We expect the products that we buy and consume to be safe for our use and consumption. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sometimes the products we purchase pose potential threats to our health and/or safety. When a potential hazard with a product becomes known, it is common for the company that produces the product to issue a recall to help inform consumers of the potential hazards associated with the product. One type of product that is often the center of recalls is food. Recently, a recall was issued for ground beef.

The recall is for almost 43,000 pounds of ground beef. It comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was performing routine testing of the beef and discovered E. coli. The recall includes:

• 1 pound packages of Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef with a use or freeze by date of 07/01/20
• 1 pound packages containing four pieces of Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties with a  use or freeze by date of 06/27/20
• 3 pound packages containing three 1 pound pieces of Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef 93% Lean/7% Fat with a use or freeze by date 07/01/20
• 1 pound tray packages containing four pieces of Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 85% Lean/15% Fat with a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20
• 4 pound tray packages containing 10 pieces of Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 80% Lean/20% Fat with a use or freeze by date of 06/25/20
• 1 pound packages containing four pieces of Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties 85% Lean/15% Fat with a use or freeze by date of 06/27/20
• 1 pound packages containing Value Pack Fresh Ground Beef 76% Lean/24% Fat with a use or freeze by date 07/01/20

The items included in the recall were produced on June 1, 2020. The items impacted by the recall are labeled with the establishment number EST. 46841. The recalled beef products were shipped and sold across the country.

E. coli can cause serious medical issues, including dehydration, diarrhea and abdominal cramps that can last anywhere from two to eight days. While most people recover within a week, it can cause more serious medical issues and even fatalities. As of now, there have not been any confirmed reports of adverse reactions to the ground beef. Consumers who have this beef in their refrigerator or freezer should not consume the beef.