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Current Events and Musings => Food and Product Recalls => Topic started by: 2NJSons_Mom on November 02, 2009, 12:35:25 PM



Title: CDC: Contaminated beef may be linked to 2 deaths - Fairbank Farms
Post by: 2NJSons_Mom on November 02, 2009, 12:35:25 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091102/ap_on_bi_ge/us_beef_recall/print
 
CDC: Contaminated beef may be linked to 2 deaths
By BEN DOBBIN, Associated Press Writer Ben Dobbin, Associated Press Writer 8 mins ago
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A federal health official says two deaths and 26 other illnesses may be linked to possibly contaminated ground beef recalled by a New York company.

Lola Scott Russell, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says one of the deaths involved a New York adult with several underlying health conditions. The other is a death previously reported by New Hampshire officials.

She says all but three of the suspected E. coli infections are in the northeastern U.S. and 18 are in New England. The CDC is investigating all the cases.

Ashville, N.Y.-based Fairbank Farms recalled almost 546,000 pounds of fresh ground beef that may be tainted with E. coli bacteria. The meat was distributed in September to stores from Virginia to Maine.

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Associated Press writer Jessica M. Pasko contributed to this report from Albany, N.Y.

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On the Net:

http://www.fairbankfarms.com/


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Title: Re: CDC: Contaminated beef may be linked to 2 deaths - Fairbank Farms
Post by: 2NJSons_Mom on November 02, 2009, 12:36:50 PM
http://www.fairbankfarms.com/

Welcome to Fairbank Farms
Consumer Hotline: 1-877-546-0122     Media Hotline: 1-866-460-8017
Product Label Reference:  Label File 1     Label File  2
For Additional Food Safety Questions: AskKaren.gov

Other Key References:
USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline: 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
USDA Press Release: Click here
 
     
     
  RECALL UPDATE:

Fairbank Farms offers to help consumers “check their freezers”

Ashville, NY, Nov. 2, 2009 — Fairbank Farms issued a voluntary recall for approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef on October 31. The product, which was produced between Sept. 14 through Sept. 16, 2009, is possibly linked to E.coli O157:H7.

While the recall was for distribution centers in eight states, Fairbank Farms has 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 (refer to the specifically labeled list below), 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.
 

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.
 

“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,” says Ron Allen, CEO of Fairbank Farms. “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.”
 

Have questions? Consumers should contact Fairbank Farms’ toll-free consumer hotline at 1-877-546-0122. The hotline will run daily 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. (To accommodate busy consumers, the hotline on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 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.

###
 

Click Here to View Original Press Release from October 31, 2009
 


Title: Re: CDC: Contaminated beef may be linked to 2 deaths - Fairbank Farms
Post by: Nut44x4 on November 02, 2009, 01:27:10 PM
Two deaths possible in ground beef recall
N.Y. company pulls over 546,000 pounds of meat contaminated with E. coli

updated 2 minutes ago
ASHVILLE, N.Y. - An outbreak of food-borne illness, linked to dangerous bacteria in ground beef, sickened 28 people and caused at least one death, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.

The CDC said a New York adult with underlying medical conditions had died and another possibly related death in New Hampshire was under investigation. State officials attribute the New Hampshire death to the O157:H7 E. coli bacteria.

All but three of the 28 cases listed by the CDC were in the U.S. Northeast and 18 were in the New England states. Sixteen hospitalizations were reported, said a CDC spokeswoman. The bacteria involved were from a common strain, so tests were under way to see if all of the reported cases were related.

Over the weekend, Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York, recalled 545,699 lbs. of ground beef products.

The Agriculture Department, which oversees meat safety, said an investigation led it to conclude "there is an association between the fresh ground beef products and illnesses in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts." USDA worked with state and federal officials in examining a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses.

A potentially deadly bacteria, E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

A string of food-borne safety scares led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation this summer to require more inspections and oversight of food manufacturers and would give the government new authority to order recalls.

New Hampshire officials announced the death on Saturday but did not release information about the victim. Two other New Hampshire residents have been hospitalized, they said.

The Fairbank Farms beef was produced in mid-September and probably was labeled for sale before the end of the month, said USDA. It went to retailers in eight states including Trader Joes, Price Chopper, Lancaster and Wild Harvest, Shaw's, a unit of Supervalu, BJ's, Ford Brothers and Giant, a unit of Ahold. The ground beef packaged under the Fairbank Farms name was distributed to stores in Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and was likely repackaged for sale.

The federal agency says each package of ground beef carried the number "EST. 492" on the label.

For a complete list of retailers, consumers can check the USDA Web site.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33585209/