Two children in Washington state have become ill after eating a soy nut butter product that’s included in a nationwide illness outbreak and food recall.
Seattle and King County announced on Thursday that the second child was hospitalized for E. coli linked to eating I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter. The first child in King County went to the hospital under the same strain of E. coli in early March.
I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter's creamy soy butter was voluntarily recalled over E. coli concerns. Recalled products have a freshness date of August 30 or 31, 2018. Fifteen of the 17 ill people nationwide in this outbreak are younger than 18 years old.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 12 people became ill with confirmed cases in Oregon, California, Arizona, New Jersey and Maryland.
Four of the hospitalized patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure. CNN reports the syndrome can be life-threatening, although most people recover within a few weeks.
Epidemiologic evidence available at this time indicates that, nationwide, I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter is a likely source of this E. coli outbreak, according to the CDC.
SoyNut Butter is a nut-free substitute for peanut butter. Nationally, people who were sickened reported eating the butter at home or attending a child care center that served the butter.
The CDC recommends consumers do not eat any I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter varieties or I.M. Healthy brand granola that is coated with SoyNut Butter.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from Jan. 6 to Feb.15, 2017. This investigation is ongoing and quickly changing. You can read the CDC's full investigation here.
Cox Media Group
