We are often asked by people who have eaten a recalled product what they should do with leftovers. The investigation of the E. coli outbreak associated with American Foods Group, LLC ground beef products, highlights the importance of retaining recalled food products until one is certain no one has been sickened by them.
In October, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) began investigating 2 cases of suspected E. coli poisoning. According to IDPH representative Kimberly Parker, both of the people and ground beef found in their home tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Prompted by the report of these cases of E. coli O157:H7, American Foods Group recalled about 48 tons of ground beef products.
The ground beef that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 is vital clue that investigators from the Illinois Department of Public Health needed to quickly identify the food that was responsible for the patients' illnesses.
Before the American Foods Group LLP recall, the Illinois Department of Public Health took its findings to the US Department of Agriculture, which presented the meat company with evidence of the sick patients and the contaminated ground beef. The company recalled 48 tons of its ground beef on November 24.
Packages from patients' homes were found in several of the most recent foodborne illness outbreaks. The list reads like a hall of fame—or maybe we should we call it a "hall of shame". In the past year alone, investigators were able to examine contaminated ConAgra pot pies (Salmonella), Topps ground beef (E. coli O157:H7), Castleberry's chili sauce (Clostridium botulinum, which produces toxic botulism spores), and ConAgra peanut butter (Salmonella) found in the homes of sick patients.
Pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria are considered to be food "adulterants." Quite simply, they shouldn't be in food. So when investigators find an exact genetic match between the pathogen from sick patients and the food from their homes, they often have the "smoking gun."
In a food recall, people who have the product in their homes but have not eaten it should always throw the food away. But people often ask what they should do if they've eaten a recalled product. We would suggest that people should save the product and packaging until it's clear that they didn't get sick. (This should not be considered legal advice. You should contact us or another law firm if you would like assistance with any legal matter.) And if they get sick, see a doctor and ask to be tested and treated immediately.
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