1 min read- A public health alert was issued for White Oak Pastures’ grass-fed ground beef due to metal contamination.
- Because the product is no longer on store shelves, a recall was not issued.
- The affected ground beef could still be in consumer freezers.
If you have ground beef stored away in your freezer, it’s time to check those labels. White Oak Pastures Radically Traditional Farming Grassfed Ground Beef is the subject of a public health alert in five states, as well as in Washington, D.C., due to metal contamination.
The issue was discovered after the company received multiple consumer complaints about metal fragments in the beef. The ground beef, which is no longer available for purchase, was produced on February 26, 2026, and has a sell-by date of March 19, 2026. However, an alert was issued because consumers could still have the meat stored in their freezers.
Raw ground beef has a rather short shelf life, lasting only one to two days in the refrigerator. Conversely, ground beef can last up to four months in the freezer, so it’s very likely that the general public has this stored for later use.
The affected beef was sold in 16-ounce vacuum-packed plastic packaging and bears the establishment number EST 34729. It was shipped to a distributor, and to Mom’s Organic Markets retail locations, in D.C., Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
To date, there have been no confirmed reports of injury associated with the consumption of the ground beef; however, those with concerns should contact a health care provider. Consumers with the affected beef in their freezers are urged to either throw it away or return it to their place of purchase.