E. Coli Threat Spurs Major Ground Beef Recall

If you have beef in your fridge or freezer, check twice before you make those hamburgers for dinner. The National Beef Packing Company is now recalling 22,737 pounds of raw ground beef. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), certain products may be contaminated with E. Coli.

The following packages are subject to recall and should not be consumed: 10 pound packages of National Beef 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, and 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck. All of these packages will have a use/sell by date of June 14, 2013.

The strain of E.Coli found in a routine FSIS check (O157:H7) represents a life-threatening bacterium, if ingested. To avoid infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands after using the bathroom or coming into contact with animals, cooking meats thoroughly, avoiding raw milk, and avoiding cross contamination with raw meat in the kitchen.

Click here to see the FDA's guidelines on how to store and cook beef safely.