FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef Products

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently issued a public health alert for one-pound vacuum packed packages of Organic Rancher 95% lean and 15% fat ground beef. These were products sold at Whole Foods Market that carry the risk of E. coli O157:H7 contamination and have a use or freeze-by dates of June 19 or June 20. If you were made sick by Organic Rancher ground beef, you should call the seasoned Chicago-based product liability lawyers of Moll Law Group.

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The raw ground beef product was made on May 22, 2025, and May 23, 2025, by Organic Ranger. In Illinois and other states, the products were available from May 26 through June 3. The label on the vacuum-packed containers of raw ground beef has expiration dates of June 19, 2025, and June 20, 2025. Because the beef isn’t available in stores anymore, the FSIS issued a public alert rather than a recall. In addition to being shipped to Illinois, the ground beef was also shipped to Connecticut, Georgia, and Maryland, as well as Whole Foods Market retail locations around the country. The vacuum-packed packages were processed in Vermont and have an establishment number Est. 4027 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The FSIS warned consumers to only consume ground beef cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the beef is no longer for sale, the public alert was issued out of concern that these packages may remain in consumers’ freezers or refrigerators. You should not use the raw ground beef, if you have one of these packages. So far, there have been no confirmed reports of illness connected to the beef, but if you believe you may have been affected by E. coli-contaminated beef, you should call your doctor. If you have a food safety question, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question to them by email to MPHotline@usda.gov.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and dehydration that occur 2-8 days after a person is exposed. Most people do recover inside of a week, but it is possible, for vulnerable groups such as children under age 5 and older adults, especially, to develop the serious complication of hemolytic uremic syndrome. This condition, which shows up as easy bruising, decreased urine output, and pallor, can lead to death or kidney failure.

Those made sick by E. coli-contaminated beef may wonder what their recourse is. It is expensive to go to the hospital with a preventable health condition, and either the condition or the medical care to treat it may be painful or burdensome. In some cases, it may be appropriate to file a product liability lawsuit against a manufacturer.

If you or a loved one were harmed by beef, call the seasoned Chicago-based product liability attorneys of Moll Law Group to talk about your legal options. For a free consultation, please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.