Local Meat Recall

Portland-area meat producer recalls more than 28,000 pounds of beef for possible E. coli contamination.The recalled items were all raw ground beef products produced on Dec. 20 and included certain WinCo, Walmart, Albertsons and Kroger labels, and they all have establishment number “EST. 965” inside the USDA inspection next to the use or freeze by date. 

Escherichia coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism, according to the FDA. A sample produced at Interstate Meat Distributors in Clackamas last month tested positive for the bacteria.

Administration, Interstate Meat Distributors Inc. shipped the possibly contaminated beef to retail locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Stores where it’s sold include Kroger, Albertson’s, Walmart and Winco, among others. The agency says it’s concerned that some of the beef is already in people’s freezers. The products should be thrown away or returned to the store where they were purchased. 

While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output.