No illnesses have been reported so far, but people are urged not to eat the product<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Nearly 3,000 pounds of raw ground beef sold in six states is being recalled after testing found possible contamination with E. coli<\/em> O26, federal food safety officials said.<\/p>\n The recall involves grass-fed ground beef produced by Mountain West Food Group, LLC<\/a>, based in Heyburn, Idaho, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Food Safety and Inspection Service<\/a> (FSIS).<\/p>\n The beef was processed Dec. 16, 2025, and sold in 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages labeled \u201cForward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef.\u201d<\/p>\n The packages list a \u201cuse or freeze by\u201d date of Jan. 13, 2026, and carry the establishment number \u201cEST. 2083.\u201d<\/p>\n The product was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington, where it was intended for retail sale.<\/p>\n FSIS said the issue was discovered during routine testing, which detected E. coli<\/em> O26, a type of bacteria that can cause serious stomach illness.<\/p>\n So far, no confirmed illnesses have been linked to the recalled beef, but officials are asking anyone who bought the product not to eat it.<\/p>\n “Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,” FSIS <\/em>said. “These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”<\/p>\n E. coli<\/em> O26 is part of a group of bacteria known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli<\/em>, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting.<\/p>\n Most people recover within about a week, but some infections can become serious.<\/p>\n In rare cases, the infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure. HUS is most likely to affect young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.<\/p>\n Warning signs include easy bruising, pale skin and little or no urine, and anyone with these symptoms should seek emergency care.<\/p>\n FSIS also reminded consumers to always cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The only reliable way to check is by using a food thermometer, the agency said.<\/p>\n People with questions about the recall can contact Mountain West Food Group at 208-679-3765 or by email at info@mountainwestfoodgroup.com.<\/p>\n Food safety questions can also be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cleveland Clinic has more on E. coli<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, recall notice, Dec. 27, 2025<\/p>\n