SoyNut butter starts with soy beans. The beans are soaked and then roasted (baked or roasted in oil) The roasted soynuts are ground, blended with oil, and then put in jars. The presence of E. coli in the product would indicate either an insufficient roasting process or post-process contamination.
CDC Outbreak Investigation
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2017/o157h7-03-17/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to I.M. Healthy Brand SoyNut Butter
Posted March 3, 2017 12:45PM EST
Highlights
- Read the Advice to Consumers and Institutions>>(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2017/o157h7-03-17/advice-consumers.html)
- CDC, multiple states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html) O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections.
- Twelve people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 have been reported from five states.
- Six ill people have been hospitalized. Four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure, and no deaths have been reported.
- Eleven of the 12 ill people in this outbreak are younger than 18 years old.
- Epidemiologic evidence available at this time indicates that I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter is a likely source of this outbreak. I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick.
- CDC recommends that consumers do not eat, and childcare centers, schools, and other institutions do not serve, any I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter varieties and sizes, or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter.
- 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. Put it in a sealed bag in the trash so that children, pets, or other animals can't eat it.
- This investigation is ongoing and quickly changing. CDC will provide updates as more information becomes available.
March 3, 2017
CDC is collaborating with public health and regulatory officials in several states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections.
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet(https://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/) system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet, coordinated by CDC, is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories. PulseNet performs DNA fingerprinting on STEC bacteria isolated from ill people by using techniques called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(https://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/pathogens/pfge.html) (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing(https://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/next-generation.html#next-gen) (WGS). CDC PulseNet manages a national database of these DNA fingerprints to identify possible outbreaks. In this outbreak, the outbreak strain was defined by PFGE. The DNA fingerprint of the outbreak strain has never been seen before in the PulseNet database.
Twelve people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 have been reported from five states. A list of the states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Case Count Map page(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2017/o157h7-03-17/map.html).
Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 6, 2017 to February 15, 2017. Ill people range in age from 2 to 48 years, with a median age of 8. Eleven (92%) of the 12 ill people are younger than 18 years old. Among ill people, 58% are male. Six ill people have been hospitalized and four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
This outbreak can be illustrated with a chart showing the number of people who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2017/o157h7-03-17/epi.html) or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after February 8, 2017 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting Cases of E. coli O157:H7 Infection(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/reporting-timeline.html) for more details.
Investigation of the Outbreak
Epidemiologic evidence available at this time indicates that I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter is a likely source of this outbreak. SoyNut Butter is a nut-free substitute for peanut butter.
In interviews, ill people or their family members answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Nine (100%) of the nine people reached for interview reported either eating I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter at home (five people) in the week before they became ill or attending a childcare center that served I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter (four people). This proportion is significantly higher than expected when compared to the approximately 6% of ill people interviewed during past outbreak investigations who reported eating a ground nut butter or spread other than peanut butter.
I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick. CDC recommends consumers do not eat any I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter varieties or sizes or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter. Childcare centers, schools, and other institutions should not serve I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter or I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter. Multiple varieties and sizes of I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut butter and I.M. Healthy brand granola coated with SoyNut Butter are sold nationwide in stores, online, and to institutions. The products have a shelf life of 2 years.
This investigation is ongoing and quickly changing. CDC will provide updates when more information is available.
ABC News
Federal health officials investigating multi-state E. coli outbreak
By J.J. GALLAGHER Mar 2, 2017, 8:46 PM ET
Federal and state health officials are investigating an outbreak of 12 cases of E. coli reported in several states.
Information collected to date indicates I. M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter products as a "likely source" of the outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control said in a statement today.
The CDC warned against consuming the products or serving them to others.
The CDC believes the products may contain a type of E. coli called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can cause symptoms including severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
"Very young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe illness," including kidney failure in extreme cases, the CDC said. "But even healthy older children and young adults can become seriously ill."
STEC infections are estimated to cause 265,000 illnesses each year in the United States, with more than 3,600 hospitalizations and 30 deaths, according to the CDC.
Food Safety News reported that the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene posted a consumer warning about the I.M. Healthy brand soy nut butter today.
The CDC did not name other states affected by the outbreak but said it would publish more detailed information on its website tomorrow.
I.M. Healthy Website - About Us
About the SoyNut Butter Company
Great tasting peanut free, tree nut free, gluten free, egg free and dairy free foods!
At The SoyNut Butter Company, we strive to deliver natural, great tasting products that can be enjoyed by all. We are committed to meeting consumers’ needs by offering a variety of delicious and healthy alternatives to make mealtimes and snacks enjoyable, safe and nutritious.
Our products also address the specific needs of individuals and institutions concerned with food allergies. I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, Granola, Southern Homestyle Corn and Tortilla Crumbs are all peanut, tree nut, gluten, egg and dairy free; and are certified Kosher.
All of our food products are made in the USA in a peanut/tree nut-free facility to ensure quality and safety.
TO SEE A PARTICULAR PRODUCT'S NUTRITIONAL PROFILE AND SPECIFICATIONS, PLEASE CLICK THE "SHOP TAB", THEN SELECT THE CATEGORY AND PRODUCT OF INTEREST.
• Our peanut butter substitute now offers you SoyNut Butter choices -- Creamy or Chunky in our Original, Honey-sweetened and Unsweetened flavors. And now there’s a Chocolate SoyNut Butter that tastes great, too. With 60% less sugar and 50% more protein it’s the “Mawoogah” alternative to the leading chocolate hazelnut spreads.
• Our granola substitute offers you the crunchy goodness of grains with no peanuts or tree nuts and it’s available with or without dried fruits.
• Our bread crumb substitute offers you a gluten free bread crumb solution that features fewer calories and we think a tastier appearance thanks to less oil pickup during cooking.
Our products are sold at leading supermarkets nationwide, online in our store and at scores of health and natural foods stores.
We’re serving over 2 million children a month.
In everything from schools to daycare facilities, camps and Head Start programs, the remarkably similar taste and texture of our SoyNut Butter is a hit with kids of all ages. And the nutritional value has made our products the peanut butter alternative.
For more information please call 1-800-288-1012.
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