A recall of ground beef linked to as many as 9 E. coli O157:NM (non-motile) illnesses in Michigan grew significantly Thursday, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announcing that the implicated meat processing company was calling back some 2,200 pounds of ground beef.

The initial recall by McNees Meats and Wholesale , LLC, was for 360 pounds of ground beef sold in 10-pound bags. Michigan health officials have said there are five confirmed cases and four probable cases of E. coli infection traced to McNees Meats ground beef.

E.coli O157:NM differs from E. coli O157:H7 in that it lacks the flagellar H antigen, making it non-motile (NM), the FSIS explained in a news release issued late in the day.

The FSIS said the ground beef now being recalled includes:

• 1 and 10 lb. clear packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”

• 1 to 1.5 lb., approximate weight, clear plastic bags of “McNees Ground beef patties.”

• 1 lb. packages of “McNees Ground Round.”

• 1 and 2 lb, packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk” sold in red and white plastic bags.

Each clear plastic bag and retail package is labeled with the establishment number “EST. 33971” within the USDA mark of inspection. The recalled ground beef was produced on July 7, July 15, July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4, 2011, and sold to retail stores and restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, MI. The ground beef was also sold directly to consumers from a retail site owned by McNees.

The FSIS said there is an epidemiologic link between the ground beef McNees produced on July 15 and July 21 and the illnesses in Michigan.  It said McNees is recalling beef produced on additional dates “out of an abundance of caution.”  The FSIS said the outbreak investigation is continuing.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company’s main contact, Melanie McNees, at 810-688-2408.