The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) – a branch of the USDA – announced on Monday April 25th, 2022 that the Swedesboro, NJ-based company Lakeside Refrigerated Services was recalling 120,872 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O103. The recall was triggered because a routine sampling of the beef tested positive for the bacteria. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the recall at this time. The beef was produced between February 1, 2022 and April 8, 2022 and was shipped to local retailers nationwide. Products may still be in consumers' homes; any packaging marked with the codes related to the recall should be thrown away.

The FSIS also shared images of the packaging labels of which there are several. The recalled products might be labeled as: grass fed ground beef patties from Thomas Farms, Nature’s Reserve, By Nature or Naturally Better as well as Tajima Kobe Ground Beef Patties and Marketside Butcher Wagu Beef Patties.

The strain of the bacterial infection responsible for this large-scale recall, E. coli O103, rarely results in cases of HUS. (Not to be confused with E. coli O157:H7 which was first discovered in 1982 and responsible for illnesses so severe it has led to sporadic cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS which affects kidney blood clotting functions in affected people.) Those infected usually begin to feel symptoms three to four days after consumption and may experience heavy cramping, vomiting and diarrhea that could be bloody. Children younger than five years old, senior citizens and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe symptoms.

*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.

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