Massachusetts Shoppers Should Check Fridge for Contaminated Ground Beef

Here's a health heads-up, especially if you do your grocery shopping at Walmart.

Ground beef sold at the retailer's locations nationwide, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is being recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.

Pennsylvania-based Cargill Meat Solutions, which also has products in other Massachusetts markets, is recalling 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products produced between April 26 and 27, 2024. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said that as of May 2, there were no reports of illness but anyone with concerns should contact their doctor.

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Affected products include:

• 2.25-pound trays of all-natural lean ground beef, lot code 117.
• 2.25-pound trays of all-natural Angus premium ground beef, lot code 117
• 1.33-pound trays of prime rib beef steak burger patties, lot code 118
• 2.25-pound and 1.33-pound trays of all-natural ground beef chuck patties, lot code 118
• 1.33-pound trays of all-natural ground beef sirloin patties, lot code 118

In addition, all the affected products are marked EST. 86P on the back of the label.

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"FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers," the Department of Agriculture said in a news release. "Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."

E. coli is a bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes most E. coli are harmless but some, usually transmitted via food, can cause intestinal illness. While most people recover, the Department of Agriculture says some can develop kidney failure.

Cargill was founded as a grain warehouse in 1865. It owns a beef processing plant in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.