Four children, in Georgia, developed E. coli O157:H7 as a result of eating hamburger patties. Three of the children became ill in June after eating hamburger that had been purchased at a Kroger grocery store. This ground beef originated from Excel Corporation, a meat processor and a Cargill subsidiary, and prompted a recall of the beef. In December, a boy in Norcross, Georgia, was infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. The hamburger that he had eaten was purchased at Sam's Club and originated from Excel Corporation. A genetically indistinguishable strain of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from the hamburger collected from the boy's home.