Ground Beef E. Coli Recall Affects Pennsylvania

November 2009

Ground beef distributed in Pennsylvania may be linked to food poisoning that has led to illnesses and two deaths in several New England states. As a result, more than 540,000 pounds of ground beef sold by Fairbank Farms has been recalled.

Illnesses have been reported in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts; one death has been reported in New Hampshire; and another death has been reported in New York. Officials said that the victims ate meat that may have been contaminated with E. coli.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that the meat linked to the food poisoning was sold at retail stores, including Trader Joe's, Price Chopper, Lancaster, Wild Harvest, Shaw's, BJ's, Ford Brothers, and Giant. Each package has "EST. 492" inside the USDA inspection mark or on the nutrition label. In addition, ground beef packaged under the Fairbank Farms name was distributed to stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia for additional processing.