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For the third month in a row, federal authorities are warning the public of a massive booster of beef that puts consumers at risk for disease and has already rendered dozens of people sick.

Thursday, the United States Department of Agriculture has The Food Safety and Food Inspection Service announced that Arizona-based JBS Tolleson, Inc. was recalling about 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The contaminated beef distribution area includes several locations throughout the Midwest, although Indiana was not included in the initial list provided by FSIS. A complete list of products and their distribution areas can be found by clicking on this link.

Officials said the items had been wrapped at different dates between July 26, 2018 and September 7, 2018. The products, which bear the establishment number "EST. 267 "inside the USDA inspection mark, have been shipped to retailers and institutions across the country.

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On September 5, 2018, according to a press release, FSIS was informed of potential Salmonella diseases on September 5th.

"The first store receipt potentially linking the purchase of an FSIS-regulated product to a patient was received on September 19, 2018, and FSIS was then able to trace the ground beef products. ", says a statement from FSIS. "To date, eight patients have provided receipts or buyer card numbers, which allowed to investigate the products."

Traceback identified JBS as a joint supplier of ground beef products and it was determined that 57 people from 16 US states had become ill between August 5th and September 6th.

"FSIS will continue to work with public health partners and provide up-to-date information if available," officials said in a statement.

Officials said that eating Salmonella-contaminated food could cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial diseases.

Common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within 12 to 72 hours of consuming the contaminated product.

"The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, most people recover without treatment, but in some people diarrhea can be so severe that the patient has to be hospitalized," officials said in a statement. "Older adults, infants and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop serious illness, and people who are concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider."

Although larger in magnitude than in the past, this is the third consecutive month that large amounts of beef have been recalled due to a potential disease. On September 19, Cargill Meat Solutions recalled approximately 132,000 pounds of ground beef products made from the cow's chuck portion.

Officials said that the ground beef was produced and packaged on June 21, 2018, had effects on 12 different Cargill products, had sickened 17 people and resulted in the death of one of them. The products subject to the recall bear the establishment number 'EST. 86R "inside the USDA inspection mark.

On August 23, Cargill recalled more than 25,000 pounds of ground beef for a risk of E. coli contamination.

Call Justin L. Mack, journalist at IndyStar, at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack

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