Over half a million pounds of beef was recalled last week after an outbreak of E. coli sickened 26 people and left two dead. At least 11 states have been affected so far. The bacterium can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure.

Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York, said the recall was issued Saturday for approximately 545,699 pounds of ground beef produced between September 14 and September 16 after the meat was "possibly linked" to E. coli O157:H7.

Several state health departments, CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli .

Health officials in several states who were investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, found that most ill persons had consumed ground beef, with several purchasing the same or similar product from a common retail chain.  At least some of the illnesses appear to be associated with products subject to these recalls.