US health officials have issued a public health alert for ground beef sold at Whole Foods markets nationwide due to potential contamination with E. coli bacteria. The affected products were produced in Australia or Uruguay and processed in the US before being distributed to stores across the country.
The products, 1-pound vacuum-packed packages of Organic Rancher beef, have use-by dates of June 19 and June 20. Although no illnesses linked to the product have been reported, consumers are advised to discard the meat or return it to the store.
E. coli O157:H7, a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness, may be present in the affected products. Symptoms of E. coli infection include dehydration, diarrhea, and cramps. Children under 5 and older adults are most at risk. Most people recover within a week, but some can become severely ill and develop kidney complications.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/04/business/whole-foods-ground-beef-may-be-tainted-with-e-coli-health-officials-warn