These 10 NH Farms Associated With Multi-State E. Coli Outbreak: USDA

The USDA has released a list of New Hampshire farms identified as having received beef from Adams Farm Slaughterhouse in Athol, MA. This is being done as part of the public health response to a recent E. coli:O157 outbreak that has sickened patients in several states, including the Granite State, officials said.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service encourages consumers and retailers who still have leftover beef, veal or bison products purchased from local farmers’ markets or directly from a farm in Massachusetts to check the USDA plant code number printed on the label to verify whether or not the product was processed by Adams’ Slaughterhouse #5497 and is included in this recall, health officials said in a news release. The products subject to recall would have lot numbers: 120361, 121061, 121761, 121861, 122161, 122261, 122361, 122461, 122861, 123061, 123161, 123261, 123561, 123661, 123861, 124561, 125261, 125861, 125961, 124261, 120461, 120961, 121161, 121661, 124461, 125061 and 126661.

As of Sunday, seven case-patients have been identified in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and West Virginia with illness onset dates ranging from June 27 to Sept. 4, 2016.
According to the recall announcement posted Sept. 24, the raw intact and non-intact beef products originated from animals slaughtered on July 15, 25 and 27, as well as Aug. 3, 8, 10, 11, 17, 24 and 26, and were further processed and packed on various dates between July 21 and Sept. 22.

The items were shipped to farmers' markets, retail locations and restaurants in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and eastern New York. FSIS said the products may have been shipped to neighboring states in the immediate area.

The New Hampshire farms include:

• Miner Family Farm, 82 Peaslee Road in Merrimack
• Marsh Meadow Bison, 16 Scales Road in Canterbury
• Our Place Farm, 290 Route 129 in Loudon
• Rocky Meadow Farms, 52 Carpenter Road in Chichester
• Lull Farm, 65 Broad St. in Hollis
• Short Creek Farm, 18 Windy High Road in Northwood
• Barrett Hill Farm, 450 Fitchburg Road in Mason
• Chickering Girls Veal, 8 Sunter Road in Westmoreland
• Lily Brook Farm, 31 Pat Rawson Drive in West Chesterfield
• Rocky Meadow Farm, 201 Udall Road in Francestown

Consumers who do not have access to the original packaging can contact the farm or retailer where they purchased the meat directly to ask whether or not their product is included in the recall. E. coli O157 infection can result in severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting and fever. Most people get better within five to seven days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.

Consumers are reminded to not eat raw or undercooked beef. Ground beef hamburgers and beef mixtures, such as meat loaf, should be cooked to 158 degrees F internally, measured with a food thermometer. If you have already consumed the recalled product and believe you may have developed symptoms of illness, you should contact your physician for follow-up, officials said.

Image by Peter Hellberg via Flickr

Story by Brian McCready and Mike Carraggi/Patch.com.