About 167,000 pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef products have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Health noted a connection between a cluster of reported illnesses and ground beef from Wolverine Packing Co., a Detroit-based meat distributor.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service said it worked with Minnesota departments to investigate. Fifteen people were reported sick as of Wednesday, with symptoms beginning between November 2 and November 10, according to a report by NBC News. The same day, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture tested a sample of ground beef from Wolverine and found it contained a strain of harmful bacteria called E. coli O157:H7, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a news release.

The products were shipped to restaurants across the country, causing the Food Safety and Inspection Service to be “concerned that some products may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers.” E. coli O157:H7 is the same strain of bacteria that was linked to onions in some McDonald’s Quarter Pounders last month.

E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals and are considered beneficial. However, there are some strains that can cause severe cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. You can be exposed to these strains from contaminated water or food, especially if you eat raw vegetables and undercooked ground meat. Healthy adults usually recover from infection, but young children and older adults are at higher risk of developing life-threatening conditions.

Types of E. coli infection

The most common types of E. coli infections are gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here, a look at some other types of E.coli infections.

• bloodstream infection
• Prostatitis (prostate infection)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Gallbladder infection (cholecystitis)
• wound infection
• pneumonia (rare)
• Meningitis (rare).

Symptoms of E. coli infection

Here, take a look at some common symptoms of E. coli infection.

• Diarrhea that is often watery and sometimes bloody.
• stomach pain and cramps
• loss of appetite
• mild fever
• Watery diarrhea is usually the first symptom of an E. coli infection in your GI tract.

Symptoms of E. coli in your urinary tract

• abdominal or pelvic pain
• pain or burning while urinating
• frequent and urgent need to urinate
• Cloudy, foul-smelling urine.

Ways to prevent E. coli infection

• Good Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before preparing or eating food, after using the toilet, and after contact with animals.
• Cook food thoroughly: Make sure meat, especially ground beef, is cooked to a safe internal temperature (160°F or 71°C).
• Avoid cross contamination: Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and other foods. Wash utensils and surfaces after contact with raw meat to prevent spreading bacteria to other foods.
• Wash fruits and vegetables: Wash your fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.

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