The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced 368 pounds of ground beef have been recalled from Whole Foods Market locations in New England, due to E.coli fears.

The recall affects meat products sold through the store locations in South Weymouth, Massachusetts and Newton, Massachusetts, and was initiated after the FSIS was notified of an investigation of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses on June 25, according to an FSIS news release.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FSIS determined a link between ground beef purchased at Whole Foods Market and the particular this illness cluster.

The government and Whole Foods company are concerned that some infected products may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

Three case-patients in the state have been identified with illness onset dates ranging from June 13, 2014 to June 25, 2014.

Additional laboratory results providing the proof necessary to go forward with a recall wasn't obtained until Aug. 13.

The investigation indicated that all three of the infected patients consumed ground beef purchased from the two Whole Foods Markets in question prior to the onset of their illnesses.

E. coli O157:H7, explains the FSIS, is "a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately."

The FSIS news release included the following two lists of recalled beef products, the first covering 125 pounds of beef products produced on June 8, 2014 at the Newton, Massachusetts location:

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT" with SKU 90013

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT FAMILY PACK" with SKU 90247

"BEEF SIRLOIN Patty 93% LEAN / 7% Fat" with SKU 90088

"BEEF GROUND 93% LEAN / 7% FAT" with SKU 90035

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT patty FAMILY PACK" with SKU 52179

"BEEF GROUND 85% LEAN 15% FAT" with SKU 90004

"BEEF GROUND 85% LEAN 15% FAT FAMILY PACK" with SKU 90037

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 96363

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value Pack" with SKU 52162

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 95997

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value pack" with SKU 52190

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 GRASS FED" with SKU 95195

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 PATTIES GRASS FED" with SKU 95196

"BEEF BURGER GRASS FED GOURMET FEATURED" with SKU 52871

An additional 170 lbs. of the following ground beef products produced on June 10, 2014 at the Newton, Massachusetts location are subject to recall:

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT" with SKU 90013

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT FAMILY PACK" with SKU 90247

"BEEF SIRLOIN Patty 93% LEAN / 7% Fat" with SKU 90088

"BEEF GROUND 93% LEAN / 7% FAT" with SKU 90035

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT patty FAMILY PACK" with SKU 52179

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93/7 PATTIES NE" with SKU 90199

"BEEF GROUNDSIRLOIN 93/7 NE" with SKU 95051

"BEEF GROUND 85% LEAN 15% FAT" with SKU 90004

"BEEF GROUND 85% LEAN 15% FAT FAMILY PACK" with SKU 90037

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 96363

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value Pack" with SKU 52162

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 95997

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value pack" with SKU 52190

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 GRASS FED" with SKU 95195

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 PATTIES GRASS FED" with SKU 95196

"BEEF BURGER GRASS FED GOURMET FEATURED" with SKU 52871

In addition, 73 lbs. of the following ground beef products produced on June 21, 2014 at the South Weymouth, Mass. location are subject to recall:

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 96363

"BEEF GROUND PATTY 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value Pack" with SKU 52162

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED" with SKU 95997

"BEEF GROUND 90% LEAN GRASS FED, Value pack" with SKU 52190

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 GRASS FED" with SKU 95195

"BEEF GROUND 85 15 PATTIES GRASS FED" with SKU 95196

"BEEF BURGER GRASS FED GOURMET FEATURED" with SKU 52871

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% Lean 7% fat" with SKU 90013

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT FAMILY PACK" with SKU 90247

"BEEF SIRLOIN Patty 93% LEAN / 7% Fat" with SKU 90088

"BEEF GROUND 93% LEAN / 7% FAT" with SKU 90035

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93% LEAN 7% FAT patty FAMILY PACK" with SKU 52179

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93/7 PATTIES NE" with SKU 90199

"BEEF GROUND SIRLOIN 93/7 NE" with SKU 95051