The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that some New Jerseyans may have purchased meat that was recalled after causing at least seven people to fall ill due to possible E. coli contamination.

A shipment of beef, veal and bison products from Adams Farm Slaughterhouse in Athol, Mass., was recalled Saturday afternoon. It was shipped to farmer's markets, restaurants and retail locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and eastern New York, and may have also been delivered to markets in neighboring states, including New Jersey, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The FDA says the raw beef products originated "from animals slaughtered on July 15, 25, and 27, 2016 and Aug. 3, 8, 10, 11, 17, 24 and 26, 2016, and further processed and packed on various dates between July 21, and Sept. 22, 2016." The recalled bison comes from animals slaughtered on Aug. 17.

The USDA's FSIS said in a statement that a link was found between beef from Adams Farm Slaughterhouse and a cluster of seven illnesses. Those who reported illnesses experiences symptoms that began between June 27 and Sept. 4, the USDA said.

"Traceback information was available for 5 case-patients and indicated that all 5 case-patients consumed beef products supplied by Adams Farms Slaughterhouse," the statement reads.

E. coli, the FDA said, is "a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps." While most people recover within a week, exposure to the bacterium could also cause kidney failure in some cases and serious illness is most common in children under 5 years old and older adults.

"FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers," the FDA said.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.

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