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One Dead, Two Sickened
One person has died and at least two were sickened after eating ground beef in New Hampshire.
The meat may be contaminated by E. coli bacteria and had a “Sold By” date of September 19-28, according to the Associated Press.
It may be related to a recall underway in eight states for 546,000 pounds of ground beef sold by Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York.
"Fairbank Farms is committed to providing the most up-to-date information. The company and its customers are taking all precautions necessary to ensure consumer safety and welfare," Ron Allen, CEO of Fairbank Farms, said in a statement on its Web site.
"We're assisting our customers in conducting this recall, and continue to urge consumers to check their freezers for ground beef products that are listed in the recall. Consumers who identify these products should return them to the point of purchase for a full refund” reports ABC News.
Look For the package label with an establishment number of “EST 492” inside the U.S.D.A mark of inspection.
The products covered by the recall include beef sold under various labels including B.J’s Wholesale Club/Burris, Trader Joe’s, ACME, Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc., Price Chopper, Giant Food Stores and Ford Brothers. The products were distributed to eight states including Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Connecticut.
In addition, the meat may have been used to prepare other foods. Dr. Richard Besser of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, appearing on Good Morning America says that is what worries him.
You are advised to thrown any meat away with that marking and be sure to check your freezer. Additional information may come from Fairbank Farms toll free hotline at 877-546-0122 or visit their website www.fairbankfarm.com.
E. coli poisoning symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain and can lead to kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome and death.
In recent years a particularly virulent form of E. coli bacteria has contaminated spinach, beef, greens and even Toll House cookie dough.
E. coli comes from the gut of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but E. coli 0157:H7 secrets a powerful poison, verotoxin that binds to receptors in the kidney, brain and gut cells. Not everyone has the receptors so not everyone exposed becomes ill.
It is recommended you wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw meat and poultry and wash dishes, cutting boards, and utensils that come in contact with the meat or juices.
And meat should be cooked through as determined by using a meat thermometer.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is a public health agency operating within the U.S. Department of Agriculture which is responsible for the safety of the nation’s supply of meat, poultry and eggs. #