Ground Beef Sold To RI Restaurants Recalled Due To Potential E. Coli

RHODE ISLAND — Wolverine Packing Co. has recalled about 167,000 pounds of ground beef products, because of potential E. coli contamination, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) said Thursday.

RIDOH officials said the products have a "use by" date of Nov. 14, and the frozen products are labeled with production date Oct. 22. View full product list and labels on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide, RIDOH officials said.

The problem was discovered when USDA was notified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of a group of ill people who had reported that they ate ground beef prior to their illness.

Anyone concerned about an illness should call their doctor. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

This condition can occur among people of any age, but is most common in children under 5 and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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