E. Coli food poisoning outbreak – Market Day and Farm Rich Products
The Food Poisoning Lawyers at the Law Firm are tracking one of the largest food poisoning outbreaks of the year.
On March 28, 2013, Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York, recalled nearly 200,000 pounds of frozen mini-meals and snack foods produced under the “Market Day” and “Farm Rich” product brands due to possible E. coli contamination. The recall was in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigation of an E. coli O121 outbreak, which consists of 27 known cases spread across 15 states thus far: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The food products of an infected patient in New York were tested and revealed that a sample of Farm Rich’s mini chicken quesadillas tested positive for the strain of E. coli that caused the outbreak. Eight of the patients from reported cases in Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia reported consuming Farm Rich’s products.
On April 4, 2013, Rich Products Corporation expanded its recall to include every product produced at its facility in Waycross, Georgia with “Best By” dates from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014. See the expanded list of recalled products here: http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm345768.htm#specific_products_are_being_recalled. The updated recall is in addition to products that were part of the original recall, produced by Rich Products between November 12, 2012 and November 19, 2012; those products were distributed nationwide and include:
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Farm Rich® Mini Quesadillas, packaged in 18 oz. bags
Product Code: 35635
Production Date: November 14, 2012; Julian Date: 15822319
UPC Code: 041322356352
“Best By” Date: May 14, 2014
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Farm Rich® Mini Pizza Slices, packaged in 22 oz. bags
Product Code: 35643
Production Date: November 15, 2012; Julian Date: 15822320
Production Date: November 16, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2321
UPC Code: 041322356437
“Best By” Date: May 15 or May 16, 2014
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The Farm Rich® Mini Pizza Slices, packaged in a 7.2 oz. carton
Product Code: 37690
Production Date: November 15, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2320
Production Date: November 16, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2321
UPC Code: 041322376909
“Best By” Date: May 15 or May 16, 2014
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Farm Rich® Philly Cheese Steaks, packaged in 21 oz. bags
Product Code: 35634
Production Date: November 13, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2318
UPC Code: 041322356345
“Best By” Date: May 13, 201
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Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites, packaged in 22 oz. bags
Product Code: 37443
Production Date: November 19, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2324
UPC Code: 041322374431
“Best By” Date: May 19, 2014
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Farm Rich® Mozzarella Bites, packaged in a 7 oz. carton
Product Code: 37691
Production Date: November 19, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2324.
UPC Code: 041322376916
“Best By” Date: May 19, 2014
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Market Day® Mozzarella Bites, packaged in a 22 oz. carton
Product Code: 80435
Production Date: November 12, 2012; Julian Date: 1582 2317
UPC Code: 041322804358
“Best By” Date: May 12, 2014
E. Coli food poisoning
The investigating authorities are encouraging consumers to search the food products in their home for the identified recalled items and, if found, to dispose of them. Consumers who discover that they have ingested any of the recalled products and are suffering from the symptoms associated with E. coli should contact their medical care provider immediately.
Symptoms of E. coli include stomach cramps, diarrhea (which can be bloody), high fever, and intense vomiting. Symptoms usually arise within three to four days after ingestion, but, in some cases, can arise within one day or up to ten days after exposure. The use of anti-diarrheal medicines or antibiotics to treat the initial symptoms of E. coli infection is discouraged, as their use may lead to a more serious condition.
