Valley Meats recalling 6,768 pounds of raw ground beef sold in Indiana, Michigan

Washington D.C. -- Valley Meats of Illinois is recalling approximately 6,768 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Sunday.

"The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 5712” inside the USDA mark of inspection," FSIS officials said. "These items were shipped to distributor locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan for further distribution to restaurants and other institutional users."

The tainted meat was discovered when samples of ground beef products were tested by a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis and came back positive for E. coli. The products were produced on Dec. 22, 2023.

According to the FSIS, there have been no confirmed reports of illness stemming from the infected meat.

"E. coli O157:H7 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," the FSIS stated. "While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. 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."

FSIS officials say they are worried that some of the recalled meat may be sitting in restaurant refrigerators and/or freezers and are urging all establishments not to serve the recalled products. 

You can read the full recall statement here.