Frontiere Natural Meats, LLC, a Denver, Colorado establishment, is recalling 1,640 pounds of ground elk meat that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.
The recalled ground elk was distributed to North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia through retail stores. The recalled ground elk was packed in 205 eight pound cases containing 8 one pound packages; each identified with a label that states “DK Natural Meats All Natural Ground Elk” with a “Use or Freeze By 4-27-15” on the back of each package.
Frontiere Natural Meats, LLC has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product to date.
The potential contamination was noted after routine testing by the company detected the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in two of four sub lots of bulk ground elk. As all four lots came from the same original batch Frontiere is recalling all lots associated with the original.