Tainted meat death toll rises to 12

The death toll from tainted meat linked to a Sara Lee Corp. subsidiary's processing plant has risen to 12.

The outbreak of a rare strain of listeria bacteria has sickened at least 79 people in 17 states since August, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. In addition to the 12 deaths, three women have had miscarriages, the agency said.

Chicago-based Sara Lee recalled hot dogs and deli meats produced at its Bil Mar plant in Zeeland, Mich., after the CDC found listeria contamination in unopened packages of the products.

The recalled products bear identification numbers of EST P-261, for poultry, or 6911, for other meats. Affected brand names include Ball Park, Bil Mar, Sara Lee Deli Meat and Sara Lee Home Roast.

The states reporting listeria infections are Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.