Outbreaks
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Bison Meat E. coli outbreak
On July 2, 2010, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that Rocky Mountain Natural Meats was recalling 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized steak and bison products for potential contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The bison products had been identified as the source of a June 2010 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak among Colorado and New York residents.Rocky Mountain Natural Meats expanded its recall on July 7, 2010, to include an additional 776 pounds of bison products. The bison meat had been distributed nationwide at retail locations including Hannaford, King Soopers, Market Basket, Price Chopper and Whole Foods stores. Restaurant distributors in Utah and Arizona also received the product.
Public health officials ultimately identified 10 people in 5 states who had become ill with E. coli infections after eating the bison products.