AUGUSTA – Maine officials are reminding consumers to check their freezers for recalled ground beef after four people were hospitalized for E. coli poisoning.

Last month, Fairbank Farms of Ashville, N.Y., recalled almost 546,000 pounds of ground beef distributed in September to stores from North Carolina to Maine.

Federal officials said 28 people have become ill and two have died from the possible E. coli outbreak.

Officials say four people in Maine were found to have a matching strain of E. coli. They were all hospitalized and one remains in the hospital.

The beef was sold at Shaw’s and BJ’s stores in Maine. Officials say two people purchased the recalled ground beef.