Some packages of organic ground beef sold at Whole Foods stores across the country may be contaminated with E. coli, federal officials have warned.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for a ground beef product sold at Whole Foods that may have been contaminated with E. coli. The public health alert issued by USDA Wednesday specified the beef in question came in one-pound vacuum-packed packages labeled "Organic Rancher Organic ground Beef" that is 85 percent lean and 15 percent fat.