Two residents of Massachusetts fell ill after consuming ground beef reportedly contaminated with E. coli.
The meat from PT Farm has since been recalled by the New Hampshire-based company. Both fell ill when they had the meat while visiting the northeastern US state.
According to the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services, there are 14 other cases related to the meat consumption processed by the same company.
E. coli bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fever and stomach cramps.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service swiftly took action to avoid further cases, announcing the recall of 8,800 pounds of ground beef on Tuesday.
"PT Farm, LLC, a North Haverhill, N.H. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,800 pounds of raw beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7," a news release by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) read.
The company urged consumers to check their freezers for the products and either discard or return them to the place of purchase.
"FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume beef products that have been cooked to a temperature of 145° F for roasts with a three minute rest time and 160° F for ground meat."
The department further noted that the only way to confirm that beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.