More than 10 million pounds of frozen meals recalled

Rich Products Corporation, a Buffalo, N.Y. firm, is expanding its recall of various heat treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items to more than 10.5 million pounds because they may be contaminated with E. coli O121, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced. The expanded recall covers all products produced at the company's Waycross, Ga. plant with "Best by" dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014.

The following FSIS-regulated products are subject to the expanded recall:

Retail products--

21-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini bacon cheeseburgers, UPC code 0 41322 35622 2
1-lb. bags of Schwan's mini meatball sandwiches, UPC code 0 72180 55312 6
18-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35611 6, case code 1 00 41322 35631 1
18-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35635 2, case code 1 00 41322 35635 9
20-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas, UPC code 0 41322 35611 6, case code 1 00 41322 35611 3
21-oz. bags of Farm Rich Philly Cheese Steaks, UPC code 0 41322 35618 5, case code 1 00 41322 35618 2

Foodservice products--

25-lb. cases containing 2.5-lb. foodservice paks of BBQ Chicken Sandwich Melt, UPC code 00041322653024, Product code 65302
25-lb. cases containing 2.5-lb. foodservice paks of Meatball Marinara Sandwich Melt, UPC code 00041322653031, Product 65303
25-lb. cases containing 2.5-lb. foodservice paks of Farm Rich Whole Grain Rich Pepperoni Pizzata, UPC code 10041322652321, Product code 65232
27-lb. cases containing 3-lb. foodservice paks of Farm Rich Turkey Pizzata, UPC code 00041322652348, Product code 65234
24.75-lb. foodservice paks of Pepperoni Pizzata, UPC code 00041322652829 , Product code 65282
25.7-lb. cases of 2.57-lb. foodservice paks of Farm Rich Handheld Stuffed Pepperoni Pleezer, UPC code 10041322652925, Product code 65292

Each product package above contains the establishment number "EST. 27232" or "P-27233" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Additionally, the recall includes mozzarella bites, pizza crust and pizza dippers that are FDA-regulated products.

FSIS was notified of a multistate investigation of E. coli O121 illnesses on March 19, 2013. Food samples were collected from an ill individual in New York as part of this investigation, and tested by the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory. At present, the outbreak includes 24 cases in 15 states that led to seven hospitalizations and one case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. A sample of a Farm Rich frozen chicken mini quesadilla product from a New York case tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli O121. Additionally, a sample of leftover Farm Rich mini pepperoni pizza slices product from a Texas case tested positive for the same strain, confirmed by FSIS lab technicians. Ten cases in Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia report consuming Farm Rich products. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners on this investigation, including the New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: FSIS

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