USDA Recalls 2,855 Pounds of Ground Beef for E. coli O26

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a recall on Saturday for approximately 2,855 pounds of raw grassfed ground beef due to possible contamination with E. coli O26, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The products, produced by Idaho-based Mountain West Food Group LLC on December 16, 2025, were distributed to retailers in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The recall involves 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages labeled Forward Farms GrassFed Ground Beef, with a use-or-freeze-by date of January 13, 2026, and the establishment number EST. 2083 printed on the side. The contamination was identified through routine testing conducted by the FSIS, which confirmed the presence of E. coli O26 in the samples. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the products so far, but officials emphasized that consumers who may have purchased them should immediately check their refrigerators and freezers.

E. coli O26 can cause serious illness, with symptoms typically appearing two to eight days after exposure, averaging three to four days. Common signs include diarrhea, often bloody; stomach cramps; vomiting;...