5 Million Pounds Of Beef Recalled For Salmonella

MICHIGAN — Over 5 million pounds of raw beef products have been recalled after possibly being contaminated with salmonella, the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Tuesday.

JBS Tolleson, Inc. is recalling the product which was packaged between July 26 and Sept. 7 and sold nationwide in stores like Kroger and others.

This is an expansion of a recall that was first issued in October for the same reason, WDIV reported and the total amount of "non-intact raw beef products" that have been recalled now exceeds more than 12 million pounds.

The recalled beef is linked to an outbreak of salmonella that, as of November 15, has caused 246 people to become sick in 25 states, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths have been reported but 56 people have been hospitalized.

Consumers should discard or return any recalled beef. FSIS said its concerned that consumers may unknowingly have recalled beef in their freezer. In addition, "only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F. Other cuts of beef should be cooked to a temperature of 145°F and allowed to rest for at least 3 minutes," USDA said.

Symptoms of salmonella usually begin within 12 to 72 hours of consuming contaminated food. These can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever that last between four and seven days. Most people recover on their own, but those who experience persistent diarrhea may need to be hospitalized.

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