Two deaths linked to large ground beef recall

Two deaths have been linked to the recall of 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The beef was produced by Fairbank Farms in western New York, which recalled the meat on Saturday.

The meat was packaged between September 14 and 16 and may have been labeled with a sell-by date from Sept. 19 through Sept. 28. Because those dates have passed, the meat is no longer on store shelves but health officials fear it may still be in people's freezers. The meat was distributed to retailers in eight states -- Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia -- but Fairbank Farms said on its Web site that some of its customers may have redistributed ground beef to other states.  The stores receiving the meat include ACME, BJ's, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Trader Joe's, Lancaster and Wild Harvest. Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label.

The Associated Press reported that one of the deaths was an adult from Albany County, N.Y., who had several underlying health conditions, according to the New York State Health Department. The other fatality was reported by New Hampshire, where health officials said a patient died of complications.

For complete details on the recall including the weight and labels of the recalled packages of meat, read the recall notice from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Consumers can contact the Fairbank Farms’ toll-free hotline at 1-877-546-0122.

Comments

[Food Safety Certification]

The deaths you reported I dont find any thing in it which might have to do something with the beef, the farm recalled its meat, now its the store keepers responsibility to check the sell by dates.

[Harmon]

You might want to consider purchasing kosher beef. Although all beef is slaughtered to kosher standards, processing plants vary in their degree of safety and saecurity. Kosher beef is processed to more rigerous standards. Not to tout the campaign line of a leading hot dog manufacturer, kosher beef is processed to a higher standard.

[Sharon]

If you are reading this ....Good!

[Wendy]

Can you imagine all the meat we've eaten that was probably infected with E. Coli and never got sick or had a few symptoms? Makes you mad to know it can happen at any time. Meat companies need to be inspected more and better.

[Sharon Barnes]

Cows are the largest contributor to global warming, producing 40% of all greenhouse gases. Forget about your car, quit eating beef. In fact, quit eating fish, which cannot be killed humanely, chicken, which aren't even regulated as to how they're raised & killed, and pork. See "www.eatinganimals.com".

[T. Burnett]

"Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label."

(1) Was that the inspection which found the E. Coli? No? Why not?

(2) Cows are not my friends although I will have them over for dinner. Pecans are my friends. Stop eating them. Are you nuts?

[Jane]

STOP EATING OUR FRIENDS! IT IS THEIR WORLD TOO!

[CJ]

ALMOST WANTS TO MAKE YOU TURN INTO A VEGETARIAN...