Ground beef included in HelloFresh meal kits delivered July 2 to July 21, 2022 is the probable source of an E. coli outbreak, according to a public health alert from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).
The beef was produced by Lakeside Refrigerated Systems of Swedesboro, NJ. In June 2020, Lakeside issued an E. coli recall for ground beef and ground beef patties sold at Food City, Giant Eagle, Lowe’s, Target, Walmart, Grocery Outlet, and Market District stores.
USDA FSIS said it issued a public health alert rather than asking the company to issue a recall because the affected products were no longer available for purchase but consumers may still have this meat in their freezers. Anyone who has this product at home should not eat it as E. coli can cause serious illness and death.
State health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with USDA FSIS on an investigation of the outbreak. However, none of the agencies has provided details about the outbreak.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection, which usually develop between one and three days of exposure, include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody.
