The possible contamination with Escherichia coli (commonly E. coli) prompted the management of Omaha, Nebraska-based Nebraska Beef LTD to issue a recall of 1.2 million pounds of beef.

The beef was distributed through several Whole Foods stores, which have issued a similar measure amid fears of E. coli contamination. We’re talking about beef products such as primal cuts, sub-primal cuts, as well as boxed beef from the company. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service confirmed the belief that the beef is contaminated with E. coli, a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals and can cause serious food poisoning in humans.

The beef products that are to be withdrawn from the market were processed on June 17, June 24, as well as July 8, 2008. The beef is marked by the USDA with the “EST. 19336″ number inside the package. After the inspection, it was also branded “Coleman Natural” for shipping purposes.

Authorities said there are already 31 reports of food poisoning with E. coli across the U.S. and Canada. There were such cases in 12 states and among them were Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Utah, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

Whole Foods Market recalled on Friday the fresh beef products from all of its stores. The beef they were selling was being processed by Coleman Natural Foods after it had been purchased from Nebraska Beef.

Nebraska Beef and the USDA increased testing and inspections of its meat since late July when E. coli was identified among customers of Ohio grocery chain Dorothy Lane Market, which had bought beef from Coleman Natural Foods. The testing carried out by the company found no E. coli O157:H7 in products made since July 8.

"We will continue to investigate to see what is happening at the plant to see what they have to do to get a handle on their food-safety issues," said USDA spokeswoman Laura Reiser.