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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a public health alert that ground beef products sold at Whole Foods may be contaminated with E. coli. The alert specifically mentions one-pound vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher brand ground beef.
According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the raw ground beef item was produced on May 22 and May 23, 2025. The packaging on the tainted meat reads “Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat.” The packaging also contains a “Use or Freeze By 06-19-25” date or a “Use or Freeze By 06-20-25” date.
USDA FSIS
Inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packages it has the establishment code “EST. 4027.” The FSIS warning says the ground beef was produced in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the United States, then “shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland and was further distributed to Whole Foods Market retail locations nationwide.”
So far there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to any of the ground beef being contaminated with E. coli.
“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers,” the agency 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.”
Types of E. coli infections, according to The Cleveland Clinic, include infections of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract, bloodstream, prostate, and gallbladder. It can also result in pelvic inflammatory disease, pneumonia, and meningitis. Symptoms include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), stomach pains and cramps, loss of appetite, and a low fever.
The FSIS warning also stated that “while most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a condition that “can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.”