Recall: E Coli In 132,606 Pounds Of Cargill Beef Nationwide

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) issued a warning Thursday that the Cargill Meat Solutions issued a recall for 132,606 pounds of ground beef products in connection with an E Coli investigation.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Services learned of the E Coli investigation on Aug. 16. It was determined that raw ground beef was the probable source of 17 illnesses and one death between July 5 and July 25.

RIDOH provided a list of products and product labels that are a part of the recall. These items were shipped to retail stores nationwide. RIDOH is working to ensure that these products are removed from shelves in Rhode Island.

Anyone who purchased these products is urged not to eat them. They should be thrown away or returned to where they were bought.

"Illnesses associated with this kind of E. coli can result in diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting," Public Information Officer Joseph Wendelken said in a press release. "Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample."

Drinking plenty of fluids or hydration via IV and other supportive care is the usual treatment plan. Most people recover within a week but in rare cases, some develop a more severe infection called Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

HUS is a type of kidney failure that can occur in people of any age, but it's most common in children younger than 5 years old, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms include easy bruising and decreased urine output. People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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