The Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) are issuing a public health alert regarding E. coli O157 gastrointestinal illnesses linked to the consumption of ground beef from McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC, a meat-processing and retail establishment in North Branch, Mich.
A total of five confirmed Shiga-toxin producing E. coli cases and four probable cases have been reported in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac counties. Illness onset dates range from July 18-30. Those affected range in age from 15-88.
Cases have reported consuming ground beef either at local restaurants supplied by McNees or by purchasing beef directly from the company. MDCH and MDARD are working with local health departments and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on this ongoing outbreak investigation to determine how widely these products are distributed.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday night that McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC is recalling approximately 360 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157. As a result of an epidemiologic investigation, FSIS determined there is a link between the recalled ground beef products and the illnesses in Michigan.