A public health alert has been issued nationwide concerning Organic Rancher ground beef sold at Whole Foods Market, after tests confirmed contamination with the potentially deadly E. coli O157:H7 bacterium. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the alert this week, warning consumers that although the affected products are no longer available for purchase, some may still be in home refrigerators or freezers.
The products in question are 1-pound vacuum-packed packages of "Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat," produced on May 22 and May 23, 2025. These packages bear the establishment number "EST. 4027" inside the USDA mark of inspection and have use-or-freeze-by dates of June 19 and June 20, 2025. The ground beef was shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, and Maryland before being distributed to Whole Foods Market stores across 27 states, including Alabama, Connecticut, the 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, and Wisconsin.
The contamination was discovered when NPC Processing Inc., the processing company based in Shelburne, Vermont, notified FSIS that certain batches of ground beef tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. This strain of E. coli is known for causing severe illness and, in some cases, life-threatening complications. The raw beef was produced from cattle in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the U.S.
While no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product, health officials urge caution. The FSIS emphasizes that consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them. Instead, they should either dispose of the meat or return it to the place of purchase. The agency also recommends thoroughly cleaning any areas in refrigerators or freezers where the beef was stored to prevent cross-contamination.
"These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase," the FSIS alert states. To confirm that ground beef is safe to eat, the FSIS advises cooking it to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, using a food thermometer to ensure harmful bacteria are destroyed.
E. coli O157:H7 can cause symptoms including severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting. These symptoms typically appear within three to four days of exposure and usually resolve within a week. However, some individuals, particularly children under five years old and older adults, may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney condition marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output, which requires immediate medical attention.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected with E. coli should watch for symptoms such as diarrhea lasting longer than three days, fever above 102°F, bloody diarrhea, severe vomiting, or signs of dehydration like dizziness and dry mouth. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical care promptly.
Contamination with E. coli typically occurs when fecal matter gets into food or water, often due to improper hygiene, such as inadequate handwashing after using the bathroom, or consumption of unpasteurized milk. The bacterium normally resides harmlessly in the intestines of healthy people and animals, but certain strains like O157:H7 can cause serious illness.
Organic Rancher has stated on its website that the affected products are no longer for sale and that other products with different use-by dates or sold in states not listed are not impacted and safe to consume. The company also confirmed that the root cause of the contamination has been identified and corrective actions have been implemented to protect the integrity of its brand.
Consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact NPC Processing, Inc. at (802) 660-0496 or via email at [email protected]. For food safety concerns, the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is available toll-free at 888-674-6854 or by email at [email protected]. Additionally, consumers can report meat, poultry, or egg product complaints through the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at www.foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF.
This alert follows a series of E. coli outbreaks linked to food products in recent years, including contaminated lettuce and onions, underscoring the importance of vigilance in food safety practices. While E. coli infections often resolve without medication, monitoring symptoms is crucial to avoid severe complications.
As a precaution, consumers who still have the Organic Rancher ground beef packages with the specified production and use-by dates are urged to dispose of them immediately and clean storage areas thoroughly to prevent cross-contamination. Cooking meat to the recommended temperature remains the most effective safeguard against foodborne pathogens.
