An E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef from Snapp’s Ferry Packing has sickened 13 people in Tennessee, according to the Knox County Health Department. None of those who became ill, required hospitalization.
Over the last two months, county health officials worked with the Tennessee Department of Health to investigate 13 cases of E. coli in Knox County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reecntly joined the investigation. On Jan. 20, 2016, Snapp’s Ferry Packing Company of Afton, Tenn. issued a recall for ground beef.
The recalled beef, which was processed Nov. 20, 2015, was sent to three restaurants in the Knoxville area. It was not distributed to grocery stores or other retail locations. The recalled product has been removed from all three locations.Investigators reported “excellent cooperation” from Sanpp’s Ferry Packing and the three restaurants involved.
E. coli causes illness that can be severe and is sometimes fatal. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody. Knox County and Tennessee health officials remind consumers that they can reduce their risk of foodborne illness by cooking hamburgers to an internal temperature of 160˚F.
