NH E. coli Outbreak Linked to North Haverhill Farm

CONCORD, NH — Federal officials believe they have located the meat producer that is responsible for the recent Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli) outbreak in the Granite State, according to state officials.

Around 8,800 lbs. of raw ground beef produced by PT Farm, LLC, of North Haverhill between June 6 and June 16, 2016, are being recalled.

“There have now been 14 cases of illness associated with tainted ground beef in this outbreak investigation,” according to Nicola Whitley of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. “These individuals became ill between June 17 and July 16, 2016, after consuming ground beef at a number of different locations. Among the 14 cases, five hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.”

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The specific retail locations where the beef was distributed are expected to be posted in the coming days: fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/current-recalls-and-alerts.

The recall includes the following items:

• Various weights and various sizes of raw intact and raw non-intact “Chestnut Farms” beef products packed in cardboard boxes.
• Various weights and various sizes of raw intact and raw non-intact “PT Farm” beef products packed in cardboard boxes.
• Various weights and various sizes of raw intact and raw non-intact “Miles Smith Farm” beef products packed in cardboard boxes.

Various weights and various sizes of raw intact and raw non-intact “Robie Farm” beef products packed in cardboard boxes.

“We are grateful that the USDA quickly investigated this situation and took swift action to help us protect the health of the people who may have purchased this ground beef,” said Marcella Bobinsky, the acting director of Public Health at DHHS. “While the source of this outbreak has been identified, it is still important that consumers always avoid eating under-cooked ground beef whether at home or at a restaurant. E. coli can be a very serious illness especially for young children and people with compromised immune systems. We will continue to monitor for cases related to this recall.”

State officials are also reminding restaurants and consumers that some of the recalled ground beef may have been frozen so it would be important to check freezers for possible recalled beef.

Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider. For further information about E. coli visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/ecoli/, or to report a suspected case contact the DPHS Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496.

For more about the recall, visit usda.gov/recalls.