Its the first time in decades that the parasite with flesh-eating larvae has threatened the nation's cattle industry and only the third time it's appeared in the U.S. in that time.
A meat processor has recalled approximately 16,234 pounds of raw ground beef products processed in its Pennsylvania facility that may be contaminated with E. coli. The meat was sold in nine states at Walmart stores.
American Foods Group, LLC issued a recall with the USDA on three raw ground beef products due to possible E. coli O103 contamination.
Sixteen people in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts have been sickened in the outbreak, the CDC said in an investigation notice published on Tuesday.
Experts say that multiple factors led to the heat stress that caused the cows to die.
There are "hundreds of people in the Midwest who are sickened after eating cannibal sandwiches" each holiday season, the USDA said.