WASHINGTON — Washingtonians who shop at whole foods may want to take a peek in their freezer, following a warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA put out the public health alert Wednesday due to concerns that the beef could contain hard plastic. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

The beef was produced April 20. The following products are subject to the health alert:

The products have the establishment number "Est. 4027" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were shipped to Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered amid complaints from consumers reporting they found hard, rigid plastic in the ground beef, and the Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified of the issue.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness or adverse reactions due to consumption of the products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider, federal officials said.

The inspection service is concerned the products may still be in people's refrigerators or freezers.

"Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them," the service said in an announcement on its website. "These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."

Those with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or email MPHotline@usda.gov.

To report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System is available 24 hours a day at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF.