E. coli worries prompt ground beef recall

updated 6:44 p.m. ET Jan. 13, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota meatpacker has recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef patties and some other products because of E. coli bacteria concerns.

Rochester Meat Co. of Rochester issued the recall after five illnesses were reported in Wisconsin and one in California, the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a statement Saturday.

The meat may be contaminated with a strain of bacteria — E. coli O157:H7 — that's potentially deadly and can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. The very young, senior citizens and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

The affected beef was produced Oct. 30 and Nov. 6. It was shipped to distributors nationwide for use in restaurants and food service institutions. It was not sold by retailers, the USDA service said.

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