In part from Fairbank Farms and USDA Press Release:

Fairbank Farms (USDA Establishment 492), a New York manufacturer of ground beef, has issued a voluntary recall for a specified line of fresh ground beef products sold in eight states. Approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef product produced between September 14 through September 16, 2009, may possibly be linked to E. coli O157:H7.

An important point of fact, the recalled products are very specifically defined and are past their expiration date by 23 to 32 days. This means they are no longer being sold as fresh product in supermarkets. The products were sold in the following states: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

To identify recalled products, consumers should check the package label and look for the product name, package weight and sell-by date. All labels will show an establishment number of EST 492 inside the USDA mark of inspection. Recalled products include:

ACME, BJ’s Wholesale Club/Burris, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Price Chopper, Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc., Trader Joe’s, "Other products:" – See Lables

Cases of 10-lb. Fairbank Farms fresh ground beef chubs (for store grind). These products had a sell date of 10/3/09, 10/4/09 or 10/5/09, but will likely not bear those sell-by dates on their package labels. These products were distributed to retail establishments in Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia for further processing. Consumers with concerns should contact their point of purchase.

It appears that this recall is an expansion of the Crocetti-Oakdale Packing, doing business as South Shore Meats, Inc., recall of 1.039 pounds of E. coli tainted beef linked to illnesses in Massachusetts and likely Rhode Island. “This expansion is a massive recall, and the danger cannot be overstated,” said foodborne illness expert and attorney Bill Marler, who represents several families in the outbreak. “The last recall of this size—Nebraska Beef in August of 2008—sickened dozens. It means that tainted meat is in homes across the country, and we have to do our best to get the word out to consumers so that they don’t suffer the illnesses that these families have.”