Home / Health / E. coli Scare: 3,000 lbs of Ground Beef Recalled
E. coli Scare: 3,000 lbs of Ground Beef Recalled
6 Jan
Summary
- Nearly 3,000 pounds of ground beef recalled due to E. coli O26.
- Recall impacts beef sold in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, Washington.
- No illnesses linked yet, but consumers urged to discard or return recalled beef.
Nearly 3,000 pounds of raw ground beef are being recalled across six states following the detection of E. coli O26. Mountain West Food Group, LLC, based in Heyburn, Idaho, initiated the recall for their "Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef." The product was processed on December 16, 2025, and distributed to California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
The contamination was discovered through routine testing by federal food safety officials. E. coli O26 is a bacteria that can lead to severe gastrointestinal illness, including bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Although no illnesses have been officially linked to this specific recall as of January 6, 2026, health authorities are strongly advising consumers against consuming the affected product.
Consumers are instructed to either throw away the recalled ground beef or return it to the place of purchase. For those with questions, Mountain West Food Group can be contacted directly, and further food safety inquiries can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. Officials also remind the public to always cook ground beef thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
