Thousands of pounds of ground beef sold at Walmart stores are being pulled from shelves amid E. coli fears. Over 16,000 pounds of ground beef products from Cargill Meat Solutions have been recalled due to the potential contamination, as first reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.

The US Department of Agriculture’s recall notice, referred to by CNN, says the beef was produced on April 26 and April 27. No illnesses have yet to be confirmed, but officials are not taking any chances and have advised consumers to immediately discard or return the affected products.

A Cargill spokesperson reassured customers by stating that the recall was made out of an abundance of caution. The meat, including popular choices like "93% Lean 7% Fat All Natural Lean Ground Beef" and "Prime Rib Beef Steak Burger Patties," may harbor dangerous E. coli bacteria—known to cause severe foodborne illness.

"At Walmart, the health and safety of our customers is always a top priority," a Walmart spokesperson told CNN. Following the recall announcement, the retailer swiftly acted to remove the potentially tainted meat from its stores and has started to notify customers who might have bought the recalled items. To aid concerned consumers, Cargill also established a hotline at 1-844-419-1574 to answer any queries about the recall situation.

E. coli infections can lead to serious symptoms such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and in grave cases, kidney failure. To prevent contamination, authorities recommend thoroughly washing hands, cooking meat to at least 160°F, and avoiding raw or unpasteurized dairy and juices. For further safety measures, consumers are urged to ensure proper hygiene and food handling standards are maintained in their kitchens.