P96-17 Food and Drug Administration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Arthur Whitmore (202) 205-4144 October 31, 1996 Lawrence Bachorik (301)827-6242 Consumer Hotline: (800) 532-4440 E. Coli 0157:H7 OUTBREAK ASSOCIATED WITH ODWALLA BRAND APPLE JUICE PRODUCTS Odwalla, Inc., in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is announcing the voluntary recall of all Odwalla brand apple juice products, as well as all Odwalla brand blended juice products containing apple juice, because these products have been epidemiologically linked with an outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 illnesses. To date, thirteen cases of E. Coli 0157:H7 illness have been confirmed by laboratory cultures of stool samples, and an epidemiological investigation conducted by the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health has shown that at least ten of these 13 patients had consumed Odwalla brand apple juice in the Seattle, Wash., area. Onset of illness occurred between approximately October 15 and October 24, 1996. Consumers are advised not to consume any Odwalla brand fruit juices that contain apple juice. Persons who have developed a diarrheal illness within two weeks after consuming and Odwalla product that contains apple juice may wish to consult their physician. Consumers with questions about E. Coli 0157:H7 illness should contact their local or state department of health. Persons who consumed the apple juice but do not develop illness are not at risk for complications and do not need to seek medical care. E. coli 0157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Most persons recover completely within a week. However, some develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Odwalla brand fruit juices are produced by Odwalla, Inc., Half Moon Bay, Calif. The firm is voluntarily recalling all of its products that contain apple juice and is cooperating fully with local, state, and Federal officials. Odwalla is recalling its pure apple juice as well as 12 other juice products that, despite their names, also contain apple juice. The following products, all of which contain apple juice, are being recalled: Apple Juice Mo'Beta Blackberry Fruitshake Femme Vitale Mango Tango Strawberry C-Monster Super Protein Superfood Strawberry Banana Smoothie Serious Ginseng Raspberry smoothie Deep in Peach C-Monster The following Odwalla products that do not contain apple juice are not affected by this recall: Water Lemonade Orange Juice Strawberry Lemonade Grapefruit Juice Lemon Juice Carrot Lime Juice Organic Carrot Menage A Tropique All Vegetable Cocktail C-Monster Light Odwalla's apple juice products have been distributed in seven states -- California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington -- as well as British Columbia, Canada. The current investigation of cases of E. coli 0157:H7 associated with Odwalla brand apple juice products is continuing, to determine definitively how this outbreak occurred. ####