SHOPPERS have been urged to check their freezers after ground beef sold at stores across the country was found to be contaminated.

The dangerous batch of meat could carry a hidden ingredient.

But it’s not an ingredient at all – rather the dangerous bacteria known as E. coli.

Otherwise known as E. coli O157:H7, it is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

On June 3, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public health alert regarding ground beef products sold at Whole Foods.

The alert affects Organic Rancher brand ground beef, which was distributed to 27 states across the US.

The affected product comes in 1-pound vacuum-sealed packages that are labeled Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef.

According to the packaging, the meat is 85% lean and 15% fat, with expiration dates of June 19 and June 20, 2025.

Production dates will be listed on the packaging as May 22 and May 23, 2025.

The affected products have the establishment number “EST. 4027” inside the USDA inspection mark, as stated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The meat tested positive for E. coli after Organic Rancher alerted FSIS about the contamination.

The tainted meat is no longer being sold in stores, but officials fear some customers may still have it stored at home in their freezers.

No illnesses have been reported at this time, FSIS confirmed, though it emphasized that customers should not take any chances.

The FSIS emphasized that using a food thermometer to verify that ground beef reaches a temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria is essential.

The contaminated beef had initially been shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland.

This product was available for purchase from Whole Foods Market retail locations from May 26 through June 3 in the following select states: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin. 

Organic Rancher says the product has been removed from shelves and corrective steps have already been taken.

Consumers who have purchased these products have been urged not to consume them.

Instead, the meat should be thrown away or returned to where it was purchased.

This isn’t the first time Whole Foods has faced a contamination scare.

In November 2024, certain organic vegetable packs were recalled due to E. coli concerns.

No legal action is currently pending over the ground beef alert.

E. coli symptoms can start two to eight days after exposure, though it is most common to start showing symptoms within three to four days.

While most people recover within a week, some can develop a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure.

This condition is especially dangerous for young children under five and older adults, and symptoms include easy bruising, pale skin, and reduced urination.

Anyone with these signs should seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.