WASHINGTON – Wolverine Packing Company in Detroit is recalling approximately 1.8 million lbs. of ground beef on concerns the product is contaminated withE. coliO157:H7, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service reported. Traceback investigations revealed 11 people in four states were infected by the pathogen.


The ground beef products were produced between March 31 and April 18, according to FSIS. Affected products bear the establishment number “EST. 2574B” and will have a production date code in the format “Packing Nos: MM DD 14” between “03 31 14” and “04 18 14”. The ground beef was shipped to distributors for restaurant use in Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. FSIS noted there was no distribution of the tainted beef to the Department of Defense, the National School Lunch Program or catalog/Internet sales.

FSIS received notification of the illnesses on May 12. Working with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agencies determined there was link between the ground beef from Wolverine Packing Co. and the confirmed illnesses. FSIS said illness onset dates ranged from April 22 to May 2.

FSIS said factors contributing to the size of the recall included potential contamination of additional products due to a lack of microbiological independence between lot production, and a deficiency in supportive record-keeping by distributors.