E. coli Outbreak Prompts Recall of 10 Million Lbs. of Frozen Meals, Snacks

WASHINGTONRich Products Corp., based in Buffalo, N.Y., expanded its recall of various heat-treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items to more than 10.5 million pounds because they may be contaminated with E. coli O121, USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced April 4. The companys products have been implicated in a E. coli outbreak that has sickened 27 people in 15 states. Eight people have been hospitalized and two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) have been reported.

On March 28, the company issued a recall of 196,222 pounds of frozen chicken quesadilla and various other heat treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items produced between Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, 2012, and distributed to retailers and foodservice establishments nationwide. This latest recall involves all Farm Rich, Market Day and Schwans brand frozen food products produced at its Waycross, Ga., plant between July 1, 2011, and March 29, 2013, with "best by" dates ranging from Jan. 1, 2013 to Sept. 29, 2014.

Recalled retail products include 21-ounce bags of Farm Rich mini bacon cheeseburgers, UPC code 0 41322 35622 2; 1-pound bags of Schwan's mini meatball sandwiches, UPC code 0 72180 55312 6; 18-ounce bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35611 6, case code 1 00 41322 35631 1; 18-ounce bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35635 2, case code 1 00 41322 35635 9; 20-ounce bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35611 6, case code 1 00 41322 35611 3; and 21-ounce bags of Farm Rich Philly Cheese Steaks, UPC code 0 41322 35618 5, case code 1 00 41322 35618 2.

Recalled foodservice products include 25-pound cases containing 2.5-pound foodservice paks of BBQ Chicken Sandwich Melt, UPC code 00041322653024, Product code 65302; 25-pound cases containing 2.5-pound foodservice paks of Meatball Marinara Sandwich Melt, UPC code 00041322653031, Product 65303; 25-pound cases containing 2.5-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Whole Grain Rich Pepperoni Pizzata, UPC code 10041322652321, Product code 65232; 27-pound cases containing 3-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Turkey Pizzata, UPC code 00041322652348, Product code 65234; 24.75-pound foodservice paks of Pepperoni Pizzata, UPC code 00041322652829 , Product code 65282; and 25.7-pound cases of 2.57-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Handheld Stuffed Pepperoni Pleezer, UPC code 10041322652925, Product code 65292.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of dairy products made by the same company.

Recalled retail products include 44-ounce cartons of Farm Rich in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 41322 32521 1; 22-ounce bags of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 4132237813 2; 22-ounce bags of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 72180610008 9; 22-ounce bags of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 4132237443 1; 22-ounce cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 4132280435 5; 7-ounce cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 0 4132237691 3; and 2-pound cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 04132237455 4.

Recalled foodservice products include 5-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Better For You Pizza Dipper, UPC code 10041322652338; 25-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Stuffed Crust Pizza Dippers, UPC code 10041322652680; 2.7-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Stuffed Crust Pizza Dippers, UPC code 10041322652659; and 2.7-pound foodservice paks of Farm Rich Better For You Pizza Dipper, UPC code 00041322652782.