Public Health Advisory: Massachusetts Meat Packing Plant Issues Voluntary Recall of Ground Beef and Other Beef Products

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BOSTON — South Shore Meat Company in Brockton, Mass. has initiated a voluntary recall on certain ground beef and other beef products based on confirmed laboratory evidence of the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in leftover ground beef samples obtained from a nature camp in Plymouth, Mass. Suspect ground beef patties were collected and tested by the Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) after more than 20 school children and adults from Rhode Island, who had visited Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, Mass., the week of October 13th became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms. DPH is continuing to investigate the outbreak in cooperation with the Rhode Island Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is now laboratory evidence that the ground beef collected at the camp is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 confirmed in two of the children. No other camp attendees have reported any illnesses to date.

DPH is continuing to work with United States Department of Agriculture to identify all affected beef products that will need to be recalled. Additional information on recalled products will be posted at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp as it becomes available.

DPH is reminding the public to consume only fully cooked ground beef. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills the bacteria.

E. coli O157:H7 is a type of bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult their health care provider, local board of health, the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800 or the Food Protection Program at 617-983-6712.

This advisory will be updated as new information becomes available.

Resources on the Web

Fact Sheet on E.coli O157:H7 (PDF) | RTF

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