Portland supermarket chain New Seasons issued a recall notice Saturday for ground beef purchased at its stores last month, warning it may be contaminated with E. coli. The Oregon Health Authority has linked the contamination has been linked to three illnesses in Oregon.

The recall applies to bulk ground beef and other products made from ground beef, including meatballs, meatloaf and hamburger patties. The potentially contaminated beef was labeled with “Packed On” dates from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23, and “Sell By” dates from Oct. 23 through Oct. 26.

Those dates have long passed, but some people may still have the affected beef in their freezers. New Seasons asks customers who purchased the affected beef to dispose of it and to contact one of its stores for a refund.

The Oregon Health Authority identified the outbreak through laboratory tests that found an identical strain of E. coli present in all three illnesses linked to beef purchased at three different New Seasons stores.

Health authority spokesman Jonathan Modie said the state is aware of the three illnesses but said there could be more than haven’t been reported to public health authorities. He said the three who got sick are now recovering.

E. coli bacteria causes diarrhea and bloody stools. New Seasons said most adults recover in a week, but some people – particularly the young or elderly – can develop kidney failure that can damage the organ and sometimes results in death.

-- Mike Rogoway | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699