Hold on to your beef patties! This past November 20th the Detroit, Mich. establishment, Wolverine Packing Co. recalled approximately 167,277 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The bacteria has definitely been on a roll these past few weeks. This recall was announced by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). If you or your business have purchased this product, the FSIS urges you to dispose of it ASAP. Keep on reading and let’s find out more about this mess.
What happened?
So, how did Wolverine Packing Co. get caught in this beefy mess? It all started when the Minnesota Department of Agriculture sounded the alarm after noticing a cluster of illnesses linked to ground beef consumption. Upon further investigation, a sample of the beef was found to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a harmful bacteria that can cause serious health issues. The products affected by the recall are both fresh (with a use-by date of 11/14/2024) and frozen (produced on October 22, 2024). Wolverine’s ground beef has been shipped to restaurants nationwide, so if you’ve recently dined out, you might want to check your local restaurant’s beef source.
What caused the issue?
According to the FSIS E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. 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. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. The contaminated beef has been associated with 15 reported cases of illness. The onset dates for these illnesses ranged from November 2, 2024, to November 10, 2024. While only one state is currently affected, it’s worth noting that the problem could spread through restaurants.
Here’s what you should do
To see all labels click here.
If you have purchased this product, take action! Here’s how:
- Check the label:
Best by dates – fresh products: 11/14/2024
Best by dates – frozen products: 10/22/2024 - Identify the product:
See all product names and codes here - What to do with the product:
Restaurants and consumers are urged not to serve or consume these products. They should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. - Contact info:
Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Don Tanner, a company representative at 248-762-1533. Those with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
Behind the brand
Wolverine Packing Co. is no stranger to the food industry. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the company supplies a range of products to restaurants across the U.S. The company joins a growing list of food companies this month that have been involved in recalls due to E. coli contamination. If you’re a food safety junkie, you can check out more on our website for similar recalls in the past weeks.
Ensuring safe eats
The question isn’t just about what Wolverine will do next—what should the industry do as a whole? E. coli outbreaks can have widespread consequences, not only for consumers but also for businesses. Companies need to implement stricter safety measures, monitor their suppliers carefully, and ensure their products meet FDA and USDA safety standards.
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