Ground Bison E. coli linked to Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc. Outbreak Declared Officially Over
As of September 13, 2019 at 4 PM ET, the FDA declared the E. coli outbreak linked to ground bison produced by Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc. is over.
The multistate E. coli outbreak linked to ground bison was investigated by several major governmental agencies, such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC), The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA), The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), as well as several U.S state inspectors. After performing epidemiological procedures to trace the origin of the outbreak, Northfork Bison Distributing, Inc. was discovered to be the source, having distributed ground bison packages contaminated with E. coli to the affected areas. The biological tests revealed the responsible strains were E. coli 0121 and E. coli 0103.
Northfork Bison Distribution, Inc. declared a voluntary recall July 16, 2019 on all its ground bison meat and pattie products distributed between February 22 and April 30, 2019.
Because the Federal Meat Inspection Act (DMIA) does not place ground bison meat specifically under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is overseen by the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA).
The outbreak of E. coli in ground bison from Northfork Bison Distribution, Inc. caused a confirmed total of 33 reported cases in 8 different states. Many others may have been sickened and either not received medical attention or not provided a stool sample for testing. There were 18 hospitalizations but no reported deaths. The last confirmed case of illness linked to this outbreak was documented as August 11, 2019.
Although the outbreak is now “officially” declared over, the FDA reminds consumers that the recalled products were frozen and therefore may still be in freezers. According to national E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, “freezing does not kill E. coli.” Before cooking up any ground bison be sure to check that it was not distributed by Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc. with an expiration date any earlier than October 8, 2020.
The CDC reminds and encourages people to take special care when handling raw meat such as ground bison. Be sure to thoroughly cook meat to 160 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature to kill any germs and avoid contamination of other foods by washing hands after handling meat.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/rulemaking/federal-meat-inspection-act
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/bison-07-19/index.html
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/rulemaking/federal-meat-inspection-act
