DENVER -- A Minnesota meatpacker is recalling 194,700 pounds of frozen ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria that sickened two people in Colorado, the Agriculture Department says.

E. COLI Frequently Asked Questions Prevention Signs And Symptoms What Parents Should Know PREPARING BEEF Ground beef patties should be cooked to 160 F. Use an accurate, digital, instant-read thermometer to be sure of the temperature. Color is not a reliable indicator of the cooking temperature. Questions? Call the USDA Meat and Poultry hotline at (800) 535-4555.

Howard Beef Processors of Pipestone, Minn., sold the meat bearing the establishment code, EST. 8934, under the name Ellison Farms to supermarkets and through door-to-door sales nationwide, officials at the department's Food Safety and Inspection Service said. The meat was processed sometime between May 30 and June 11.

“Coloradans should check for any of the recalled product that may be in their freezers. If it is found, the meat should be disposed of or returned to the place of purchase. It should not be eaten," warned Patti Klocker, from the Colorado Dept. of Health.

E. coli 0157:H7 can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration. It is fatal in some cases. Children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are the most vulnerable to getting sick from the bacteria.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact Diane Hamersma, company customer service representative, at (800) 582-5284.

Consumers with other food safety questions can phone the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (800) 535-4555. The hot line is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. central time Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

The Agriculture Department has published the lengthy list of the codes and other descriptions identifying the recalled products.