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.
Experts say that multiple factors led to the heat stress that caused the cows to die.
The products were sold under the brand names Nature's Reserve, Weis, Thomas Farms, and Tajima beef patties.
The beef products produced by Interstate Meat Dist. Inc. were sold at Walmart, WinCo, Albertsons in several states, including California.
There are "hundreds of people in the Midwest who are sickened after eating cannibal sandwiches" each holiday season, the USDA said.
A New Jersey company is recalling nearly 43,000 pounds of raw ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli .