Two deaths tied to meat processed in Chautauqua
Two deaths have been linked to ground beef sold by a Chautauqua County meat processor, and federal and state officials are continuing to investigate an apparent outbreak of E. coli contamination that has sickened at least 26 people across the Northeast.
Fairbank Farms of Ashville, about nine miles west of Jamestown, has recalled nearly half a million pounds of ground beef — most of which has likely been eaten already. Federal officials are investigating the link between the tainted meat and the deaths of one person in New York and another in New Hampshire.
The suspect beef was packaged Sept. 15 and 16 and, in most cases, carried sell-by dates between Sept. 19 and Sept. 28. It was sold under the Fairbank Farms brand and other brands at BJ's, ACME, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw's and Trader Joe's.
The recall is voluntary, as the federal government lacks the power to order a recall of beef that is, or is thought to be, tainted. But Fairbank is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their investigations.
"We're assisting our customers in conducting this recall," Ron Allen, CEO of Fairbank Farms, said in a statement issued by the company Monday, "and continue to urge customers to check their freezers for ground beef products that are listed in the recall."
Most retail packages that are the object of the recall will have the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. But some of the beef could have been repackaged since leaving Fairbank Farms' supply chain and have different labels and sell-by dates appended.
The suspect beef was distributed as hamburger patties, meatloaf mix and meatballs to stores in New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Consumers are advised to direct any questions to the store where they have bought any ground beef they may be concerned about and to return any still-packaged beef to the retailer for a full refund.
The Associated Press reports that Fairbank Farms products have been subjected to other recalls. In September 2007, 884 pounds of ground beef were recalled because they were suspected of carrying E. coli contamination. In May 2008, 22,481 pounds were recalled because they may have contained pieces of plastic.
E. coli poisoning can go practically unnoticed or cause severe illness between three and eight days after the tainted food is eaten. Symptoms include stomach cramps that may be severe and diarrhea that may turn bloody within one to three days. It can lead to complications, such as kidney failure, that are sometimes fatal.
More information is available from Fairbank Farms at (877) 546-0122 or online at www.fairbankfarms.com., and from the USDA at (888) 674-6854 or online at www.fsis.usda.gov.
News of the recall prompted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to issue a statement reiterating her support for tougher rules governing the processing and distribution of food products. She has introduced legislation that would, among other things, require more E. coli testing and allow government agencies to order recalls or other action that they now only have the power to suggest.
"This is a stark reminder that food is still going straight to our kitchens and grocery stores without being properly tested to ensure its safety," Gillibrand said in a statement issued by her Washington office.
Gillibrand cited CDC research that shows 87 million cases of food-related disease in the United States each year. Of that number, 371,000 require hospitalization and 5,700 end in death.
Advice from the USDA includes the need to wash hands, dishes, utensils and cutting boards thoroughly before and after handling raw meat or poultry, keep raw meat away from other foods that will not be cooked and eat ground beef only after it has been cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.
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