WASHINGTON – Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, NY, recalled approximately 196,222 lbs. of frozen chicken quesadilla and other frozen mini-meals and snacks because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O121, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported March 28.

FSIS was alerted to the problem on March 19 when the agency was notified of a multistate investigation of E. coli O121 illnesses. Food samples were collected from an infected person in New York as part of the investigation, and tested by the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory. Currently, the cluster includes 24 cases in 15 states, FSIS said.

The agency said 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. Eight cases related to Farm Rich products were reported in Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. FSIS is part of the investigation, which includes the New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, Food and Drug Administration, and the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The products subject to FSIS recall include:

• 7.2-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough, UPC code 041322376909 with a best by date of May 15 or May 16, 2014.
• 22-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough, UPC code 041322356437 with a best by date of May 15 or May 16, 2014.
• 18-oz. bags of Farm Rich mini quesadillas with cheese, grilled white meat chicken in a crispy crust, UPC code 041322356352 with a best by date of May 14, 2014.
• 21-oz. bags of Farm Rich philly cheese steaks with cheese, beef & onions in a crispy crust, UPC code 041322356345 with a best by date of May 13, 2014.

Additional products that fall under FDA jurisdiction are also being recalled. FSIS advised consumers to that these products are also considered potentially adulterated and should be properly discarded or destroyed. The products are:

• 22-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 041322374431 with a best by date of May 19, 2014.
• 7-oz. cartons of Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust, UPC code 041322376916 with a best by date of May 19, 2014.
• 22-oz. bags of Market Day Mozzarella Bites, UPC code 041322804358 with a best by date of May 12, 2014.

Each product package contains the establishment number "EST. 27232" or "P-27232" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The items were produced between Nov. 12, 2012 and Nov. 19, 2012 then distributed for retail sale nationwide.