FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Specific Ground Beef In HelloFresh Meal Kits Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
USDA Recall Notice
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-09102022-01.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that ground beef products in HelloFresh meal kits may be associated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 illness. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
The meal kits containing ground beef for this public health alert were shipped to consumers from July 2-21, 2022. The following products are subject to the public health alert [view label]:
- 10-oz. plastic vacuum-packed packages containing “GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN/15% FAT” with codes “EST#46841 L1 22 155” or “EST#46841 L5 22 155” on the side of the packaging.
The ground beef packages bear “EST.46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection and on the plastic ground beef package.
FSIS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health partners are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 and raw ground beef is the probable source of the reported illnesses. Traceback information identified that multiple case-patients received ground beef produced at establishment M46841 and distributed by HelloFresh in meal kits from July 2-21, 2022. Traceback of materials used to produce the ground beef is ongoing and FSIS continues to work with suppliers and public health partners on the investigation.
FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.
Media and consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact hello@hellofresh.com or by live chat.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
Corrective Action (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-09102022-01.
Return product to place of purchase or discard.
✅ What you should do
- Stop using the product if you own it.
- Check the model number, lot code, or sell-by date against the recall notice above.
- Contact Unknown or the retailer where you bought it for a refund, replacement, or repair.
- For the most current official instructions, visit the USDA recall page.
- If you've been hurt by this product, report the incident to USDA.
Consumer Contact (per USDA)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA) — official agency notice for recall USDA-PHA-09102022-01.
Company Contact Company Contact hello@hellofresh.com
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS)
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service oversees meat, poultry, and processed egg products. Recalls cover contamination, mislabeling, and foodborne hazards.
Visit USDA.gov →📣 Report a food safety issue to USDA FSIS
If you bought or ate this product and got sick — or noticed contamination, foreign objects, or labeling problems — report it to USDA FSIS. Save the product and packaging if possible; investigators may want it for lab testing.
Unknown Recall FAQ
Unknown is the subject of a beef recall: FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Specific Ground Beef In HelloFresh Meal Kits Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination. The notice was published on September 10, 2022 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (FSIS) (USDA). Approximately 0 units are potentially affected.