CS Beef Packers Recalls 11 Tons of Ground Beef Over E. coli O145

KUNA, Idaho (February 23, 2026) — The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that CS Beef Packers LLC is recalling approximately 22,912 pounds of raw ground beef products due to potential contamination with E. coli O145. The recall was initiated after downstream testing by a customer revealed the presence of the pathogen. The recalled meat was shipped to distributors across three western states for use in foodservice locations, prompting concerns that the contaminated products may currently be sitting in restaurant freezers.

CS Beef Packers Recall: Quick Summary

CS Beef Packers LLC, based in Kuna, Idaho, is recalling more than 11 tons of bulk ground beef, including “Fire River Farms Classic Beef” and coarse ground beef chubs. The meat was produced on January 14, 2026, and distributed to foodservice operators in California, Idaho, and Oregon. FSIS regulators are urging businesses to check their walk-in freezers for specific case codes and time stamps, as the products have a freeze-by date of February 4, 2026. Fortunately, no illnesses have been reported to date.

What Happened?

The FSIS reported that the issue was discovered when a downstream customer conducted microbial sampling on the ground beef they had received. The lab results came back positive for E. coli O145, a shiga toxin-producing strain of the bacteria (STEC). FSIS was notified, and a recall of the entire January 14 production lot was initiated on February 23, 2026.

Because the recalled meat was shipped in bulk 10-pound chubs, it is primarily intended for use in restaurants, cafeterias, and other foodservice institutions rather than direct-to-consumer retail grocery sales. The FSIS is particularly concerned that these businesses may have frozen the meat for future use, meaning the risk is ongoing.

Affected Products

The recall applies to the following products produced on January 14, 2026, bearing establishment number “EST. 630” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Brand / Description	Packaging	Case Code	Use/Freeze By	Time Stamps
BEEF, COARSE GROUND, 73 L	Eight 10-lb. chubs per cardboard case	18601	02/04/26	07:03 – 08:32
FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 73L	Four 10-lb. chubs per cardboard case	19583	02/04/26	07:03 – 08:32
FIRE RIVER FARMS CLASSIC BEEF FINE GROUND 81L	Four 10-lb. chubs per cardboard case	19563	02/04/26	07:03 – 08:32

**

Note: The date and time stamps are printed on stickers placed on the outside of the cardboard case and directly onto the clear packaging of the chub.

What Caused the Issue?

According to the FSIS notice, the cause of the recall was a confirmed positive lab result for E. coli O145. E. coli bacteria are naturally present in the intestines of cattle. During the slaughter and processing stages, this bacteria can accidentally contaminate the meat. When meat is ground, any surface contamination is mixed throughout the product, making ground beef a common vector for E. coli outbreaks.

Unlike the more famous E. coli O157:H7, the O145 strain is a non-O157 STEC. However, it still produces Shiga toxins that can cause severe illness, including bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. In vulnerable populations (children, the elderly), it can lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.

Questions You Might Have

1. I bought ground beef at the grocery store. Is it safe? This specific recall is for bulk 10-pound chubs distributed to foodservice locations (restaurants, institutions) in CA, ID, and OR, not standard retail grocery packages.
2. What does “downstream customer” mean? It means a company that purchased the meat from CS Beef Packers tested the meat before using it, caught the contamination, and reported it.
3. Has anyone gotten sick? No. As of February 23, there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to this beef.
4. If I cook it well-done, is it safe? While cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F kills E. coli, the USDA strongly advises restaurants not to use the recalled meat to prevent cross-contamination in commercial kitchens.
5. How do I check the meat in my restaurant’s freezer? Look for “EST. 630” inside the USDA mark of inspection and match the case codes and time stamps (07:03 to 08:32) on the box or chub packaging.
6. Who is Fire River Farms? Fire River Farms is a foodservice brand name applied to some of the ground beef produced by CS Beef Packers.
7. What is E. coli O145? It is a specific strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that can cause severe foodborne illness.
8. Can I just cut off the outside of the meat? No. Ground beef mixes the outside and inside of the meat together, meaning the bacteria could be anywhere in the chub.
9. Who should restaurants contact? Foodservice operators should contact their distributor for return or destruction protocols.
10. What if I ate at a restaurant and feel sick? Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Here’s What You Should Do (For Foodservice Operators)

• Check Walk-Ins and Freezers: Inspect all bulk ground beef inventory for the affected lot codes and EST. 630.
• Do Not Serve: Do not cook, serve, or process the recalled meat.
• Prevent Cross-Contamination: Sanitize any shelves, prep tables, or bins where the raw meat was stored.
• Return or Destroy: Follow instructions from your distributor to return the product or safely dispose of it.

Behind the Brand

CS Beef Packers LLC is a large-scale beef processing facility located in Kuna, Idaho, operating as a joint venture between Caviness Beef Packers and J.R. Simplot Company. They process cattle for both retail and foodservice channels. The fact that this contamination was caught by a “downstream customer” underscores the importance of multi-layered testing in the meat supply chain. When high-volume packers distribute 11 tons of meat in a single lot, secondary testing by receivers acts as a critical safety net before the product reaches the end consumer.

Other Relevant Recalls

This massive meat recall joins a busy week of food safety alerts tracked by Source86. In the deli sector, Made Fresh Salads recalled assorted bulk cream cheeses due to Listeria contamination on processing equipment.

Bacterial risks have also impacted the botanical supplement industry, with Ambrosia Brands recalling Rosabella Moringa Capsules due to a multi-national, antibiotic-resistant Salmonella outbreak. Additionally, Slade Gorton recalled Wellsley Farms Atlantic Salmon due to Listeria risks.

In the foreign import sector, the USDA FSIS is also managing a recall of 13,464 pounds of frozen catfish from Vietnam because it bypassed critical U.S. import reinspection protocols.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, noted:

“When a packer ships 11 tons of ground beef, the exposure risk is massive. This incident shows exactly why foodservice distributors and secondary processors must have their own robust testing programs. The downstream customer’s FSQA protocols likely prevented a major outbreak in this case.”

Broader Pattern

The USDA considers six specific non-O157 STEC strains (including O145) to be adulterants in raw non-intact beef products. Recalls involving these strains require immediate and aggressive traceback because they are highly virulent. Despite strict regulatory oversight at slaughterhouses, the high-speed processing of ground beef—where parts of hundreds of animals can be mixed into a single batch—makes zero-risk operations nearly impossible, reinforcing the need for continuous microbial surveillance.

Ensuring Safe Eats

For restaurants and foodservice operators, tracking lot codes and maintaining strict receiving protocols is the best defense against serving contaminated food. While consumers aren’t buying these 10-pound chubs directly, they rely on restaurants to ensure their burgers are cooked safely and sourced responsibly.

At Source86, we help food brands manage ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, and private label production with transparency and precision, ensuring that when recalls happen, supply chains are prepared to respond quickly.

For more information, to inquire about food safety solutions, or to report a concern, please visit our contact page at https://source86.com/contact/.