Walmart Recalled Ground Beef: A Breakdown of the Meat Recall and Affected States

Ground beef is a staple food for many American households. Its versatility allows it to be used in various dishes like hamburgers, meatballs, chili, lasagna, and so much more. That’s why it’s concerning when a major recall happens involving ground beef sold at one of the biggest retailers in the country – Walmart.

Recently, over 120,000 pounds of ground beef products sold at Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and other grocery chains were recalled due to possible E.coli contamination. This is what consumers need to know about the recall.

Overview of the Ground Beef Recall

On April 27th, 2022, Lakeside Refrigerated Services issued a recall of over 120,000 pounds of ground beef products. The recalled items were produced from February 1st to April 8th, 2022 and distributed to Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and other grocery chains nationwide.

The issue was discovered during routine testing which found that some products may be contaminated with E.coli O103. While there have been no confirmed reports of illness so far, the strain of E.coli involved can cause severe illness if the affected products are consumed.

Specifically, the recalled ground beef was used to make hamburger patties and other products under brand names like Thomas Farms, Marketside, and Weis. The recall impacts items sold in various states across the Eastern and Southern United States.

Impact on Walmart and Other Retailers

The ground beef recall has significantly impacted several major grocery retailers in the United States. Here is a breakdown of some of the stores affected:

Walmart – Over 200 Walmart locations across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia sold the recalled products. The affected items were sold under Walmart’s in-house brand, Marketside.

Kroger – The recall includes ground beef 93% lean sold at Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stores under the Kroger brand name.

Albertsons – Signature Farms branded ground beef 93% lean was recalled from Albertsons and Safeway stores in Oregon and Washington.

Weis Markets – Locations in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia sold recalled Thomas Farms ground beef products.

Target – Select Target stores carried Nature’s Reserve branded ground beef patties which were included in the recall.

Other regional grocery chains – The ground beef was distributed to various other supermarkets around the country.

States Where Recalled Ground Beef Was Sold

According to information from the USDA, grocery stores in the following states sold the recalled ground beef products:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Maryland
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

The most expansive list was shared by Walmart, with over 200 stores across 7 states carrying the recalled Marketside branded ground beef. Kroger also indicated the recall impacted Fred Meyer stores, which are located in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

While the recall covers products shipped to stores across the Western and Eastern U.S., it’s important to check if your local retailer carried the recalled ground beef. Not all locations for each grocery chain sold the affected products.

Details on the Recalled Ground Beef Products

There are a wide variety of ground beef products involved in the recall. The affected items include:

• 1 pound ground beef patties in various fat percentages

• 3 pound ground beef packages in various fat percentages

• Ground beef patties sold individually

• Ground beef tubes used to make patties

Some specifics brand names and product details for recalled items sold at Walmart and other retailers are:

Marketside Butcher Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties

• Sold at Walmart
• Several lot codes dating from February 1 to April 8, 2022
• 1 pound and 4 quarter pound patties

Thomas Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef Patties

• Sold at Weis Markets
• Lot codes from February 1 to April 8, 2022
• 4 quarter pound patties

Nature’s Reserve All Natural Ground Beef Patties

• Sold at Target
• Lot codes between March 22 to April 5, 2022
• 94% lean/6% fat
• 80% lean/20% fat

Signature Farms Ground Beef

• Sold at Albertsons and Safeway
• Lot codes from February 9 to April 8, 2022
• 93% lean/7% fat
• 1 pound and 3 pound packages

Kroger Fresh Ground Beef

• Sold at Fred Meyer stores
• Lot codes from February 15 to April 8, 2022
• 93% lean/7% fat
• 1 pound and 3 pound packages

The recalled products have establishment number “EST.46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Consumers can check for this detail on packaging to determine if items they purchased are affected.

Identifying Symptoms of E.coli Infection

The strain of E.coli (O103) that led to this ground beef recall can cause gastrointestinal illness with severe symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), signs of E.coli infection include:

• Severe stomach cramps
• Diarrhea, which may be bloody
• Vomiting
• Mild fever

Symptoms typically start 3-4 days after ingesting contaminated food and last for about a week. However, E.coli infection can sometimes lead to a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure.

HUS is most common in young children and older adults. Warning signs include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color to skin. Anyone experiencing these severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately.

Steps to Take If You Purchased Recalled Ground Beef

If you have any of the recalled ground beef products at home, proper handling is important to avoid potential E.coli illness. Here are the steps to take:

• Check your freezer – Even if you froze the items for later use, they should be thrown out or returned to the store. Freezing does not kill E.coli bacteria.

• Discard or return ground beef – The USDA recommends that consumers immediately discard recalled products or return them to the retailer for a refund.

• Sanitize surfaces and hands – If the recalled ground beef was stored in the fridge or touched, clean any surfaces or materials it contacted with soap, hot water, and disinfectant. Wash hands thoroughly after handling recalled products.

• Monitor for symptoms – Be aware of E.coli infection signs like stomach cramps and diarrhea in the week following potential exposure from recalled ground beef. Seek medical care if severe symptoms develop.

• Report illness – Notify your healthcare provider and/or your local health department if you believe you developed symptoms of E.coli or other foodborne illness after consuming the recalled beef.

Following proper handling procedures and cooking ground beef thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160°F can help kill any potential E.coli bacteria and reduce food poisoning risk. But when products are recalled, the safest option is to dispose of the items altogether.

The Importance of Ground Beef Recalls

When a foodborne illness outbreak occurs, it’s critical that the source is quickly identified and recalled to contain potential spreading. Recalls also ensure that others do not purchase contaminated products unknowingly and get sick. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of ground beef recalls like this one involving Walmart and other retailers.

Some key reasons ground beef recalls matter include:

• Prevent wider outbreaks – Recalls help stop the sale of contaminated products and limit the number of people exposed to bacteria like E.coli before it spreads further.

• Alert consumers – Public notifications allow purchasers to check if they have recalled items at home and take proper safety precautions.

• Remove unsafe food from market – Recalls get contaminated products off store shelves quickly so more people aren’t able to buy and consume the dangerous food.

• Hold companies accountable – When recalls occur, it signals to food producers that safety procedures may have failed and encourages improved quality control to avoid future issues.

• Outline risks – Details of the recall educate consumers on potential severity of illnesses, symptoms to watch for, and proper handling guidelines.

While recalls can seem scary, they are meant to keep the public safe by containing potentially hazardous products. Following the recommended guidelines can help protect you and your family if you have food that was impacted by a recall.

How to Reduce Your Risk When Cooking Ground Beef

The ground beef recall serves as an important reminder for consumers to take caution while handling and cooking this meat to avoid foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria:

• Purchase ground beef from reputable sellers – Buying meat from grocery chains with stricter supplier guidelines can reduce risk of contamination.

• Cook thoroughly to an internal temp of 160°F – Heating ground beef to 160° kills dangerous bacteria. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness.

• Avoid cross-contamination – Use separate cutting boards and utensils when handling raw beef to prevent spread of bacteria to other foods.

• Don’t reuse platters or tools – Once raw ground beef is placed on a plate or tools are used to handle it, use clean dishware and utensils afterwards.

• Wash hands and surfaces – Always wash hands, countertops, sinks and anything else that came into contact with raw meat thoroughly with hot soapy water.

• Refrigerate promptly – Keep ground beef chilled at 40°F or below and use within 1-2 days of purchasing for optimal safety and quality.

• Freeze for longer storage – If freezing for longer term storage, use ground beef within 3-4 months for best flavor and freshness.

Being an informed shopper and handling ground beef properly at home is key to protecting yourself and family. While recalls are worrisome, taking these food safety precautions can reduce your risks when cooking this popular meat.

Can Other Meat Products be Contaminated?

Ground beef is not the only meat product susceptible to harboring dangerous pathogens if certain precautions are not taken during processing and handling. Other raw meats can potentially become contaminated as well:

Pork – Raw pork can be contaminated with Salmonella or Yersinia bacteria if come into contact with feces from infected animals during slaughter or processing. Proper cooking kills these pathogens.

Poultry – Raw chicken and turkey can contain Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria due to contact with the intestines of infected birds during processing. These bacteria are also killed through thorough cooking.

Roasts / Steaks – Contamination is less common in whole muscle meat cuts like roasts or steaks. However E. coli could spread from the surface to the interior if punctured with a thermometer while undercooked.

Sausages – Items like raw sausages and bratwurst may contain Salmonella or Listeria if made from contaminated ground meats and not cooked sufficiently to destroy the pathogens.

To reduce risks, the same food safety principles apply when handling, cooking, and storing any type of raw meat. Be especially careful when preparing ground varieties like beef, pork or poultry, as grinding processes can spread bacteria throughout the interior of the meat.

Steps Suppliers are Taking to Improve Ground Beef Safety

In response to consumer concerns over ground beef recalls due to bacterial contaminants, suppliers are taking additional steps to try to improve product safety. Some of the measures being implemented include:

• Tighter screening of source cattle – Producers are applying stricter standards for assessing health of cattle before processing to exclude high risk animals.

• Testing for pathogens – Increased testing for E.coli, Salmonella and other bacteria is being done on equipment, facilities and products to identify any contamination early.

• Improved sanitation procedures – Suppliers are enforcing more intensive surface disinfection, chemical rinses, and cleaning protocols during harvesting and processing.

• Earlier interventions – Treatments like steam vacuuming, carcass pasteurization or lactic acid sprays are being used earlier in the slaughter process to reduce pathogens.

• Greater supplier oversight – Distributors are auditing supplier facilities more extensively and frequently to ensure proper sanitation, testing, and safety protocols are followed.

• Enhanced traceability – More precise traceback systems are being implemented so contamination sources can be quickly pinpointed if an issue emerges.

• Modified grinding techniques – Suppliers are adjusting ground beef production methods to potentially decrease surface bacteria spreading throughout product mass.

• Clearer labeling – Packers are providing more detailed labels related to sourcing, processing, and tracking data to improve transparency.

While the potential for recalls still exists, these preventive measures can help provide safer ground beef products by reducing contamination risks in the supply chain.

The Bottom Line

Food recalls can happen with any product, but are especially concerning when involving staple goods like ground beef which are consumed regularly. The 2022 ground beef recall impacting Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and other major retailers reinforces the need for consumer awareness and safe handling when cooking this popular protein.

Being proactive by checking for recalled items at home, disposing of impacted products properly, and following USDA food safety guidelines can help protect you and your loved ones. Although worrisome, recalls allow contaminated foods to be removed from the market quickly to limit cases of foodborne illness. When made aware and handled safely, ground beef remains a nutritious and cost-effective addition to family meals.