Federal safety officials have issued a public health alert for packages of organic ground beef sold at Whole Foods stores across the country, warning that the products may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the alert Tuesday after the producer, NPC Processing Inc., reported it had shipped ground beef that tested positive for the potentially deadly bacteria. https://www.10tv.com/article/news/nation-world/ground-beef-public-health-alert-whole-foods-e-coli/507-1d59c582-ad81-4544-b6f6-519daca27617 The health alert includes one-pound vacuum-sealed packages of “Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat” with "Use or Freeze By 06-19-25" and "Use or Freeze By 06-20-25" dates printed on the packaging. The products bear establishment number “EST. 4027” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Although the ground beef was originally shipped to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland, FSIS said the product was further distributed to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for sale, the agency said. There have been no confirmed illnesses linked to the beef, but FSIS is urging consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers and to throw the product away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.