Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:34:3
Melvin Baker - AHN Reporter
Ashville, NY (AHN) - Nearly half a million pounds of fresh ground beef is being recalled because of possible bacterial contamination.
Fairbank Farms, located in this community, issued the recall over the weekend for 545,699 pounds of ground beef sold primarily in northeastern or mid-Atlantic states. The beef may be tainted with E. coli.
The beef was produced between Sept. 14 and Sept. 16. Retailers may have given the meat sell-by dates between Sept. 19 to Sept. 28. The recalled products are more than three weeks past their expiration date.
Each package is printed with "EST 492" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection on the label.
The products were sold in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In a release, the USDA said the agency became aware of the contamination while investigating a cluster of E. coli illnesses.
Some 26 illnesses and two deaths have reportedly been linked to the tainted meat.
A list of affected products can be found on the USDA web site.
Questions can be addressed to a toll-free hotline established by Fairbank Farms at 877-546-0122. The telephone number runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
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