Check your fridge and freezer if you recently bought ground beef.
This Ground Beef Sold Nationwide Is Not Safe to Consume, Per the USDA
Published on Jun. 04, 2025
Hold off on making hamburger patties until you check your ground beef label. On Tuesday, June 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a public health alert for Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef. This beef could be contaminated with E. coli, a harmful bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. Since the beef is no longer available for sale in stores, this is not a recall. Instead, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is letting us know that the beef is not safe to consume. Here’s everything we know so far.
What caused the health alert?
The manufacturer, NPC Processing, Inc., alerted FSIS that some of its ground beef tested positive for E. coli. This was beef that had already been shipped to distributors and entered the supply chain.
E. coli is a bacteria that is found in many places, including in our own digestive tracts. Most forms of E. coli are harmless, but some of them can cause serious illness. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of E. coli can include bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting and a low fever.
What stores sold the ground beef?
The ground beef was processed in Vermont and shipped to distributor locations in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland. Then it was distributed to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. Right now, we don’t know if it has been sold at any other grocery stores.
How do I know if I have the ground beef?
The brand is Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef, and it was produced on May 22, 2025 and May 23, 2025. It has “EST. 4027” written inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packaging. Even though it’s no longer available for sale at Whole Foods Market locations, you should check your fridge or freezer for the product. It’s also very important to double-check if you’ve done any freezer meal prep.
Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat
- Size: 1-pound vacuum-sealed package
- USDA Establishment Number: 4027
- Use- or freeze-by date: June 19, 2025 or June 20, 2025
What should I do next?
If you have any of the Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef, do not consume it. You can throw it away or bring it back to Whole Foods Market for a refund. If you have consumed any of the beef and feel ill, seek medical attention. Any further questions about this issue can be directed to NPC Processing, Inc. President Danny Desautels at 802-660-0496 (office), 802-310-7644 (cell) or [email protected].
