After sickening 27 people in 15 states with the dangerous E. coli bacteria, several frozen food products have been recalled by their manufacturers, Rich Products Corporation. But it was not soon enough to prevent a Pierce County woman in her 20s from being among those affected
The contaminated foods, sold under the brands Farm Rich, Market Day, and Schwans, were distributed for sale across Washington State and include mini quesadillas, mini frozen pizzas, mini bacon cheeseburgers, mini meatball sandwiches, mozzarella bites, Philly cheese steaks, and mini bacon.
The food with possible contamination of E. coli O121 was produced at Rich Product Corporation’s Waycross, Georgia Plant between July 1, 2011, and March 29, 2013, a period of nearly 21 months. The food recalled had “Best By” dates ranging from January 1, 2013, to September 29, 2014.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has classified the health risk from these products as “high”. For the full list of recalled products, go to the FDA's website.
The E. coli bacteria involved in this outbreak can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, fever, and can be deadly. Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to E. coli as they can develop a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause the kidneys to fail. The Centers for Disease Control said about 80% of those affected by this outbreak have been children under the age of 21.
If you suspect a loved one has been sickened by food contamination, seek immediate medical attention and contact the E. coli lawyers at Bishop Legal to protect your legal rights for damages.