The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for organic ground beef sold at Whole Foods stores, citing possible E. coli contamination.

FSIS has not issued a recall, because Whole Foods stores have taken the ground beef off the shelves, but the agency is concerned that some packages of the affected beef may still be in shoppers’ refrigerators or freezers.

To date, FSIS hasn’t received any reports of illness linked to the contaminated beef.

Whole Foods pulled from shelves 1 pound vacuum-sealed packages of Organic Rancher ground beef (85 percent lean and 15 percent fat) produced on May 22 and May 23. The affected ground beef packages have the “use or freeze by” dates 06-19-25 or 06-20-25.

The potentially contaminated ground beef was sold between May 26 and June 3 in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Ground beef sold in other states or with other “use or freeze by” dates are not affected and are safe to eat, according to a statement from Organic Rancher.

FSIS advises anyone who has the affected ground beef to either throw it away or return it to Whole Foods for a refund.

How Does E. Coli Make You Sick?

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in food, water, and even the guts of humans and animals. Most varieties are harmless, but some can cause serious illness.

E. coli infection can cause the following symptoms:

• Severe stomach cramps

• Diarrhea (often bloody)

• Vomiting

Symptoms typically appear within three to four days after exposure, but can sometimes range from 1 to 10 days. Most people can recover without treatment, but children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with compromised immune systems have a higher risk of getting seriously ill.

You should seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Severe diarrhea lasting more than two days

• Bloody stool or blood in your urine

• Vomiting and an inability to keep liquids down

• A fever higher than 102 degrees F

• Signs of dehydration (not peeing much, feeling dizzy when standing)