Yesterday a meat packing plant in Brockton, Massachusetts issued a ground beef recall after the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) confirmed a positive sample for E. coli O157:H7.
The DPH found the E. coli in samples taken from Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, Rhode Island during its investigation into the illnesses of 20 students and chaperones from Lincoln Middle School who all fell ill after a field trip to the camp in mid October.
Crocetti’s Oakdale Packing, Co., also known as South Shore Meats, Inc., is recalling 1,039 pounds of fresh ground beef patties in response to the finding.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday that the firm is recalling several products each bearing the establishment number EST. 6336 with a date code of 281.
The beef products were produced on October 8, 2009 and were distributed to wholesale distributors and other retail locations in Massachusetts.
The recall is considered Class I, meaning there is “a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
E. coli O157: H7 can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in very severe cases, kidney failure. The Rhode Island Department of Health is advising Rhode Islanders who experience these symptoms, especially anyone who was on the field trip to Camp Bournedale to contact their doctor for treatment.