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SALT LAKE CITY — Federal health officials are warning against possible E. coli contamination of peanut butter substitutes sold in Utah stores.
I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut butter and granola products are believed to have caused a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections under investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Utah distributors have been contacted to recall and remove potentially affected products, according to the Utah Department of Health.
Sixteen people from nine states have been infected with E. coli associated with the outbreak. Eight of those were hospitalized, and five developed a type of kidney failure. No deaths associated with the outbreak have been reported.
E. coli causes various symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some infections become life-threatening, according to the health department.
Utahns are encouraged to stop eating and/or serving the I.M. Healthy brand products, including at day care centers, schools and other institutions.
"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," said Laine McCullough, epidemiologist with the Utah Department of Health. "Put it in a sealed bag in the trash so that children, pets or other animals can't eat it."
Consumers with questions may contact the Illinois-based company at 800-288-1012 or return to the place of purchase for a full refund.
More information about E. coli can be found online at cdc.gov/ecoli.
