New York beef manufacturer Fairbanks Farms has issued a voluntary recall of a little more than half a million pounds of ground beef.

The recall, which affects states from Maine to North Carolina -- Maryland included -- comes after one person died in New Hampshire and people were sickened in other states after eating beef thought to be contaminated by the bacteria E.coli. 

The products, which include ground beef, meatloaf and meatball mix, carry sell-by dates from Sept. 19-28 and were sold under such brands as Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Fine Quality Meats, Giant Meatloaf & Meatball Mix and BJ's Lean Ground Beef, Contains 7% Fat. Here are some details from Fairbanks Farms. And here's a list of the products from the USDA.

But the extent of affected meat could be much broader, the USDA warns. The products were distributed to stores in Maryland, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia and the recall initially applied to just those states. But because chain stores often redistribute products, Fairbanks Farms has extended the recall to include all states throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. 

Also confusing matters, the affected meat may carry different labels and sell-by dates than are included in the USDA product list. So bottom line: check the meat in your freezer. If you're concerned, contact the store where the meat was purchased. Or, just toss it in the trash if you're really worried.