Mass. lawsuits: 2 kids ill from E. coli meat

BOSTON—Lawsuits against two meat companies claim a Massachusetts girl and a Rhode Island boy were sickened by ground beef contaminated by E. coli bacteria.

The lawsuits filed Tuesday in Plymouth Superior Court say the children were hospitalized but are now recovering.

A lawsuit against Brockton-based South Shore Meats says 11-year-old Austin Richmond, of Lincoln, became ill Oct. 17 after he ate a hamburger at a Massachusetts youth camp.

The second lawsuit, against Ashville, N.Y-based Fairbank Farms, claims 12-year-old Andrea Munro, of Marshfield, became ill Sept. 28 after eating meat from that company.

Each company has recently recalled meat health officials linked to separate E. coli outbreaks.

A spokeswoman for Fairbank Farms declined comment Tuesday. South Shore Meats did not immediately return phone messages.