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E. Coli Outbreak Reported In New York

Topps hamburger patties may be infected

September 26, 2007

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More ground beef may be tainted with E. coli bacteria. New York agriculture officials have issued an alert, warning consumers not to eat certain Topps Brand ground beef.

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets says the suspect ground beef has already been made into hamburger patties in two sizes. One package contains 20 quarter-pounders and has a sell-by date of June 22, 2008. The other package contains 12 quarter-pounders with a sell-by date of July 23, 2008.

The product is identified as Topps 100% Ground Beef Hamburgers.

The agency says consumers who have purchased the recalled beef should return it to the place of purchase for a refund. There has been no report of how the beef became contaminated. The problem was reportedly discovered after a number of people in Albany and Rensselaer counties in New York got sick. At least three people have been hospitalized because of the bad beef, according to officials.

The Food and Drug Administration is also investigating, since the strain of E. coli matches the one causing E. coli outbreaks in other states. The FDA is trying to identify the source.

On September 3, 2007 officials in Washington and Oregon recalled 41,000 pounds of ground beef after at least eight people were sickened by the E. coli bacteria. In May 2007, a Michigan meat packer recalled 129,000 pounds of beef because it was contaminated with the E. coli bacteria. In June a California meatpacker was forced to recall 75,000 pounds of tainted beef.

E. coli can cause mild distress in healthy adults but can be fatal for the very young and very old. Symptoms include stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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