Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The Rhode Island Department of Health today advises that people who bought ground beef or ground beef patties from Whole Foods Market between June 2 and Aug. 6 should discard it and return the packaging or receipt to the store for a full refund.

The Health Department said this afternoon there has been a multi-state outbreak of E.coli infection -- with seven cases in Massachusetts.

All of the Massachusetts cases are unrelated "and initial investigations suggest beef from Whole Foods Market as the likely source of contamination," the Health Department said.

Dr. Robert S. Crausman, director of the Center for Epidemiology and Infectious Disease, said in the statement: "Although there have been no cases in Rhode Island that are linked to the outbreak, [the Health Department] advises that consumers should discard potentially tainted ground beef purchased from the Whole Foods Market."

The E. coli bacteria in question can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and in the most severe instances, kidney failure.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

 Tags  Department of Health Rhode Island

Comments

jane said:

So that's the 8 burgers for $8 special they've been running all summer - it's more disappointing from Whole Foods than from a regular market. If they're trying to live down the "Whole Paycheck" label that's not the way to do it.

Link | August 9, 2008 10:01 AM
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