Source:  Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 6/17/11

One of the eight children infected with an unnamed strain of E. coli in northern France has now been listed in serious condition after the four-year-old’s condition worsened overnight. The eight children – ages 20 months to eight years – were admitted to the hospital after eating beef burgers frozen from the privately owned German discount chain Lidl.

French health officials told Le Monde that the bacteria is not related to the O104:H4 strain found in vegetables around northern Germany that killed more than three dozen people.

Symptoms began appearing in the children between June 6 and June 10. Seven of the children have been treated for the kidney disease hemolytic uremic syndrome since then, and four were anemic enough to require blood transfusions.

Meanwhile, Lidl has pulled about 10 tons of frozen beef patties from supermarket shelves. The beef carcasses are sourced in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands but are processed in France by SEB, the company that distributes branded “Steak Country” beef patties to supermarkets.

Reuters has reported that SEB Chief Executive Officer Guy Lamorlette indicated that results of analyses on the source of infections would be found “within days.”

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