More than 2,800 pounds of raw ground beef have been recalled in the United States due to potential contamination with E. coli O26, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli that can cause severe illness. The recall was announced on Saturday by the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The affected product, sold under the label 'FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF', comes in 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages with a 'USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083' date. The contamination was discovered during routine testing, according to FSIS.
The beef was distributed to retailers in six states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington. No illnesses have been reported so far, but FSIS urges consumers to either discard the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Symptoms of E. coli O26 infection can appear up to 28 days after exposure and include diarrhoea (which may be bloody) and vomiting. In severe cases, infection can lead to more serious illness. The agency notes that diagnosis typically involves stool testing, and treatment focuses on rehydration, with antibiotics generally not recommended.
This recall adds to a series of food safety alerts in 2025, including a recent listeria outbreak linked to pasta products that caused six deaths and 27 illnesses across 18 states as of November.
