ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, reported that 27 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O121 in 15 states. No deaths have been reported, but two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.

Current information from interviews of ill persons indicates that consumption of Farm Rich brand frozen food products is one likely source of infection in this outbreak, CDC said. The outbreak strain of E. coli O121 was identified in two different Farm Rich brand frozen products collected from the homes of two ill persons.

The Outbreaks Section of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service Eastern Laboratory identified the outbreak strain from individually wrapped Farm Rich brand frozen mini-pizza slices from an opened package collected from an ill person’s home in Texas, CDC said. Also, the New York State Dept. 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.

Buffalo, NY-based Rich Products Corp. expanded its voluntary recall to include all products made at its Waycross, Ga., plant. The expanded recall includes 10.5 million lbs. of product.