The last thing you want to worry about while pigging out and celebrating America is whether your Fourth of July burger is contaminated with E. coli. Sadly, many might have to this year—post-haste. After discovering E. Coli in its sampling program over the holiday weekend, Lombardi Brothers Meats in Denver recalled 26,975 pounds of beef.

The meat affected by the contamination includes steak tips, top sirloin, ground beef, and beef patties, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). So far, there have been no known illnesses associated with the meats, which were sent to hotels and restaurants in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take heed: The brand discovered E. coli on June 30, but didn't send out the recall notice until July 3. By then, the meat that tested positive had already been shipped out. The potentially unsafe packages were produced between June 12 and June 30, and are also labeled with the establishment number 772 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

E. coli is a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause dehydration, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps about two to eight days after exposure. It can also lead to kidney failure. While the condition can affect those of any age, children younger than five and older adults are most at risk. As a reminder, the USDA advises that all raw beef products, whether fresh or frozen, are cooked to 145 degrees F for steaks and roasts and to 160 degrees for ground beef.

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