Ground Beef Recalled in Six States Over E. coli Concerns; USDA Dismisses Link to DOGE Restructuring

December 30 , 2025

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a recall of approximately 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef after routine testing detected E. coli O26, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness. The recalled product was distributed in six states and is being pulled from store shelves as a precautionary measure.

The affected ground beef — sold under the “Forward Farms Grass-Fed Ground Beef” label in 16-ounce vacuum-sealed packages marked with establishment number EST 2083 — was produced on December 16, 2025, at a facility operated by Mountain West Food Group, LLC in Heyburn, Idaho. The products were shipped to distributors and retailers in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington.

USDA officials stressed that no illnesses have yet been reported in connection with the potentially contaminated product, but urged consumers to check their freezers and either discard or return the meat to point of purchase. The agency reiterated longstanding food safety guidance that ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 °F to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria.

In response to inquiries about the recent recall, USDA spokespeople took pains to refute suggestions circulating on social media linking the outbreak to broader agency restructuring earlier this year.

Rumors in political and social media circles have pointed to the dismantling of USDA programs earlier in 2025 by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk that at one point sought to overhaul several federal departments’ infrastructures. Some online commentators implied that cuts in federal food safety staffing played a role in the recall.

In a statement, USDA officials reiterated that FSIS continues to operate and carry out routine sampling, despite massive staffing cuts, and that this particular recall was triggered by standard testing protocols. The agency said there is no evidence the incident is connected to DOGE-related organizational changes or the firing of key personnel from USDA offices. Department representatives noted that food safety oversight remains a core mission and that FSIS retains authority and resources to monitor meat and poultry safety.

The DOGE program, which gained national attention in early 2025 for proposing broad cuts and consolidation in federal agencies, including parts of USDA, has largely wound down following internal and legal challenges. Oversight and implementation of food safety inspections, including meat testing and recall operations, remain the responsibility of FSIS under USDA guidelines

Olivia Asher