The I. M. Healthy outbreak has led to a number of illnesses, including in children at a daycare that consumed the SoyNut butter, due to contamination with E. coli. There are no reports of death, but there are at least five cases of E. coli induced hemolytic uremic syndrome – one in a child of only 2 years. Health officials have confirmed that at least eight of the victims, including the five suffering from kidney failure, have been hospitalized.
The recall, initially recalling only the original creamy SoyNut butter, has now been expanded to include all SoyNut butter and granola products regardless of the “best by” dates on the packaging. The products, which have been distributed nationwide at stores and sold on-line to many customers, have now been identified in at least 16 illnesses in 9 states. These numbers are expected to grow as more cases are identified or as additional persons continue to contract E. coli from consuming the product. Heath officials are hopeful that the publicity and efforts of retailers to inform consumers will bring a swift cessation to new cases, but the fact that SoyNut has a long shelf life (given past experiences with peanut butter recalls) indicates that preventing any consumption of the adulterated product in the future will be difficult.
Consumers have been warned to discard the product if they have it, and to not consume any SoyNut product for fear of contracting E. coli.
For more information, call 1-888-335-4901.
