Officials said that half a million pounds of beef was voluntarily recalled this week because it was being suspected to be contaminated with bacteria linked to at least two deaths.

The recall was issued last week for 545,699 pounds of ground beef approximately between September 14 and September 16 after the meta was linked to E. Coli 0157: H7, said Fairbank Farms of Ashhville, New York.

The company said, "Any customers from northeastern or mid-Atlantic states who have identified recalled ground beef products should remove the product from their freezers and return it to their stores for full reimbursement."

A death was confirmed in New York by Lola Russell, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed a death in New York and another death was reported by Chris Nielsen, a spokeswoman for New Hampshire's State Department of Health and Human Services.

The problem was detected during an investigation of a cluster of E. coli 0157: H7 illnesses in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts, said that U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The company ordered the recall from eight of its distribution centers but it said that some retailers might have sent the affected beef to other states.

This bacterium can lead to dehydration, bloody diarrhea and kidney failure.

It was reported that other grocers may also be recalling the products because they are already 23 days past their expiration date which means that they are not being sold as fresh.