New England E. coli Outbreak Spreads

WASHIGTONFood Safety News is reporting that an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Massachusetts associated with this weeks recall of 1,039 pounds of fresh ground beef patties is growing and now includes cases in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

To date, more than 30 school children and adults from Rhode Island have been sickened by E. coli, and five have been hospitalized after consuming contaminated meat during a field trip earlier this month.

On Oct. 27, Crocetti's Oakdale Packing Co., doing business as South Shore Meats, Inc., Brockton, Mass., recalled fresh ground beef patties derived from bench trim as well as mechanically tenderized beef cuts that may be contaminated with E. coli.