Ground Beef May Be Culprit in E. Coli Outbreak
CDC says its hasn’t identified a common supplier, distributor or brand.
Apr 15, 2019
WASHINGTON—Preliminary tests point to ground beef as the source of a recent outbreak of E. coli that has sickened 109 people in six states, the Centers for Disease Control reported. The agency stopped short of recommending that consumers avoid ground beef or that retailers stop serving or selling it.
Infected people report eating ground beef at home and in restaurants. “Traceback investigations are ongoing to determine the source of ground beef supplied to grocery stores and restaurant locations where ill people ate,” the CDC said.
The agency hasn’t identified the source of the infected meat in the ongoing investigation but advises consumers and restaurants to handle raw ground beef safely and cook it thoroughly to avoid foodborne illness.
So far, 17 people have been hospitalized, up from eight people in the CDC’s initial report as covered in the NACS Daily April 8. Initially, the outbreak was reported in five states—Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia. A case now has been confirmed in Indiana, as well. Kentucky continues to report the most infections at 54, followed by Tennessee and Georgia.
Food safety
