The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has started testing ground beef, bench trim, and other raw ground beef components for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains (STEC) that are adulterants. They include the "Big Six" O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145 as well as O157. The testing started on February 1, 2023. This new program was announced in the Federal Register on June 4, 2020. Before this new program, the government only tested beef manufacturing trimmings for the Big Six and O157:H7. Otherwise, all raw beef products are tested for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella bacteria. FSIS has also started testing for the non-O157 STEC in ground beef samples collected at retail stores and in samples of imported raw beef products. Any positive results will be subject to … [Read more...]
HelloFresh Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak is Number Eight of 2022
The HelloFresh ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is the number eight outbreak of 2022, with at least seven people in six states. Six people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The ground beef was in some Hello Fresh meal kits and has the establishment number "EST. 46841" stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection. The kits were shipped from July 2 to July 21, 2022. The case count by state is: Maryland (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). The patient age range is from 17 to 69 years, and illness onset dates ranged from June 8, 2022 to August 17, 2022. This is a long illness onset date range, but is explained by the fact that HelloFresh meal kits can be frozen up to two months. Some people may still have those kits … [Read more...]
Ground Beef HelloFresh E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Ends; 7 Sick
The ground beef HelloFresh E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with seven people sick and six hospitalized. The last update for this outbreak was September 14, 2022. The ground beef was packed into some HelloFresh meal kits that were shipped from July 2 to July 21, 2022. The ground beef was in 10 ounce plastic vacuum-packed packages, and was labeled "Ground Beef 85% lean/15% fat." The establishment number inside the USDA mark of inspection was EST. 46841. The patient case count by state is: Maryland (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). Illness onset dates did not change, and range is from June 8, 2022 to August 17, 2022. HelloFresh meals can be frozen for one … [Read more...]
What is the History of Ground Beef E. coli Outbreaks?
With the HelloFresh ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in the news, what is the history of ground beef E. coli outbreaks? There have been many in the past, including O157 and non-O157 strains. While E. coli O157:H7 is the most well known strain of this pathogen, the "Big Six" non-O157 strains are also a common cause of human illness. They include O103, O26, O45, O111, O121, and O145. All of these strains produce Shiga toxins, which cause serious illness, so they are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). In 2012 the USDA began classifying these serotypes as adulterants. Shiga toxins cause ulcers in the colon, which causes the characteristic bloody diarrhea that happens with this infection. If Shiga toxins get into the bloodstream, they destroy red blood cells, which move … [Read more...]
HelloFresh Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Sickens 7
The HelloFresh ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least seven people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak was originally announced in a USDA public health warning that was issued four days ago on September 10, 2022. The case count by state as of September 12, 2022 is: Maryland (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). Illness onset dates range from June 8, 2022 to August 17, 2022. This is unusual because the product was shipped in July, but the illness onset dates are far outside that range. However, you can freeze HelloFresh meals for one to two months. The patient age range is from 17 to 69 years. Of seven people who gave information to public health officials, six … [Read more...]
Possible HelloFresh Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Announced by USDA
A possible HelloFresh ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been announced by the USDA in a public health alert for that product. The ground beef was packaged in some HelloFresh meal kits. The CDC has yet to release an investigation notice, so we don't know how many people are sick, the states where they live, if anyone has developed HUS, if the ground beef is actually the cause of illnesses, the illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for consumers to purchase. The meal kits were shipped to consumers from July 2 to July 21, 2022. The recalled product is 10 ounce plastic vacuum-packed packages containing Ground beef 85% lean/15% fat with the codes "EST#46481 L1 22 155” or “EST#46481 L5 … [Read more...]
HelloFresh Recalls Products Containing Onions For Salmonella
HelloFresh is recalling products containing onions that were provided to them by ProSource Inc. for possible Salmonella contamination. ProSource Inc. imported onions from Chihuahua, Mexico that are associated with a huge multistate Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 652 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no indication that HelloFresh onions are associated with illness at this time. HelloFresh is a meal delivery service that ships prepared meals to consumers around the country. They are telling consumers to dispose of all onions received from July 7, 2021 to September 8, 2021. You can see the codes and information about the onions at the FDA web site. The chart includes the production week, which range from 28 to 5, the … [Read more...]
HelloFresh Onions Urgently Recalled For Possible Salmonella
The FDA says that HelloFresh onions are urgently recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. One of the company's ingredient suppliers informed them about this issue. Consumers are asked to discard all onions that were received or purchased from May 8, 2020 through July 31, 2020. The company recommends that consumers dispose of all HelloFresh onions that were received or purchased during that specified time period. You can see the production weeks, the product codes, and Everyplate product codes in a chart located at the FDA web site. HelloFresh also says that people should disinfect and sanitize surface and containers that may have come into contact with these onions. Thoroughly cooking recipes made with these onions to 165°F will kill the bacteria. But the potential for … [Read more...]
