A variety of frozen snack products have been connected to an outbreak of E. coli O121 that has sickened at least 24 people in 15 states, according to an outbreak report published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture website Thursday evening. The discovery of the outbreak has prompted Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, NY to issue a voluntary recall of its mini pizzas, mini quesadillas, philly cheesesteaks and mozzarella bites. The complete list of products is as follows:
- 7.2-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough, UPC code 041322376909 with a best by date of May 15 or May 16, 2014.
- 22-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough, UPC code 041322356437 with a best by date of May 15 or May 16, 2014.
- 18-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas with cheese, grilled white meat chicken in a crispy crust, UPC code 041322356352 with a best by date of May 14, 2014.
- 21-oz. bags of Farm Rich philly cheese steaks with cheese, beef & onions in a crispy crust, UPC code 041322356345 with a best by date of May 13, 2014.
- 22-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 041322374431 with a best by date of May 19, 2014.
- 7-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 041322376916 with a best by date of May 19, 2014.
- 22-oz. bags of Market Day Mozzarella Bites, UPC code 041322804358 with a best by date of May 12, 2014.
Each product package above contains the establishment number “EST. 27232” or “P-27232” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced between Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 and then distributed to retailers nationwide. Recalled products have a high chance of still existing in some customers’ freezers. A sample of a Farm Rich frozen chicken mini quesadilla from a New York patient tested positive for the outbreak strain, while eight cases in Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia reported consuming Farm Rich products. E. coli O121 is one of six strains that the USDA added to its list of declared adulterants in June 2011 alongside O157:H7, which has been an adulterant since 1994.
