The list of retailers carrying the recalled Farm Rich products for E. coli O121 has expanded again. The foods are linked to a 15-state outbreak of E. coli O121 that has sickened at least 24 people. At least one of the patients has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that can lead to kidney failure. The list of stores, which includes the name, street address, city, and state, is 21 pages long.
You can see the complete list at the USDA web site. Please look at it carefully. If you purchased any Farm Rich products from those stores, return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If you ate any of the recalled products, and have experienced the symptoms of E. coli food poisoning, including watery and/or bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, and mild fever, please see your doctor immediately. Ask for an E. coli O121 stool test at your visit.
The recalled stores include Alco, Apple Market, Coborn’s, Food City, Kroger, Meijer, Price Chopper, Walmart, Sweetbay, Woodman’s Food Market, Supervalu, Hen House, IGA, Super Dollar Discount Foods, Cub Foods, Super One, Festival Foods, Hyvee, Cash Saver, Sun Fresh, Cash & Carry, Hornbacher’s, Econo Foods, and County Market, among others. The states where the recalled products were sold include Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Walmart sold the products nationwide.
This type of bacteria, also known as non-O157 STEC (Shiga-toxin E. coli), produces Shiga toxins, which are released into the bloodstream. Those toxins can destroy the kidneys and cause anemia, pancreatitis, seizures, stroke, and heart attack. Another complication of STEC bacteria is Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpua (TTP), which causes blood clots in blood vessels throughout the body. TTP is sometimes known as “adult-HUS” because it is more common in adults, while HUS is more common in children. To help prevent these complications, it’s crucial that anyone sickened in this outbreak get immediate medical care, although often HUS and TTP are inevitable.
