Between December, 1995, and March, 1996, 28 children with hemolytic uremic syndrome were identified in Bavaria, Germany. Laboratory studies identified a sorbitol-fermenting E. coli O157:H-, phage type 88, in many of the stool samples taken from the children. A case-control study showed a relationship between eating sausage and illness, in particular mortadella and teewurst sausages were implicated. Teewurst is made from either raw pork, or raw beef, and bacon before undergoing smoking. Mortadella is usually made with finely ground, heat-cured pork and small cubes of pork with other seasonings added.