According to the Daily Inter Lake, Lower Valley Processing is voluntarily recalling all non-intact, raw products — like ground beef — produced from animals slaughtered on June 5 after being linked to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.
According to the paper, Meat from the processing facility was sent to local restaurants, where several people became sick from E. coli. The recent outbreak has led to one death and caused 13 others to become ill, according to the Flathead City-County Health Department.
The potentially affected Lower Valley Processing products were labeled with “Lower Valley Processing, Co.,” establishment number “EST. 007” inside the Montana mark of inspection on the product labels, and lot numbers 1398, 1399 and 1400. All potentially affected products have been removed from the marketplace by public health officials, the Department of Livestock and Lower Valley Processing. Some products may have been sold direct to consumers prior to discovery of potential contamination, according to authorities.
The problem was discovered when Flathead City-County Health Department was alerted to illnesses associated with E. coli. A traceback investigation conducted in collaboration with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services determined that affected individuals consumed potentially undercooked Wagyu burgers at various restaurants. Sampling of product labeled as lot 1400 confirmed the presence of E. coli.