The I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 23 people in 9 states. Seven of those patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). And ten of those patients have been hospitalized because they have been so seriously ill. We decided to compile a list of grocery store chains that carried these products and have issued recalls of their own because the FDA does not do this. Please note that this retail distribution list should not be considered complete. Small stores and some independent retailers may have sold these products as well. It is also worth noting that these products were available for purchase online. The states where the patients in this outbreak live are Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, New Jerwey, Oregon, Washington, … [Read more...]
I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Grows
As expected, the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to the SoyNut Butter Company's I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products has grown. The CDC has just released an update on their investigation into this outbreak. Now, 23 people in 9 states are ill with the outbreak strain of E. coli. That's an increase of seven patients since the initial outbreak report on March 13, 2017. Ten of those sickened have been hospitalized. And seven people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported. Twenty, or 87%, of the ill persons in this outbreak are under the age of 18. No new states are included in the update. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (4), California (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), Oregon (6), Virginia (2), … [Read more...]
Lawsuit Filed in E. coli O157:H7 I.M. Healthy SoyNut Outbreak
A lawsuit has been filed in the E.coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products. All I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products and I.M. Healthy granola have been recalled as a result of this outbreak. Class action lawsuits are usually not appropriate in these cases, since every case is unique. In the investigation, the Oregon Health Authority found E. coli bacteria in an opened sample of an I.M. Healthy product taken from a home where two brothers were sickened. Epidemiologic evidence collected by the CDC also links the products to the illnesses. In the latest CDC update, fifteen of fifteen people interviewed about their illnesses said they ate I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter at home, at a facility that served it, or at a childcare center that served it the week … [Read more...]
Seven People Now Have E. coli at Montessori of Alameda in Oregon
According to the Multnomah County Health Department, seven people have now been sickened by E. coli bacteria at Montessori of Alameda preschool in Portland, Oregon. Six of the patients are children and one is an adult. All of the cases have occurred in one classroom. Four of the seven patients have lab confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections. Two of the cases genetically match the E. coli O157:H7 strain from the national, multi-state I. M. Healthy SoyNut Butter outbreak. Three patients have Shiga toxin-producting E. coli infections, but those infections have not been subtype. The Multnomah County Health Department has been investigating this outbreak since March 7, 2017. The CDC's page on this investigation into this outbreak has not been updated since March 13, 2017. The national … [Read more...]
Montessori of Alameda E. coli Linked to SoyNut Butter Company Product
Julie Sullivan-Springhetti, Communications Director for Multnomah County Health Department , told Food Poisoning Bulletin in an email that an E. coli outbreak at Montessori of Alameda preschool has sickened six people. Five of those patients are children and one is an adult. In a press release issued yesterday, a Multnomah county press release stated that two of those patients are sick with the I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 strain. Those patients are not included in the CDC's outbreak investigation page as of March 15, 2017. All six patients in the Montessori of Alameda outbreak have E. coli infections and four have E. coli O157:H7 infections. Officials are waiting on lab tests to confirm the type of E. coli and the H antigen in the remaining two cases. One child was … [Read more...]
Two of Six Sick at OR Preschool Match I.M. Healthy E. coli
Two of the six people sickened at Montessori of Alameda preschool in Portland, Oregon have infections from E. coli O157:H7 that match the outbreak strain that has sickened at least 16 people in the national I.M. Healthy SoyNut outbreak. Four of the six are ill with E. coli O157:H7. Two other people have shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections, which can cause serious illness and kidney failure. Shiga toxins are made by this bacteria. They bind to the intestinal wall and invade the bloodstream, killing red blood cells. Further test results are pending. The health department has been investigating a diarrheal illness at the school since March 7, 2017. Dr. Jennifer Vines, Multnomah County Deputy Health Officer said in a statement "We are working closely with … [Read more...]
Nut Butter Food Poisoning Outbreak Roundup
The E. coli O157:H7 - HUS outbreak linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products is, unfortunately, nothing new. There is a long string of multistate food poisoning outbreaks linked to different types of nut butters in this country that goes back years. In the current outbreak, sixteen people in nine states are sickened. Eight people have been hospitalized, and five have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection that can cause kidney failure. This type of ready-t0-eat product seems innocent. After all, it doesn't contain leafy greens, raw milk, or raw meat, three of the foods most commonly associated with pathogenic bacteria. Everyone has a jar of peanut butter or nut butter in their pantry. And everyone from kids to … [Read more...]
Oregon Health Authority Finds E. coli in I.M. Healthy Products
The Oregon Health Authority has found E. coli O157 in a sample of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products taken from the home of two Oregon siblings. Both of the patients, both under the age of 18, were sickened in the outbreak linked to those products. The press release states, "Oregon confirms two E. coli O157 cases linked to national outbreak caused by I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, Granola." Oregon is one of nine states where patients in this outbreak live. The others are Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The CDC has linked I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter and I.M. Healthy Granola coated with SoyNut Butter to this outbreak. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for the Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section at the OHA Public … [Read more...]
CDC Updates I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
The CDC has updated their investigation into the I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Now, sixteen people in nine states are sick in this outbreak, an increase of four patients and four states since the original CDC post just four days ago. Two more people have been hospitalized, and one more person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). That means eight people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, for a 50% hospitalization rate. The HUS rate in this outbreak is also high, at 31%. In a typical Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak, only 5 to 10% of patients develop this complication. The outbreak case count by state is: Arizona (4), California (4), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), Oregon (2), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (1). … [Read more...]
All I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butters and Healthy Granola Recalled
The SoyNut Butter Company of Illinois is recalling all varieties of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butters and all varieties of I.M. Healthy granola products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. A multistate outbreak linked to those products has sickened at least 12 people, most of them children. These products were distributed in multiple states and may have been purchased in retail stores or through mail order. They were also distributed to childcare centers and schools. All Best Buy dates of all varieties are being recalled. I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter is available in 15 ounce plastic jars, individual portion cups, 4 pound plastic tubs, or 45 pound pails. SoyNut Butter is available in Original Creamy, Chunky, Honey Creamy, Unsweetened and Chocolate. The granola … [Read more...]
