Chicago Indoor Garden Recall on Products that Include Red Clover Sprouts: E. Coli 0103 Detected in Multi-State E. coli Outbreak
Chicago Indoor Garden is voluntarily recalling all of their packaged products that include red clover sprouts for the detection of E. coli 0103. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the company, Chicago Indoor Garden, of the E. col 0103 after quality testing procedures. The red clover sprouts products included in the recall are the 4-ounce Red Clover clamshell, boxes of 2-pound Red Clover, the 6-ounce Sprout Salad clamshell, the 4-ounce Mixed Greens clamshell, and the 6-ounce Spring Salad clamshell. All of the recalled items have a “Best by” date of December 1, 2019 through March 12, 2020. These packaged items were distributed throughout the Midwest to Whole Foods, Coosemans Chicago Inc., Battaglia Distributing, and Liver Waters Farms.
According to E. coli lawyer Ron Simon, who has represented thousands of E. coli victims, E. coli 0103 is very similar to the more common E. coli strain 0157:h7 because it can produce the toxin Shiga (STEC), which can cause devastation to the intestinal lining. Symptoms of E. coli bacteria present as abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea that is often bloody. These symptoms of E. coli exposure typically begin two days after ingestion and last no longer than a week. Young children, the elderly, and others with immunocompromised systems are at higher risk of more serious, life-threatening symptoms such as kidney failure (hemolytic Uremic syndrome), bleeding and/or seizures. According to HUS Lawyer Simon, “these cases are tragic, often leading to life-long medical conditions at are very serious and can lead to lawsuits in millions of dollars.”
The only way to confirm an E. coli infection if to contact a health care provider who will be able to send a stool sample to be tested.
The president of the company, Brian P. Gorman, explained that Red Clover has been removed from grocery shelves and distribution. The company is asking anyone who purchase the contaminated product to throw it away or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Mr. Gorman also explained that the indoor garden has begun grown new Red Clover sprouts from seed purchased from a different supplier and will continue to monitor the situation.
