, include pallor, easy bruising and a decrease in urine.
For more information about the recall, call Colorado Premium Foods at 970-313-4400.
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