Outbreaks
Interstate Meat E. coli Outbreak
On August 30, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert, announcing that approximately 41,000 pounds of ground beef produced by Interstate Meat Distributors, Inc. was being recalled for possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The ground beef products had been distributed to retail establishments in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and had been identified as the source of an E. coli outbreak.Public health officials in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho identified eight individuals who had become ill with E. coli infections after consuming the ground beef products. The Washington State Department of Health reported on August 30, 2007 that the associated E. coli O157:H7 infections in Washington included one child and five adults in King, Island, and Clallam counties.
