PSA: 6.9 Million Pounds of Ground Beef Recalled for Salmonella
It is the largest recall of its kind in history.
Image: iStock
So, uh, maybe steer clear of ground beef for a while.
A meat processing plant in Arizona is recalling 6.9 million pounds of ground beef after being implicated in an outbreak of salmonella Newport that has so far affected 57 people across 16 states.
The plant, which is located in Tolleson, Arizona, is a subsidiary of the Brazilian meat processor JBS, one of the world’s largest meat processors.
The USDA has labeled the recall as “Class I,” meaning that there is “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The CDC has issued a blanket statement that consumers should not eat ground beef produced by JBS Tolleson, Inc.
So far 14 people have been hospitalized, but none have died.
The recall is the largest ever for salmonella-tainted beef, according to former USDA microbiologist Carl Custer, who discussed the announcement with Food Safety News. The full list of affected products can be found here.
Salmonella infection typically manifests itself 12 to 72 hours after it is consumed. Anyone displaying symptoms that include diarrhea, fever and/or abdominal cramps should see a doctor. Salmonella infection can last from four to seven days.
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