E. Coli Beef Recall Includes Virginia Stores

VIRGINIA — Days after more than 132,000 pounds of ground beef products were recalled over potential E. coli contamination, the federal government released a list of retailers that sold the beef nationwide. Among them were stores in Virginia.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cargill Meat Solutions last week recalled ground beef products made from the chuck portion of the carcass. The products were shipped to retail locations across the country, but neither the company nor the federal agency knew where all the meat was sent after it was sold to a distributor.

This week, the USDA published list of retailers that sold the beef.

Target, Meijer and Safeway/Albertson’s stores sold the beef nationwide, the USDA said. Aldi, FoodMaxx, Pak N Save, Sam’s Club and Vons also sold the potentially tainted meat in select states; in Virginia, Sam's Club sold the meat.

Here are the stores that sold the meat in Virginia, according to the USDA:

• Jeb's Market
  
  • 15668 Carrollton Boulevard, Carrollton
• Piggly Wiggly
  • 3101 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News
• Safeway
• Sam's Club
• Target

(Stay on top of all the latest news free, real-time news alerts, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

The products have an establishment number of “EST. 86R” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They look like this and were packaged on June 21.

The USDA was alerted about an investigation into E. coli illnesses last month. The agency, along with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health and agricultural departments, determined the raw ground beef was likely the source of the reported illnesses. The investigation identified 17 illnesses and a single death ranging from July 5-25.

“We were distressed to learn a fatality may be related to an E.coli contamination of one of our products. Our hearts go out to the families and individuals affected by this issue,” Cargill previously said in a statement.

Officials are worried some people may have frozen the beef and still plan to eat it. The USDA warned that people who become infected with the E. coli could see bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Some illnesses can last a while and be even more severe. Officials say those who become infected should vigorously rehydrate. Most people recover within a week.

Here’s the complete list of recalled beef items.

Patch national staffers Dan Hampton and Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Main photo credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Image. Packaging image courtesy of USDA.