Ground beef products submitted to a third-party laboratory for microbiological analysis test positive for E. coli O157:H7.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that specific ground beef products may be adulterated with E. coli O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

Scientists with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) aim to enhance the capacity of regulatory agencies to trace Escherichia coli O157:H7 back to its source during a foodborne outbreak investigation by studying how the DNA of a specific population of this bacterium gradually evolves within its natural environment. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Interstate Meat Dist. Inc. is recalling approximately 28,356 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.