1 E. coli death reported in recall of 132,606 pounds of ground beef

WICHITA, Kan. -- One death and 17 illnesses were identified before a nationwide recall of potentially E. coli-contaminated ground beef by Cargill Meat Solutions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The death and illnesses happened from July 5 to July 25. The ground beef products were produced and packaged on June 21.

As a result, on Sept. 19, Cargill Meat Solutions announced a nationwide recall of about 132,606 pounds of ground beef made from chuck possibly contaminated with Escherichia coli O26.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service cited concern that customers may have frozen the contaminated meat in their freezers and advises customers to check to see if their ground beef could be part of this recall.

The USDA considers this a high risk situation.

The FSIS learned of the E. coli investigation on Aug. 16. The FSIS, Centers for Disease Control and other state public health and agriculture partners found that the beef was the probably source of the illnesses.

The ground beef products, produced and packaged on June 21,  have the number “EST. 86R” printed inside the USDA mark of inspection.

This recall follows a previous recall of Cargill Meat Solutions ground beef for E. coli was announced on Aug. 23, naming only one possibly contaminated product:

At that time, no adverse reactions had been reported.

The following products have now been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination: