The I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 23 people in 9 states. Seven of those patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). And ten of those patients have been hospitalized because they have been so seriously ill.
We decided to compile a list of grocery store chains that carried these products and have issued recalls of their own because the FDA does not do this. Please note that this retail distribution list should not be considered complete. Small stores and some independent retailers may have sold these products as well. It is also worth noting that these products were available for purchase online.
The states where the patients in this outbreak live are Arizona, California, Maryland, Missouri, New Jerwey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. Twenty of the twenty-three sickened in this outbreak, or their families, said they consumed some type of I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter product the week before they got sick. And three state health laboratories have isolated E. coli O157:H7 bacteria from those products.
The recalled products include all I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products, all I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter granola products, and Dixie Diner’s Club Carb Not Beanit Butter. The major grocery store chains that have posted recall notices for these products on their web sites are: Baker’s, Big Y, Buelhlers Fresh Foods, City Market, Copps, Dillons, Food City, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Giant Eagle, Giant Food, Hannaford, Harris Teeter, King Soopers, Kroger, Lowes Foods, Lucky Supermarket, Mariano’s, Martins, Metro Market, Pick ‘n Save, Price Chopper, QFC, Ralph’s, Schnucks, ShopRite, Smith’s, Stop and Shop, Target, Wegmans, and Whole Foods. It’s important to note that not all of the I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products were sold at all of these stores. For specific information on the exact recalled products, along with UPC numbers, package sizes, and expiration dates, please visit the recall web page for those merchants.
And to protect your family, if you did buy any I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products or I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter granola, or Dixie Diner’s Club Carb Not Beanit Butter, do not eat them. Discard them in a sealed container or return them to the place of purchase, even if you ate some of the product and didn’t get sick.
And if anyone in your family is experiencing the symptoms of an E. coli infection, such as severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that may be bloody, and a mild fever, have them see a doctor as soon as possible. The symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome include little urine output, lethargy, pale skin, easy bruising, and a skin rash. Anyone with those symptoms should be taken to a doctor immediately.
Pritzker Hageman law firm represents and helps people who have been sickened by contaminated food such as the I.M. Healthy product. We get answers, compensation for those who have been injured, and justice through our work. Our lawyers represent families of children sickened with bacterial infections in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against retailers, grocery stores, food processors, restaurants, daycare centers, schools, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker and his team recently won $7.5 million for young client whose kidneys failed because of hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Please note that class action lawsuits are usually not appropriate for outbreak victims because these types of cases are so unique.
