If you have big plans to grill burgers this weekend or have a hankering for homemade meatballs, you might want to double-check that freezer before you get your hopes up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli.
While the contaminated products are no longer available for purchase, they do have a “use or freeze by” date of June 19, 2025 and June 20, 2025, so there’s a possibility they could be stored in your fridge or freezer.
The ground beef affected by the public health alert is Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% lean 15% fat in 1-pound vacuum-sealed packages. The beef was produced on May 22, 2025 and May 23, 2025 and has establishment number EST. 4027. The contaminated items were shipped to distributor locations across Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland, as well as Whole Foods Market retail locations across the country.
Although there have been no confirmed reports of illness as of yet, the product was found to test positive for E. coli O157:H7 so anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider, according to the alert.
E. coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that, when ingested, can cause symptoms such as cramps, dehydration, and diarrhea. FSIS urges customers who have purchased these products not to consume them and to either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
