Nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled for potential E. coli contamination, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Here’s what you need to know right now.
What ground beef products were recalled?
Idaho establishment Mountain West Food Group, LLC, recalled about 2,855 pounds of its raw ground beef products. The recall concerns the following product: 16-oz. vacuum-sealed packages of “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” with “USE OF FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” printed on the side of the packaging.
The item was produced on Dec. 16, 2025. It was shipped to distributors across California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington, according to USDA officials.
Why is the USDA recalling ground beef products from Forward Farms?
FSIS identified the presence of E. coli O26 during sample routine testing. So far, no cases of confirmed illness due to consumption have been reported. FSIS is urging those who have purchased the product not to consume it and to either throw it away or return to the place of purchase.
“FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers,” the FSIS’s notice said.
E. coli is normally found in the gut of people and animals
Certain strains, like the most common form of E. coli O157:H7, can cause infections, according to The Cleveland Clinic. People may become ill weeks after exposure to harmful forms of E. coli. Symptoms include diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Most people recover within a week through rehydration, but an E. coli infection may last longer depending on its severity, according to FSIS.
In rare cases, infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure. HUS is most common in children under 5, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. It can be identified by bruising easily, pallor (an unusual paleness or lightening of the skin) and decreased urine output, which should prompt a visit to the ER immediately.