Albany County Death Related To Tainted Beef
Posted on Monday, 2 of November , 2009 at 6:42 pm
ASHVILLE—At least two people have died, including one in Albany County, as a result of contaminated ground beef.
On Saturday, Fairbank Farms of Ashville recalled approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may have been contaminated with E.coli. The potentially tainted meat was sold in numerous ways, from meatloaf and meatball mix to hamburger patties.
The recalled products are past their expiration date by 23 to 32 days. This means they are no longer being sold as fresh product in supermarkets. However, consumers are asked to check their freezers for the product.
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2009/10/31/ashville_e-coli/
Federal health officials said Monday that the outbreak has killed two people, one in AlbanyCounty and one in New Hampshire, hospitalized at least 16 others, and sickened at least 28 more.
Kidney failure can result in the most severe cases of E. coli. In less serious cases, the potentially deadly bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
The ground beef was distributed in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states and was sold by several popular chains, including ACME, BJ’s, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw’s and Trader Joe’s, the company says. Each package has the number “ET. 492″ on the label.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all but three of the 28 whose illness appear to be associated with the outbreak are from the Northeast with 18 from New England.
According to a CDC spokesman, the person who died in Albany had other unrelated health problems.
Fairbank Farms said the contaminated product was produced Sept. 14 through Sept. 16, 2009.
While the recall was for distribution centers in eight states, Fairbank Farms said Monday it had learned that some of its customers may have redistributed potentially affected ground beef into other states.
Fairbank Farms says that any customers from northeastern or mid-Atlantic states, who have identified recalled ground beef products should remove the product from their freezers and return it to their stores for full reimbursement. Retail outlets include: ACME, BJ’s, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw’s, and Trader Joe’s.
Other local grocers, not included on the list, may also be recalling ground beef products. For additional assurance, Fairbank Farms recommends that consumers check with their retailers at store level.
Consumers can contact Fairbank Farms’ toll-free consumer hotline at 1-877-546-0122. The hotline will run daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. (To accommodate busy consumers, the hotline on Monday, Nov. 2, will be on extended hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.) Anyone who has a medical concern should immediately contact a physician.
Have YOU Subscribed Yet? NCG needs your support to stay on the web. First time visitors are welcome at no charge. Thereafter, readers who wish to read additional articles or plan on returning at a later time will need to be an advertiser or have a paid subscription to the NCG Daily Digest in order to gain access. This policy will be strictly enforced and access will be denied to those who abuse it. To sign up, see the subscription ad and PayPal button to the right of this page or at www.northcountrygazette.org If you have questions, contact us at news@northcountrygazette.org
Special subscription rate through Nov. 11, 2009. See http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2009/10/11/changes_coming/
Category: Business, Consumers, Health, New York State
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Meneame -
- Digg
COPYRIGHT 2009 - NORTH COUNTRY GAZETTE All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of the publisher.
