Potential E. coli contamination has led to the recall of roughly 15,000 pounds of raw ground beef and pork products produced by an Oregon-based company.

Details of the Beef and Pork Recall

According to USA Today, the recall was issued after Interstate Meat Distributors notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture of a positive testing. While no adverse reactions have been confirmed, consumers are urged to throw away the products or return them for a refund.

The raw ground beef and pork products were produced and packaged on Feb. 10 and Feb. 12, and were shipped to retail locations in Oregon, Utah, and Washington state.

The products subject to the recall are:

• 2.25-pound wrapped packages of fresh “ALL NATURAL EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF” containing package code 04118 and with 96% lean and 4% fat on the label.
• 2.25-pound wrapped packages of fresh “ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK” containing package code 04118 and with 80% lean and 20% fat on the label.
• 2.25-pound wrapped packages of fresh “GROUND BEEF AND PORK BLEND” containing package code 04118 and with 80% lean and 20% fat on the label.
• 2.50-pound bag of 10 quarter pound frozen “BROTHERS CHOICE 85% LEAN ANGUS GROUND BEEF PATTIES” containing package code 04318.

What Is E. Coli?

E. coli is a bacteria that can result in serious and fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune symptoms.

According to Food Safety News, E. coli causes an estimated 96,000 illnesses, 3,200 hospitalizations and 31 deaths in the U.S. each year, adding up to $405 million in annual healthcare expenses.

CDC tracked E. coli outbreaks in the 10 years between 2003 and 2012. Between those outbreaks, the agency confirmed 4,930 cases of illness, with 1,274 (26 percent) hospitalizations, 300 (6 percent) cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and 34 deaths.

Food is the most common source of E. coli, accounting for 65 percent of cases.

The most common food source for E. coli turns out to be beef, which has been implicated in 55 percent of E. coli outbreaks, and breaking those beef sources down even further reveals that ground beef causes 69 percent of related outbreaks.