Organic Rancher Ground Beef Recall | 2026 Latest Updates

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a public health alert on June 3, 2025. It covers 1-lb. packages of Organic Rancher Organic Ground Beef 85% Lean 15% Fat, sold at Whole Foods Market. FSIS requested no recall because the products are no longer available for purchase. The alert remains open, and FSIS lists it as Active. The alert warns that the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Packages carry Use or Freeze By dates of 06-19-25 or 06-20-25. Do not eat the beef, and throw it away or take it back to the store. FSIS said it had no confirmed reports of illness.

Latest Organic Rancher Ground Beef Recall Updates

June 3, 2025: FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ground Beef

FSIS issued the public health alert, number PHA-06032025-01, on June 3, 2025, for 1-lb. ground beef packages from Organic Rancher, sold at Whole Foods Market stores [1]. The alert warns of possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination and is listed by FSIS as a product contamination alert. The beef was shipped to distributors in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Maryland, then, FSIS says, to Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

May 22, 2025: Beef Produced Before Sale at Whole Foods Market

NPC Processing, the Vermont firm named in the FSIS alert, produced the raw ground beef on May 22, 2025, and May 23, 2025, the alert says. Organic Rancher says Whole Foods Market stores sold the beef from May 26, 2025 through June 3, 2025 [2]. The company lists 26 states and the District of Columbia. Neither notice gives a price or a package count.

What Is E. Coli?

According to the CDC, E. coli are germs called bacteria. They are found in many places, including the environment, foods, water, and the intestines of people and animals [3]. Most E. coli are harmless, but some can make people sick. E. coli O157:H7 is the type named in this alert.

Which Organic Rancher Ground Beef Packages Are Affected?

The FSIS alert covers this ground beef:

• Product: 1-lb. vacuum-packed packages of the 85% lean, 15% fat organic ground beef
• Date on the label: “Use or Freeze By 06-19-25” or “Use or Freeze By 06-20-25”
• Establishment number: the product bears “EST. 4027” inside the mark of inspection

Check the package label for these details. Organic Rancher lists these places where Whole Foods Market sold the beef:

• 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, plus the District of Columbia

The company says other states, and products with different Use or Freeze By dates, are not affected. That statement comes from the company and not from FSIS.

Why Was Organic Rancher Ground Beef Recalled?

FSIS issued a public health alert, with no recall requested, because the establishment reported shipping ground beef that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. FSIS calls E. coli O157:H7 a potentially deadly bacterium. The alert does not give a test date, a laboratory, or a count of positive tests. The FSIS establishment page lists NPC Processing, LLC, of Shelburne, Vermont, with Organic Rancher among its brands. FSIS says it is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Organic Rancher says it acted quickly to identify the root cause and put immediate corrective actions in place.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

In the alert, FSIS said there have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products. FSIS says symptoms can start 2 to 8 days after exposure to the bacteria, or 3 to 4 days on average. FSIS says most people with the infection recover within a week, but some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It adds that HUS is most common in children under 5 and older adults. The CDC says infection with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) can lead to HUS, and HUS can lead to permanent health problems, and even death.

What Should Consumers Do?

Take these steps if you have Organic Rancher ground beef at home:

1. Do not eat the ground beef. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.
2. Whole Foods Market customers can bring a copy of a valid receipt into stores for a full refund, Organic Rancher says.
3. Call the Organic Rancher consumer line at 1-844-936-8255 with any questions.
4. You can also reach Danny Desautels, president of NPC Processing, at 802-660-0496 (office), 802-310-7644 (cell), or ddesautels@npcprocessing.com.
5. Call the FSIS Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov, or report a problem online.
6. Watch for dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Contact a healthcare provider if you are concerned about an illness, and see the CDC symptoms page for when to call a doctor [4].
7. Seek emergency care right away for signs of HUS. The CDC HUS page lists peeing less or not at all, unexplained bruising, and losing pink color in the cheeks [5].

Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions

The FSIS public health alert of May 11, 2022 covered raw ground beef from the same establishment, EST. 4027. The beef may have contained hard plastic [6]. The firm had received consumer complaints of hard, rigid plastic in the beef. The packages were vacuum-sealed 16-oz. units in two blends, 93% lean 7% fat and 85% lean 15% fat. They were produced on April 20, 2022, with a use by date of 5-18-2022, and shipped to Whole Foods Market nationwide. FSIS did not ask for a recall, as it was no longer for sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Organic Rancher Ground Beef Alert a Recall?

The Organic Rancher ground beef alert is a public health alert and not a recall. It carries no recall number. FSIS issued it so consumers know these products should not be eaten.

Who Can I Call About the Organic Rancher Ground Beef Alert?

You can call the Organic Rancher line about the ground beef alert from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. Weekend hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday through Sunday.

What Are the Symptoms of E. Coli O157:H7 Infection?

For symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection, the CDC says to call your doctor for diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than 2 days. Also call for bloody poop or pee, a fever higher than 102°F, or signs of dehydration or HUS.

What Is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?

Hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, is a medical emergency, the CDC says. People with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys may stop working and they may develop other serious problems. Most people with HUS recover within a few weeks.

Who Is at Higher Risk from E. Coli Infection?

People at higher risk from E. coli infection include children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems, and international travelers, according to the CDC About page.

What Temperature Should Ground Beef Reach?

Ground beef should reach 160 F, FSIS advises, but FSIS still says not to eat the beef in this alert. A food thermometer is the only way to confirm that temperature.

References

1. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e–coli-o157h7-1
2. https://organicrancher.com/product-alert/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/about/index.html
4. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/signs-symptoms/index.html
5. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/signs-symptoms/hus.html
6. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-raw-ground-beef-products-due-foreign-material