Twenty four people infected with the outbreak strain of
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121
have been reported from 15 states.
78
percent are 21 years of age or younger.
- 33
percent have been hospitalized. One person developed hemolytic uremic
syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and state public health officials are interviewing those infected to obtain
information about foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week
before illness.
The information available indicates that eating
Farm Rich brand frozen food products is one likely source of infection for the
ill people in this outbreak, the CDC said.
Testing conducted by the New York State
Department of Health identified the outbreak strain of STEC O121 in an open
package of Farm Rich brand frozen chicken quesadillas from an ill person’s
home.
On March 28, Rich
Products Corporation recalled about 196,000 pounds of Farm Rich brand frozen
chicken quesadillas and several other frozen mini meals and snack items because
they might be contaminated with E. coli
O121. The recall is nationwide.
Consumers should check their freezers for recalled Farm Rich brand frozen food
products. They shouldn’t eat the
recalled frozen food products and should dispose of any remaining products, the
CDC advises.
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the
company's consumer line at 888-220-5955 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday
through Friday or visit the company website at www.farmrich.com.
Farm Rich said on its website it will provide consumers with
a refund or replacement.
The 24 infected people live in these states. Alabama,
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and
Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also currently
conducting investigations to determine the source of infections in this
outbreak.
