Health officials continue to investigate two Cleveland eateries for possibly serving burgers tainted with E. coli bacteria.

Matt Carroll, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health, said that officials from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service have recently inspected the VFW Hall in North Olmsted and Deekers Side Tracks in Mentor.

Three Cuyahoga County residents who contracted E. coli in April had eaten at the two places.  Testing showed that all were sickened by an identical genetic strain of E. coli – a strong indication that they had consumed the same contaminated food.

Health officials removed hamburgers from the two establishments.  Valley Meats of Coal Valley, Ill. has now recalled  50 tons of hamburger and ground beef. 

Health officials have now determined that the same genetic strain of E. coli sickened 7-year-old Abigail “Abby” Fenstermaker.  Abby died May 17  from complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome. 

Abby attended 2nd grade at Westpark Community Cleveland Elementary School.  She was an avid artist who also loved to play cards with her family and friends.  She was an only child.  She is survived by her parents, Brian and Nikki Fenstermaker.

Our prayers go out to the Fenstermaker Family.

A fundraiser is being held on Abby’s behalf this Friday, May 29th, from 7-11 p.m. at the Clevelander, located at 824 Huron in Cleveland near Jacobs Field.   For more information, click here:  http://abby.mrwdynamic.com/