New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today alerted consumers that Hamilton Corner Meat Market Inc., located at 1 Hamilton Place, New York, New York, is recalling all packages of in-store “ground beef” sold on November 15, 2010, due to the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

The recalled in-store “ground beef” was sold per order from the meat department and is uncoded. The product was sold at retail only from this store’s location at 1 Hamilton Place, New York, New York.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in samples of in-store “ground beef.” Sales of the “ground beef” have been suspended.