OMAHA, Neb. -- A single confirmed E. coli illness last month prompted the recall of about 5,920 pounds of ground beef and buffalo products distributed in Nebraska and Colorado.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said a Hastings company initiated the recall after tests done by state and federal health officials confirmed a link between the illness and a frozen burger patty.

The illness was reported to health officials in late June when an Adams County resident was hospitalized, said Kathie Osterman, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. The investigation eventually linked the person's illness with meat produced by Custom Pack Inc.

Osterman said the person recovered.

No cases of E. coli have been reported in Colorado that are associated with the recalled product.

Custom Pack Inc. produced the ground beef products between June 1 and June 13, and distributed them to restaurants and institutions in Nebraska, according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service. The ground buffalo patties -- actually from American bison -- were produced June 7 and sent to restaurants and institutions in Colorado.

None of the meat was sold to grocery stores.

In Colorado, the only recalled products are the 12-pound boxes of ground buffalo patties distributed by King Canyon Buffalo, whose name is indicated on the label.

Custom Pack president David Dirks said in a statement that he regrets any problems the contaminated meat may have caused.

"We take every precautionary and preventive step to meet the highest standards for the product we produce and distribute," Dirks said.

Custom Pack is a small, family-owned business that has operated in Hastings since 1947, Dirks said.

Customers who bought the products affected by the voluntary recall should return them to the place of purchase, the USDA said.

Federal officials inspect the Custom Pack plant continuously because it slaughters animals there, but USDA spokeswoman Amanda Eamich said Thursday that she couldn't say whether those inspections found any problems.

E. coli live in the intestines of cattle and other animals and typically are linked to contamination by fecal material. One particular strain -- E. coli O157:H7 -- is believed responsible for about 60 deaths and 73,000 infections a year in the United States. It can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration.

The very young, the old and people with compromised immune systems are the most at risk.

The recall includes 6-pound to 25-pound boxes of beef patties, ground buffalo patties and char patties. Each package bears the establishment number "Est. 5650" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a June package date.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Custom Pack, Inc., President David B. Dirks at 402-462-2532 or Chris Nerud, owner of King Canyon Buffalo at 303-944-9387.

Additional Resource:

U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service