Fred Meyer, QFC, Albertsons, Walmart, and WinCo ground beef recalled over E. coli test

The USDA has announced the recall of nearly 30,000 pounds of ground beef, including Kroger-branded ground beef sold at Fred Meyer and QFC supermarkets, as well as products sold at Albertsons, Walmart, and WinCo grocery stores.

Interstate Meat Dist. Inc. of Clackamas, OR, initiated the recall of approximately 28,356 pounds of ground beef products because testing showed positive results for contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The ground beef was shipped to retail locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Stores under the Kroger banner are Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Fry’s, QFC, City Market, Owen’s, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker’s, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, Mariano’s. At this time Fred Meyer stores are the only know Kroger stores to have received the recalled ground beef, according to a Kroger spokeswoman.

There is concern that consumers may have the ground beef in their home freezers. The raw, ground beef was produced on Dec. 20, 2021. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 965” inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed next to the time stamp and use or freeze by date. To view photos of some of the products, click here.

• WinCo, Fresh GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN 90% LEAN – 10% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 18:37 through 18:48 L3, 1/11/2022
• Wal-Mart, ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF 90% LEAN 10% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 18:49 through 19:18 L3, 1/11/2022
• WinCo, Fresh GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN – 7% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 19:19 through 21:14 L3, Use/Freeze by 1/11/22
• Kroger, Kroger GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 19:19 through 21:14 L3, Use/Freeze by 1/11/22
• Albertsons, Signature Farms GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN/7% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 19:19 through 21:14 L3, Use/Freeze by 1/11/22
• Wal-Mart, ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 16 oz. (1 lb.) chub, 21:15 through 22:42 L3, 1/11/2022
• Wal-Mart, ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 48 oz. (3 lb.) chub, 18:15 through 21:18 L1, 1/11/2022
• Win-Co, Fresh GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN – 7% FAT, 48 oz. (3 lb.) chub, 18:15 through 21:18 L1, 1/11/2022
• Kroger, GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 48 oz. (3 lb.) chub, 18:15 through 21:18 L1, 1/11/2022
• Albertsons, Signature Farms GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 48 oz. (3 lb.) chub, 18:15 through 21:18 L1, 1/11/2022
• Wal-Mart, ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN 7% FAT, 48 oz. (3 lb.) chub, 21:00 through 22:19 L2, 1/11/2022

Consumer Reports was first to alert the public to not eat the ground beef sold at Kroger and other supermarkets because independent testing showed positive results for contamination with the potentially deadly E. coli O157:H7.

The public alert came after the organization tested a sample of ground beef sold under the Kroger brand, but the other products may be involved, according to the alert released Jan. 5. One piece of beef can contaminate a a large quantity of product when it is ground with other meat.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.