E. coli hospitalizes four children in East Tennessee

The Associated Press  reported that four children in East Tennessee have been hospitalized in recent days for symptoms of food-borne E. coli bacteria. Jim McDonald, father of an ill 4-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl, told reporters he suspected his children became sick from eating tainted frozen hamburger patties that his family grilled on September 29th. He said the burgers were made by Cargill and purchased September 17th at a Sam’s Club in Knoxville. Minneapolis-based Cargill has voluntarily recalled more than 840,000 pounds of patties sold by Sam’s Club stores nationwide over concerns about E. coli infection. Tennessee health officials, however, have yet to make that connection to any sick children in Knox County. Three children remained hospitalized today while the fourth was discharged and is recovering.