November 2, 2009 Ground beef recalled over E. coli illnesses

ASHVILLE, N.Y. (AP) - A New York meat company has recalled almost 546,000 pounds of ground beef because, according to health officials, contaminated meat has caused illness and one death.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Saturday the meat sold by Ashville, N.Y.-based Fairbank Farms was linked to cases of E. coli-related illness in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. New Hampshire health officials say one person died and two others became ill.

The federal agency says the ground beef was sold at numerous retail stores. Each package carried the number "EST. 492" on the label.

In addition, 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.

On the Net: http://www.fairbankfarms.com/

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)