T-Brothers Food & Trading Ltd. is expanding its original recall of Hankook (Korean characters only) brand Original Kimchi because of possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

As of the last update, there have been 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157 illness linked to an outbreak associated with the kimchi.

This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency during an investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak.

There is concern that consumers may have unused portions of the kimchi in their homes because of its long shelf life, which reaches into January 2023.

The expanded recall affects a  product that has been sold in British Columbia.

Recalled products:

Consumers should check to see if they have the recalled product in their home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

About E. coli infections
Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible food poisoning. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.

Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.

People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)