The FDA Issues a “Suspension of Food Facility Registration Order” to Dixie Dew after identifying insanitary conditions at its facility, likley source of the 29 illnesses in 12 states linked to the SoyNut E. coli Outbreak:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now issued a “Suspension of Food Facility Registration Order” to the Dixie Dew company located in Erlanger, Kentucky as part of their investigation into the SoyNut E. coli Outbreak. No food may be made or distributed during the suspension. Dixie Dew is the maker of the SoyNut Butter products implicated in the national E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. This follows and inspection of Dixie Dew’s plant in which investigators found insanitary conditions that could have allowed their product to become contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The trace-back investigation was able to definitively determine that I. M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter was the source of the E. coli illnesses by testing product in the victim’s homes. At least six samples of the tainted product tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli in California alone, this according to the California Department of Public Health. Both the Oregon Health Authority and the Washington Department of Health also identified the outbreak strain of E. coli in I. M. Healthy products found in victims homes.
The SoyNut E. coli Outbreak recall, which began as a recall of a single product, has expanded to an entire line of products, including secondary products made using the tainted SoyNut butter. SoyNut Butter Co., located in Glenview, IL uses Dixie Dew as its manufacturer. Now the recall includes Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter, all I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products, and a number of the I.M. Healthy Granola flavors.
Subject to the SoyNut E. coli Outbreak recall are I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products that come in 45 pound pails, 15 oz. plastic jars, and in individual portion cups – it is available in several forms, including Original Creamy, Chunky, Honey Creamy, Unsweetened, and Chocolate.
The I.M Healthy Granola, also subject to the SoyNut E. coli Outbreak recall, is also available in bulk (25 pound bags), or in smaller 12 and 50 ounce bags. It can also be purchased in individual containers. Healthy Granola is also available in a number of flavors, including Original, Apple, Blueberry, and Raisin/Cranberry.
According to the CDC, the victims identified so far come from: Arizona (4), California (5), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), Oregon (9), Virginia (2), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (1). A dozen have been hospitalized, while nine of the victims have developed the life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure, the need for a kidney transplant, or even death.
As in previous peanut butter-related outbreaks, the vast majority of the identified victims are children (25 of the 29 here). Some of the victims were sickened at a daycare facility that served the products unwittingly.
For more information about the SoyNut E. coli outbreak, or to discuss an I. M. Healthy lawsuit with an E. coli lawyer, call 1-888-335-4901.
