USDA: Contaminated ground beef may have been delivered to Target, Safeway and Sam's Club stores
Sebastian Wright
Updated on April 04, 2026
The bacteria can cause people to become ill with symptoms like bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
WASHINGTON (WTHR) — Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling 132,606 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O26. The bacteria can cause people to become ill with symptoms like bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
The affected products were produced and packed on June 21, 2018. Click here or scroll below for the entire list.
- 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a USE OR FREEZE BY JUL/11/18 and case code 00228749057646
- 3-lb. chubs of “OUR CERTIFIED 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a USE OR FREEZE BY JUL/11/18 and case code 00228749002653
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 00228749089098
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 73/27 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749002751
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749003536
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 00228749003568
- 10-lb. chubs of “EXCEL CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749402773
- 20-lb. chubs of “EXCEL 81/19 FINE GRIND GROUND BEEF COMBO” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749073935
- 10-lb. chubs of “Sterling Silver CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 00228749702416
- 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 and case code 90028749802405
- 10-lb. chubs of “CERTIFIED ANGUS BEEF CHUCK GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a Use/Frz. By Jul 11 with case code 00228749802413
- 10-lb. chubs of “Fire River Farms CLASSIC GROUND BEEF 81/19 FINE GRIND” with a USE/FREEZE BY: 07/11/2018 with case code 90734730297241
Cargill has 16 production facilities in 10 states, but the products were shipped to retail stores nationwide including Target, Safeway and Sam's Club. The USDA updated its list of stores where the potentially contaminated beef may have been delivered.
Health officials identified 17 illnesses and one death related to the raw ground beef. Illnesses typically last about a week, but it is possible to develop more serious infections.
The concern is that someone might have put some of the beef in their freezer.
If you have more questions, ask the Food Safety and Inspection Service online or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.