Frozen Pizza Recal [VIDEO]: E. Coli Bacteria Scare Prompts 'Farm Rich' to Recal Frozen Snacks

By D.Z.Scott d.scott@mstarsnews.com | Apr 05, 2013 03:56 PM EDT

Hungry and in the mood for something quick, fast and in a hurry? Think again before preparing a frozen ready-cooked snack. Frozen snack brand 'Farm Rich' recalled more than 10.5 million pounds of frozen snacks.

"The New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center Laboratory, identified the outbreak strain from an opened package of Farm Rich brand frozen chicken quesadillas from an ill person's home," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

Information available to date indicates that consumption of Farm Rich brand frozen food products is one likely source of infection for the ill persons in this outbreak," the CDC said.

As of Friday afternoon, 27 cases of E. Coli 0121 have been reported in 15 states, including four cases in New York, and three each in Ohio, Michigan and Texas. About 80 percent of those sickened have been under the age of 21, The Huffington Post reported.

"It saddens us deeply that anyone has become ill after consuming Farm Rich products," said Bill Gisel, CEO of Farm Rich. "When it became apparent to us that despite the expertise of the USDA, FDA, the scientific community and our own experts, that identification of a specific cause was not going to be a simple or short process, we decided to act proactively to expand the recall."

Rich Products has voluntarily recalled all products produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant with "Best by" dates from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014. The recall includes all sizes of Farm Rich-branded Mini Quesadillas, Mini Pizza Slices, Mozzarella Bites, Mini Bacon Cheeseburgers, and Philly Cheese Steaks. Other products from Farm Rich, such as Mozzarella Sticks and Stuffed Pretzel Bites, are made in separate plants and are not part of the recall, according to Web Pro News.

The Huffington Post and NBC News reported, Rich Products Corporation has now recalled about 10 million pounds of frozen pizza, quesadillas, cheeseburgers and other frozen products following an outbreak of E. coli in 15 states.

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