Over 120,000 lbs of ground beef products recalled due to E. coli contamination

The potentially contaminated products were manufactured from February 1 through April 8 and distributed to retailers throughout the US. Those with labels carry the establishment number “EST. 46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection, the FSIS said.

“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,” it said.

The O103 strain of the “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli” (STEC) bacteria was found during routine testing and so far there have not been any reports of illness from consumption of the products, according to the FSIS notice.

It said people could become ill two to eight days after consuming products contaminated with STEC. Most people recover within a week but in rare cases could develop a more severe infection. “Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, is uncommon with STEC O103 infection,” the FSIS said.

The CDC says many strains of E. Coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals but those that produce Shiga toxin cause disease.

It estimates that there are 265,000 STEC infections each year in the United States.