5.1 million pounds of beef added to nationwide recall due to salmonella outbreak

Over 12 million pounds of beef products have been recalled due to a massive salmonella outbreak that has left hundreds of people sickened across the country, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS.)

JBS Tolleson, Inc., has expanded a previous food recall to include over 5.1 million more pounds of raw beef that may be tainted with the potentially deadly bacteria. The same outbreak forced the company to recall over 6.9 million pounds of similar beef products in October.

In total, the FSIS said its investigation confirmed 246 patients across 25 states were sickened by the tainted products, with 66 reported cases in California, 50 in Colorado and 42 in Arizona (to view all reported cases by state, click here.)

The recalled goods were produced and packaged between July 26 and Sept. 7, bear the number "EST. 267" inside the USDA mark of inspection and were sold at retailers nationwide (for a full list of affected product labels, click here and here.)

The FSIS said it is concerned that some people may still have the tainted beef stored in their freezers and cautioned that consumers who purchased the products throw them away immediately or return them to their place of purchase.

Common symptoms of a salmonella infection typically appear within 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria and may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Though most people recover without treatment, older adults and young children may require hospitalization.