Nearly 3,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Have Been Recalled Across 6 States Due to Potential E. Coli Contamination

Nearly 3,000 Pounds of Ground Beef Have Been Recalled Across 6 States Due to Potential E. Coli Contamination

The raw beef tested positive for the presence of E. coli O26 in a routine inspection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Moná Thomas

Mon, December 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM UTC

3 min read

Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Ground Beef - stock photo — Kinga Krzeminska/Getty
Ground Beef - stock photo

NEED TO KNOW

Mountain West Food Group, LLC recalled nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef across six states
The contaminated meat tested positive for the presence of E. coli O26 in a routine inspection
Distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington received the contaminated product

Idaho-based meat distributor Mountain West Food Group, LLC, is recalling about 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O26.

According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), published on Saturday, Dec. 27, the contaminated beef products tested positive for the presence of E. coli O26 in a routine FSIS testing and sampling.

E. coli O26 is a serovar (or a variation of bacteria or virus in a species) of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). People can potentially become ill from STEC within 28 days, typically within 34 days, after exposure to the organism, explained the notice.

USDA Thousands of pounds of ground beef recalled in six states due to potential E. Coli contaminationThousands of pounds of ground beef recalled in six states due to potential E. Coli contamination — USDA
Thousands of pounds of ground beef recalled in six states due to potential E. Coli contaminationThousands of pounds of ground beef recalled in six states due to potential E. Coli contamination

Most people infected with STEC O26 experience bloody diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to "more severe" health consequences. "Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended," noted the announcement, as symptoms typically clear up within a week.

Another concern is Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is described as a type of kidney failure. Although it is reportedly not common with STEC O26 infections, HUS is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems and can be identified by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. The FSIS advised that anyone experiencing the described symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

PEOPLE reached out to Mountain West Food Group, LLC, for a statement and did not receive an immediate response.

The contaminated raw ground beef, 16-oz. (1-lb.) vacuum-sealed packages, were produced on Dec. 16, 2025, and have “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” with “USE OF FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” and "EST 2083” printed on the side of the packaging.

The product was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington for further distribution to retail sales. As of writing, there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to the consumption of these products, though the FSIS is "concerned" that some of the recalled products may already be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Consumers who have purchased the contaminated products are urged not to consume them and to discard them immediately or return them to the place of purchase.

FSIS advises that all consumers safely prepare their raw meat products, including 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," stated the agency.

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