One Dozen Americans Hospitalized With E. Coli From Tainted Beef

At least 12 people have been hospitalized, including two who suffered kidney failure, after eating beef contaminated with E. coli bacteria, health officials say.

The outbreak, which began last month, has been blamed for sickening as many as 23 people in nine states who ate beef processed by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo. About 380,000 pounds of various beef products have been recalled after several illnesses were reported. The initial recall was expanded earlier this week to include more potentially tainted beef.

E. coli is a form of foodborne bacteria and a leading cause of food poisoning. The illness most often causes mild to moderate symptoms ranging from abdominal pain and cramping, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. In rare cases, the infection can spread to the stream and result in life-threatening complications. The elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to E. coli food poisoning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health officials report that most consumers who fell ill had eaten ground beef that may have been undercooked. The meat being recalled was processed by JBS Swift on April 21, officials said.

Cookie Dough Also Recalled

Recently, a massive recall of Nestle Toll House brands of refrigerated, prepackaged cookie dough was ordered after dozens of people became ill after eating raw dough. Health officials later confirmed that a sample of the dough collected from a Nestle manufacturing plant in Virginia had tested positive for a strain of E. coli bacteria. About 300,000 units of Toll House cookie dough, including tubes, tubes, and other containers, were involved in the recall.

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