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Over half a million pounds of beef was recalled last week after an outbreak of E. coli sickened 26 people and left two dead. At least 11 states have been affected so far. The bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure.
Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York, said the recall was issued Saturday for approximately 545,699 pounds of ground beef produced between September 14 and September 16 after the meat was "possibly linked" to E. coli O157:H7.
Several state health departments, CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli .
Health officials in several states who were investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, found that most ill persons had consumed ground beef, with several purchasing the same or similar product from a common retail chain. At least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these recalls.
The cluster includes 26 persons from 11 states infected with matching strains of E. coli O157:H7. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Connecticut (4), Massachusetts (8), Maryland (1), Maine (2), Minnesota (1), New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Vermont (1).
Sixteen patients are reported to have been hospitalized and 3 developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Two deaths have been reported. Sixty-five percent of patients are male and 42% are less than 18 years old (range 1 to 84 years).
Retail outlets include: ACME, BJ's, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Trader Joe's. The products affected are listed on the USDA Web site.
Most of the beef packages in the recall bear the establishment number "Est. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection and have identifying package dates of "091409", "091509" or "091609". Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for beef products produced by this firm and purchased on or after September 15, 2009 and discard or return the recalled beef products to the place of purchase for a refund. Customers with questions about the source of a package of beef should contact the place where they purchased it (e.g., grocery store, club store, or meat market).
More information on the recalled products can be found at:
New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E.coli 0157:H7 Contamination
Sources: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; money.cnn.com
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