COON RAPIDS, Minn. (Oct. 24, 2013) – The Coon Rapids Costco is recalling hundreds of pounds of ground beef after a child became sick and was hospitalized with a strain of E. coli. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall this week.
Nearly 350 customers bought some of the potentially contaminated beef between September 4 – 7. The recall only impacts 88 percent lean fresh ground beef with the item #33724 under the Costco label.
This strain of E. coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause dehydration, bloody stools and abdominal cramps 2 to 8 days after exposure. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure. Symptoms include bruising, becoming pale and decreased urine output. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
The government advises all consumers to safely prepare all of their raw meat products, whether fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,
