Multi-State E. Coli Outbreak Sparks Soy Nut Butter Recall

GLENVIEW, IL — A multi-state E. coli outbreak has prompted an Illinois company to voluntarily recall a soy peanut butter alternative.

Based in Glenview, I.M. Healthy this week announced it is Original Creamy SoyNut Butter with a "best by" date of 8-30-18 or 8-31-18 amid reports of E. coli infections in five states.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 12 infections of E. coli O157 have been reported in Oregon, California, Arizona, New Jersey and Maryland. Six people have been hospitalized, and four have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. So far, no deaths have been reported, and there are no reported cases of illness reported in Illinois.

Illnesses linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter were reported between Jan. 6 and Feb. 17. According to the CDC, patients range in age from 2 to 48 years old, and 11 are under age 18.

E. coli bacteria typically live in the intestines of people and animals. But some strains, particularly E. coli O157, can cause intestinal illness that can lead to bloody diarrhea, dehydration or kidney failure. Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

“Some infections of E. coli are mild, but others can be severe or even life-threatening, especially for young children,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav D. Shah, MD, said in a statement. “If you have recently purchased soy nut butter, please check the label for the brand and throw it out if it is part of this recall.”

IDPH recommends consumers do not eat any variety or size of I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter or granola coated with SoyNut Butter produced by SoyNut Butter Company. In a news release, IDPH added that child care centers, schools and other institutions should not serve I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter or granola coated with SoyNut Butter.

"Even if some of the SoyNut Butter or granola was eaten or served and no one got sick, throw the rest of the product away," the CDC said on Friday. "Put it in a sealed bag in the trash so that children, pets or other animals can't eat it."

In a message posted on its website, I.M. Healthy said it voluntarily recalled the product.

"While we are taking the necessary investigative steps in getting the product in question and the supply chain tested, we decided to issue the recall for the sake of food safety," the company said in a statement. "We take our products integrity seriously and will update all our customers as we receive more information."

The company urged anyone with questions or concerns to call its offices at 800-288-1012.

Photo via Mike Mozart/Flickr under a Creative Commons 2.0 license