Suspected E. coli contamination has prompted a recall of more than a half-ton of newly produced ground beef by a Vadnais Heights meat company.
Ranchers Legacy Meat Co. is recalling 1,200 pounds of ground-beef products, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said in a Saturday night announcement. No illnesses have been reported.
Products subject to the recall were for national distribution and packaged in sealed plastic packets and contained various weights of ground beef, food-safety officials said.
The suspected contamination was discovered last week by federal food safety personnel during a routine inspection, the FSIS said.
The particular E. coli involved, O157: H7, is potentially deadly and can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps anywhere from two to eight days after exposure. Most people recover within a week, but some develop kidney failure.
"FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers," the agency said in its announcement.
Consumers with questions about the recall are being directed to contact Jeremy Turnquist, vice president of operations for Ranchers Legacy, at 651-366-6575.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
