NEW YORK, December 29, 2025, 17:27 ET
- Mountain West Food Group is recalling about 2,855 pounds of Forward Farms grass-fed ground beef over possible E. coli O26 contamination, USDA’s FSIS said.
- The 1-pound, vacuum-sealed packages were shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington, reports citing FSIS said.
- No confirmed illnesses have been reported; consumers were told not to eat the beef and to discard it or return it for a refund.
Mountain West Food Group, LLC is recalling about 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef sold under the Forward Farms label because it may be contaminated with E. coli O26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a notice dated Saturday.
The beef was shipped to distributors in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington, according to reports citing the agency. With a use-or-freeze-by date of Jan. 13, 2026, federal officials warned the product may still be in home refrigerators and freezers.
E. coli O26 is a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, particularly among children and older adults. FSIS said it has not confirmed any illnesses linked to the recalled ground beef.
FSIS said the affected product was produced on Dec. 16 at the company’s Heyburn, Idaho operation. It was packaged in 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packs labeled “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF,” with the plant code “EST 2083” printed on the packaging. MEAT+POULTRY+2EatingWell+2
The agency said routine FSIS testing identified E. coli O26 in a sample tied to the recalled ground beef. The finding triggered the recall even though no illnesses have been confirmed.
FSIS urged consumers not to eat the recalled product and to throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The agency also reminds consumers to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and check it with a food thermometer.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, often shortened to STEC, is a group of bacteria that can produce toxins and sometimes causes severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody, and vomiting, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Symptoms usually begin within a few days after swallowing the bacteria.
In a small share of cases, STEC infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a complication that can cause kidney failure and may require hospitalization, the CDC says. FSIS-linked reports say people at higher risk include young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Jeremy Anderson, Mountain West Food Group’s CEO, at 208-679-3765 or info@mountainwestfoodgroup.com, KOMO News and the Spokesman-Review reported.
FSIS said it is concerned some recalled packages could already be in consumers’ homes given the date on the label. The agency urged shoppers to check package details — including the Forward Farms name and “EST 2083” — before discarding the beef. Food Safety News+2Spokesman-Review+2
The CDC advises people who develop severe symptoms after eating potentially contaminated food to contact a healthcare provider. Federal officials said they had no confirmed reports of illness linked to the ground beef as of the recall notice.
