Michigan, Ohio E. coli illnesses linked to ground beef

The Ohio and Michigan health departments are investigating more than two dozen illnesses linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, and Michigan has issued a public health alert "due to the illnesses from E. coli associated with ground beef."

Ohio departments of Health and Agriculture said test results released today confirmed that a raw ground beef sample provided by an Ohio E. coli O157:H7 case is linked by genetic fingerprinting to the multistate outbreak in Ohio and Michigan. The agencies said 19 Ohioans have been sickened in recent weeks.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said it has confirmed 15 E. coli cases that are genetically linked, and 10 of those cases are hospitalized. More than half of the Michigan patients reported purchasing and consuming ground beef from Kroger Food Stores. Product traceback is in progress, and additional retailers and outlets may be identified, the agency said.

"Kroger is fully cooperating with state and federal investigators," said Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto in a statement. Kroger did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

And the recall Notice:

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2008 – The Kroger Co., a Cincinnati, Ohio, retailer is recalling an undetermined amount of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The products subject to recall include all varieties and weights of ground beef products bearing a Kroger label sold between May 21 and June 8 at Michigan and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio Kroger retail establishments. These ground beef products also include a sell-by date between "05/21/08" and "06/08/08."

These products were distributed to Kroger stores in Michigan and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio. FSIS has confirmed that none of the affected products remain available for purchase at stores; however consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard or return the ground beef products for a refund.

This recall was initiated after epidemiological investigations and a case control study conducted by the Michigan and Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that there is an association between the ground beef products and 32 illnesses reported in Michigan (15) and Ohio (17). The illnesses were linked through the epidemiological investigation by their pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern, or DNA fingerprint, found in PulseNet, a database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a medical professional.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the Kroger Consumer Hotline at (800) 632-6900. Media with questions about the recall should contact company Director of Corporate Affairs Meghan Glynn at (513) 762-1304.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded