Idaho’s South Central Public Health District and the Centers for Disease Control is urging residents to check ground beef products packaged between July 26th and September 7th, 2018, for possible salmonella contamination.
The CDC reports 57 people from 16 states have already been infected with the disease. Of those, one patient was reported in Idaho. Fourteen of those patients have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Five days ago JBS Tolleson, Inc., of Tolleson, Arizona, recalled about 6.5 million pounds of beef products -- including ground beef -- because of contamination concerns. These products are labeled with the establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Officials say restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell these recalled products -- and residents should not eat any recalled ground beef. Either return the recalled products to the store where you purchased them or throw them away.
“Recalls should be taken very seriously. When dealing with salmonella, it’s best to just get rid of the meat and avoid the risk,” said Josh Jensen, SCPHD Public Health Program Manager. "It's also important to remember that even meat that isn't infected should be heated to specific temperatures to kill off bacteria."
Salmonella can develop 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. The illness often lasts between four and seven days and, typically, patients recover without treatment. Common symptoms of salmonella include: diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
If you believe you became ill from eating recalled ground beef, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
