Silver Springs Farms, Inc., located in Harleysville, PA , late Friday recalled approximately 740 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The ground beef items were produced on August 19, 2016 and include:

• 20-lb cases containing 4 packages of 5-lb ground beef 80/20.

The recalled products bear establishment number “EST. 4771” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to a distributor in Virginia. The contamination was discovered during a routine verification sampling performed by Silver Springs Farms, Inc. There has not yet been any confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately. FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website,