62,000 Pounds Of Beef Recalled Just Before Memorial Day Weekend

WISCONSIN — Just days before the Memorial Day weekend and the summer grilling season comes a massive raw beef recall from a distributor in Illinois.

Aurora Packing Company, Inc., a North Aurora, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 62,112 pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced this week.

E. coli O157:H7 is a bacteria that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal for several days after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The raw beef products were packaged on April 19, 2019. Check this spreadsheet in order to see a list of the products subject to recall.

The products subject to recall have the establishment number “EST. 788” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide for further distribution and processing.

Health officials said the problem was discovered during traceback activities in response to random sample testing by FSIS. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Health officials are advising all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume product that has been cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. The only way to confirm that beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.