Food Poisoning Law Blog : Food Poisoning Lawyer & Attorney : PritzkerLaw : Food Safety, Outbreaks & Recalls

At least  51 people in four states have contracted Campylobacter infections after drinking tainted raw milk  produced by The Family Cow Farm in Chambersburg, Pa., according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The strain of Campylobacter jejuni found in unopened samples of Family Cow raw milk matches the outbreak strain, lab tests have confirmed. For those who became ill, the onset of illness ranges from January 17 to January 30. The confirmed case count by state is as follows: 42 in PA,  4 in MD, 2 in NJ and  3 in WV

In Pennsylvania, the outbreak has spread through 11 counties. Confirmed case count by Pa. county is as follows: Adams (1), Allegheny (1), Bucks (3), Chester ( 2), Cumberland (3), Dauphin (1),  Delaware (4), Franklin (18), Lancaster (5),  Wyoming (1), York (3).

The dairy resumed production on Monday after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture released this statement: The Family Cow has passed  a final inspection by the department of agriculture. They can resume production and bottling of raw milk. An inspection by the department will be conducted late today, February 6, 2012.

Symptoms of Campylobacter infection included diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever. Symptoms usually appear two to five days after ingesting the organism. A culture of a stool sample is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Most people who contract a Campylobacter infection, called campylobacteriosis, recover completely within 2 to 5 days, some Campylobacter infections can lead to serious complications including: meningitis, heart attack, hemolytic uremic syndrome, respritory distress, gall bladder inflammation, urinary tract infections, proctitis, arthritis, blood poisoning, severe dehydration and Guillain-Barrè syndrome, a type of paralysis.

If you have legal questions about and illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreal contact the food safety lawyers at PritzkerOlsen for a free consultation.

 

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 "Walking tacos'' sold at the Pierre-Mitchell high school basketball game in Pierre, South Dakota, last week was the likely cause of a food illness outbreak that appears to have sickened more than 50 people.

State Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said testing revealed the outbreak organism to be clostridium perfringens,, or C. perfringens, a bacteria found on raw meat that can spread if cooking doesn't kill it and the meat is left to simmer at temperatures that are too low. The game took place at Riggs High School.

Walking tacos is a portable dish created by adding ground beef, cheese and salsa to a small bag of corn chips. Seventy-five percent of the respondents who ate the tacos reported becoming ill, Kightlinger said.

The DOH had 217 voluntary telephone and website responses from both well and ill people who attended the game in Pierre. The case remains open, but Kightlinger believes the problem was limited to the basketball game.

Symptoms of clostridium perfringens include diarrhea and cramps lasting less than 24 hours, or longer in some cases. The onset of illness is usually quick and in this case, three quarters of those who became ill reported getting sick between midnight and 6 a.m. the following morning.

The South Dakota Department of Health has posted on its webste a food safety lesson from the USDA titled "Cooking for Groups. A volunteer's guide to food safety.'' 

Source: The Daily Republic

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The South Dakota Department of Health is investigating a suspected foodborne illness outbreak linked to a Tuesday night high school basketball game in Pierre that has sickened at least 50 people.

Health and school officials are collecting food histories from individuals and will be testing stool samples to identify an organism. An electronic questionnaire has been distributed to Pierre high school and middle school staff and students.

With information from the questionnaires, health officials hope to get a better idea of how many people are ill, how severe the illness is and how long it lasts, the incubation period and the potential food source. Individuals who are not part of the school system are also encouraged to complete the questionnaire at the department’s website, doh.sd.gov. So far, no food from the event has been submitted for testing.

Signs and symptoms of foodborne illness can include mild or severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain.  In 2011, South Dakota reported nearly 500 cases of foodborne illness .
 
 

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The South Dakota Department of Health is investigating a suspected foodborne illness outbreak linked to a Tuesday night high school basketball game in Pierre that has sickened at least 50 people.

Health and school officials are collecting food histories from individuals and will be testing stool samples to identify an organism. An electronic questionnaire has been distributed to Pierre high school and middle school staff and students.

With information from the questionnaires, health officials hope to get a better idea of how many people are ill, how severe the illness is and how long it lasts, the incubation period and the potential food source. Individuals who are not part of the school system are also encouraged to complete the questionnaire at the department’s website, doh.sd.gov. So far, no food from the event has been submitted for testing.

Signs and symptoms of foodborne illness can include mild or severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain.  In 2011, South Dakota reported nearly 500 cases of foodborne illness .
 
 

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Food safety is the most important factor in cooking and baking. Perishable foods, such as raw meats, eggs, poultry, seafood, and raw produce can cause food borne illness. Sometimes an adulterated product will make you sick even if you do everything right. You can reduce your risk of contacting a food borne illness by following safe food handling practices.

1. Wash Your Hands. Always wash your hands before handling food, while you’re preparing food, after handling raw meats, eggs, poultry, seafood, and produce, and after you finish cooking. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, touching a pet, or changing a diaper. Wash your hands using warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to clean under your fingernails too. For more details, please see CDC Hand Washing Tips.

2. Cook meats and eggs to a safe internal temperature. Refer to this safe food temperature chart for more information. Use a reliable food thermometer to test the final temperature of all meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs. If you don’t have a food thermometer, you can check the color meat juices and refer to other doneness tests, although those tests are not as reliable as temperature. Ground meat and poultry juices should be clear when the meat is cooked. Beef steaks and roasts should be cooked to a minimum temperature of 140 degrees F; pork to 145 degrees F, chicken and turkey to 165 degrees F, and seafood to 145 degrees F. Cook casseroles until the center reaches 165 degrees F. Ground meats, including hamburgers, should be cooked to 165 degrees F. Egg yolks should be firm and not runny. Shellfish should be firm and opaque when properly cooked.

3. Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw uncooked foods from foods that will be eaten raw. Store uncooked perishable foods and foods to be eaten raw separately. Never store raw meats on a shelf above produce such as apples or lettuce, because the meat juices may drip onto the raw produce and contaminate it. Never put cooked meats onto a platter that held the uncooked product. And be careful about keeping your

4. Refrigerate perishable foods promptly. Perishable foods should never be out of refrigeration longer than 2 hours; 1 hour if the air temperature is above 80 degrees F. And remember this includes bringing food home from the grocery store! Put raw meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs into your shopping basket just before you head to the check out line. And after shopping, go straight home. Get those perishable foods into the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible. If you live some distance from the grocery store or farmer’s market, put a cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs in your car and use that to hold perishable foods.

5. Clean knives, cutting boards, countertops, and the kitchen sink after preparing raw meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs. Use warm soapy water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Sanitize your work surfaces by using a solution of 1 tablespoon of regular chlorine bleach (unscented only please) mixed with a gallon of warm water. And clean your sponges and towels too! Think about using paper towels to dry your hands and clean the kitchen instead of dish towels or sponges. While less environmentally sound, paper towels are single-use and won’t harbor bacteria like a wet dish towel or sponge can. If you do choose to use dish towels or sponges, wash them regularly with bleach. You can put sponges in the top shelf of the dishwasher after each use; that will help sterilize them.

6. Make sure that your refrigerator and freezer are set at safe temperatures. The refrigerator temperature should be between 33 degrees and 39 degrees F. Your freezer should be set at 0 degrees F or lower. Use a thermometer to make sure the temperature inside these appliances is low enough. If the power goes out, you’ll need to take special precautions to ensure that your food stays safe and wholesome.

7. Check expiration dates before consuming food. Those dates usually state the last date a shelf-stable food retains quality. But perishable products such as meats, pasteurized eggs, poultry, and seafood should always be consumed before the expiration date. At the store, buy foods with expiration dates as far into the future as you can find.

8. Use your refrigerator to marinate and thaw meats. Marinate meats in the refrigerator, never on the countertop, since bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 degrees and 140 degrees F. This will take some planning on your part so the meat is ready to cook when you’re ready to eat, as larger cuts of meat may take days to thaw in the fridge.

9. Wash produce before eating. Rinse fresh fruits and veggies under cool running water, then scrub firm produce with a clean brush. You may want to use a commercial food wash, or make your own wash. Make sure that you wash all produce, even those with rinds or thick skins that you remove before eating, such as cantaloupes and onions. When you cut into those foods, the knife can easily transfer bacteria on the peel or rind to the flesh. While you are supposed to wash your hands and work surfaces with soap and water, don’t use soap on food products. Detergents and soap aren’t approved for use on foods. Always cut off and removed damaged, cut, soft, or bruised areas of produce before eating them. Bacteria can thrive in damaged areas of produce. When you buy produce, be sure to avoid any that is damaged, soft, cut, or bruised.

10. If a perishable food is left out of refrigeration longer than two hours, cooking may not make it safe. Some bacteria produce toxins that aren’t destroyed by cooking that will make you sick even if all the bacteria are killed. And the number of bacteria in a food product can grow to massive levels after a few hours at room temperature. If a perishable food is left out longer than two hours, whether it’s cooked or raw, always throw it out.

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An outbreak of foodborne illness that has sickened at least 40 people in Duluth is being investigated by the Minnesota Department of health (MDH), according to the StarTribune.

Those who became ill were among 350 guests who attended a wedding at the Greysolon Ballroom last weekend, so there could be additional cases, an MDH spokesman Doug Schultz told the Duluth News Tribune. The investigation is ongoing.

The food served at the event was provided by Greysolon Ballroom By Blackwoods. Sean Stepan, the controller of its parent group, New London Corp., referred reporter’s questions to MDH. 

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Almost 60 Zappos employees suffered symptoms of food poisoning yesterday at the company's plant in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. They had all eaten food brought in by a catering company, but Bullitt County Health officials have not determined if it was food poisoning. 28 of the employees were hospitalized.

Dangerous foodborne pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella have longer incubation periods. Someone isn’t going to eat something contaminated with E. coli and get sick on the same day.

Both epidemiological and microbiological testing is being done to determine what made the 57 Zappos employees vomit and have diarrhea. The epidemiological part of the investigation involves interviews with those sickened to find out what they ate in the last several days. The microbiological part of the investigation involves tests to determine what foodborne pathogen, if any, made the employees sick and tests on food samples from the caterer.

Dr. Swannie Jett, the Bullitt County Health Department Director, told WDRB that the company had a pot luck over the weekend and that event is being considered as the possible source of the outbreak. Given the incubation period of most foodborne pathogens, that seems a more likely cause of the illnesses.

The health department also told WDRB that it is looking into the possibility the illness could also be airborne or caused by an employee coming to work sick.

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Hood Canal raw oysters have been linked to an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) news release.

The agency is warning consumers not to eat oysters that were harvested from “growing area 4” in Hood Canal, Washington, from August 30 to September 19, after they were linked to three confirmed and two possible cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness. There have been no reports of hospitalizations or deaths resulting from consuming the oysters.

The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area and commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who have initiated a recall. Shipping records indicate that oysters harvested from this area were distributed to establishments in 23 states and four foreign countries. They are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Washington, and to the countries of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Washington State authorities have notified those states involved of the recall.

Symptoms of Vibrio illness include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and usually begin between a few hours and five days after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly shellfish, or after ingestion of surface waters. Individuals with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm273315.htm 

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The number of legionellosis cases reported in the U.S. has increased 217 percent over the last decade, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Legionnaires disease, a serious, sometimes lethal pneumonia, and Pontiac fever, an illness similar to influenza are the two most common forms of legionellosis, which is caused by Legionella bacteria.

June through October is the peak season for legionellosis,  which is transmitted when microscopic water droplets containing legionella bacteria are inhaled. Most often, water sources in commercial settings are involved including the spray from showers, faucets, fountains and whirlpools, or water dispersed through a ventilation or cooling systems.

 

 

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On Monday, sixty students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Coachella, California, got sick. Riverside County health officials are investigating the outbreak and are looking at food poisoning as a possible cause.

About 800 students and 10 adults were served taco salad with ground beef, shredded cheese and lettuce, salsa and an apple cobbler. Health officials took food samples and inspected the school kitchen. They are also interviewing students and looking at school records to see if they ate the lunch and if they all ate the same food for lunch, for example, if all of them had lettuce on their tacos.

 

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Perfringens food poisoning often is associated with temperature abuse of food in group settings, especially when the food sits before people arrive. In Illinois, the City of Evanston Health Department was contacted by Evanston School District 65 regarding 30 individuals becoming ill after eating food catered from Merle’s Smokehouse of Evanston at parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday February 16, 2011. 

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National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker said the development is good news for consumers who become victims of foodborne illness outbreaks because it is impossible in some cases to file a food poisoning lawsuit unless public health authorities have linked an outbreak to a cause. "The better we become at outbreak detection, the more we can do for victims of food poisoning,'' Pritzker said. "Increased accountability and transparency will make our food supply safer in the long run.''

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In the video below, personal injury attorney Ryan Osterholm discusses Cryptosporidium infections associated with swimming pools.

Cryptosporidium is a pathogen that can cause severe diarrhea and sometimes death. It can survive in water once it is introduced via a fecal contaminant. People contract Cryptosporidium from swimming in pools and ingesting infected water.

Recently, our law firm has been contacted by a family sickened by Cryptosporidium from swimming in a pool in Ohio. We have reason to believe this outbreak affected many more people than this one family.

If you are part of this Cryptosporidium outbreak, it is important that you contact your doctor to be diagnosed and treated and contact your local health department to ensure the outbreak investigation is complete.

To contact our law firm about your Cryptosporidium claim, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free).

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Seven states received an "A" letter grade while 14 others received an "F" for their performance in detecting and reporting outbreaks of foodborne illness. The analysis, based on 10 years of outbreak data kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was published this week by the respected non-profit health advocacy organization known as Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

The findings reinforce conventional wisdom among food safety experts, including food poisoning lawyers who represent victims of E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and other types of bacteria. Generally speaking, states that report a lot of outbreaks are tops at linking clusters of foodborne illnesses to the source of contamination. By contrast, those states that hardly report any outbreaks don't seem to put much effort into it. CSPI said state public health investigations of foodborne illness are vital to quantifying the problem on a national scale and subsequently developing prevention strategies.

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The Salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts and certain Jimmy John's restaurants in Illinois now has 112 reported cases in 18 states and the District of Columbia as follows:

California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (59), Indiana (10), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (22), New York (1), Pennsylvania (3), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3).

Only certain Jimmy John's restaurants in Illinois have been implicated in this outbreak.

From November 1, 2010, through January 4, 2011, CDC received report of 112 cases of  Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-. 

Among 111 persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from November 1 to December 24, 2010. Case-patients range in age from 1 to 75 years-old, with a median age of 28 years-old. Seventy-five patients (or 68%) are female. Among persons with available information, 24% reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Because the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern associated with this particular Salmonella serotype commonly occurs in the United States, some of the cases identified may not be related to this outbreak.

Our law firm is representing a woman from Illinois who was hospitalized for several days with a Salmonella infection contracted after eating alfalfa sprouts on a Jimmy John's sandwich. She developed a type of reactive arthritis called Reiter's syndrome . To contact our firm about a Jimmy Johns Salmonella lawsuit, call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our free consultation form.

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E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker is alerting the public to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Oregon and Washington that may be associated with Sally Jackson cheese. The FDA was notified of this outbreak by State Department of Agriculture, the Washington Department of Health, and the Oregon Public Health Division.

E. coli Outbreak Prompts Recall of Sally Jackson Cheese

Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, Washington, recalled all cheese products, including cow, goat, and sheep, because they may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria. E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly, but our law firm has had HUS clients in their early twenties. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage, severe hypertension, stroke, seizures, heart failure, pancreatitis and death.

Sally Jackson brand cheeses made from raw cow, goat, and sheep milk were distributed nationwide to restaurants, distributors, and retail stores. The three types of cheese are all soft raw milk cheeses in various sized pieces. The products do not have labels or codes. The cow and sheep milk cheeses are wrapped in chestnut leaves, the goat cheese is wrapped in grape leaves and all are secured with twine. The cheeses may have an outer wrapping of waxed paper.

E. coli lawyers at  PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are monitoring this Sally Jackson cheese E. coli outbreak and have established a claims center for members of the public who have been harmed. For a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our free consultation form. Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning.

We currently represent E. coli HUS victims and have years of experience representing victims of food poisoning against large national retailers and food manufacturers.

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Our law firm is representing several people sickened in the Costco and Bravo Cheese E. coli outbreak. Brendan Flaherty, one of our attorneys, was quoted in the November 19 edition of Cheese Market News, the weekly newspaper of the nation’s cheese and dairy/deli business:

“Companies like Costco are very good because they have retail records with customer numbers that enable them to contact customers directly,” says Brendan Flaherty, an attorney with Pritzker Olsen in Minneapolis. His firm represents injured people in claims involving foodborne illness. Pritzker Olsen represents some plaintiffs in the Bravo Farms recall, including an 85-year-old Arizona woman whose condition developed into life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

 “Because Costco is a club, if you purchased a recalled product at Costco, you’ll receive a message from the store explaining that you have a recalled product that shouldn’t be consumed,” says Flaherty. “The exception is samples, because there’s no record of who sampled a product.”

That was the case with the Bravo Farms recall. The company was participating in a Costco Road Show, in which a sampling program accompanied retail sales. After CDC identified the outbreak, FDA was able to test unopened Bravo Farms products that Costco had pulled from its shelves as well as opened packages from infected people’s refrigerators. All contained a rare strain of E. coli that was then matched to an identical strain found in environmental samples at the company’s plant.

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The August inspection report of Quality Egg LLC (doing business as Wright County Egg) provides a clue to how over 500 million eggs could have to be recalled due to possible contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis.  Manure was 8 feet high in one area, and a door was "blocked with excessive amounts of manure."  Feel like eating an omelet?

Below is part of the investigation report (click here for full report):

You [Quality Egg LLC, d.b.a. Wright County Egg] failed to take steps to ensure there is no introduction or transfer of SE [Salmonella Enteritidis] into or among poultry houses. This was evidenced by the following observations:

Specifically,

a) There was only one entry doorway to access egg laying areas located at every other house. Entrances for houses on Layer I and Layer 2 were located on even numbered houses. Entrances for houses on Layer 3 and Layer 4 were located on odd numbered houses. For example, at Layer 3 and Layer 4—House 1 had a doorway and this same doorway had to be used to gain entrance to House 2.

b) Employees working within the houses did not wear or change protective clothing when moving from house to house. An employee at Layer 6 -House 3 was observed walking out of House 3 with a metal scraper and into House 2 without changing protective clothing and without cleaning/sanitizing equipment between the houses.

c) Un-caged birds (chickens having escaped) were observed in the egg laying operation in contact with the egg laying birds at Layer 3—Houses 9 and 16. The uncaged birds were using the manure, which was approximately 8 feet high, to access the egg laying area.

d) Layer 3 – House 11, the house entrance door to access both House 11 and 12 was blocked with excessive amounts of manure in the manure pits.  

 

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by Fred Pritzker

I represent victims of food poisoning. I represent them in cases involving Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Shigella and other nasty pathogens. 

The cases that bother me most are those in which food processors put profit over safety and needlessly endanger the health and safety of American consumers.  I know these cases first hand. My firm represented the families of more people killed in the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) Salmonella outbreak than any other law firm in the United States.

You remember PCA. The company sold peanut products to food producers that used the peanut paste to make thousands of snack products. The company was shut down and forced into bankruptcy after hundreds of people were sickened and several died as a result of Salmonella poisoning from the company’s peanuts.

As part of our thorough investigation, I traveled to the Blakely, Georgia PCA plant implicated in the outbreak and personally inspected it. What I found was appalling: filthy equipment, vermin and gaps in walls and the ceiling that allowed in any number of rodents, insects and other disease carrying animals. My observations mirrored those made by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the report of which may be viewed at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/ORA/ORAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM109843.pdf.

There is now another Salmonella outbreak. It involves half a billion eggs from two large producers in Iowa, Quality Egg LLC (Wright County Egg), Galt, IA and Hillandale Farms, New Hampton, IA. Shockingly, these plants were never inspected by the FDA until after this recent outbreak.

It’s a pity they were not previously inspected. Here are some of the observations made by federal inspectors at Wright County Egg during their August inspections during the outbreak:

• Live frogs living in egg laying house
• Wild birds flying through egg laying houses
• Pigeons roosting in air vents
• Gaps and holes in building foundations large enough to admit vermin
• Evidence of rodent burrows located along baseboards
• “Dark liquid which appeared to be manure was observed seeping through the concrete foundation to the outside of the laying houses…”
• Employees not wearing or changing protective clothing when moving between laying houses
• Laying house entrance doors “blocked with excessive amounts of manure in the manure pits
• Live mice observed inside the egg laying houses

The complete report may be viewed at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/ORA/ORAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM224399.pdf

These disgusting findings come on the heels of other reports about the practices of Wright County Egg and its operator. According to a recent article in the New York Times: “The company behind the recall, Wright County Egg, of Galt, Iowa, is owned by Jack DeCoster, who has had run-ins with regulators over poor or unsafe working conditions, environmental violations, the harassment of workers and the hiring of illegal immigrants.”

We just sued Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms on behalf of one of the recent Salmonella outbreak victims. Here is the link to those court papers.  Contact me for more information about the egg lawsuit.

Continue Reading...

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Egg recall information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now searchable by brand name and other data, making a powerful consumer guide to 88 different egg brands involved in the recalls by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, both of Iowa.

Click here for the searchable egg recall list  that covers more than half a billion eggs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1,470 reported illnesses were likely to be associated with this outbreak between May 1 to August 25. More are expected as investigation and testing continues in more than 20 states.

Smoking gun evidence was uncovered by FDA, linking the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis to the Iowa egg producers. Of 600 samples taken, six so far have come back with the same identical Salmonella strain that is making people sick.. One of those samples came from the feed mill at Wright County Egg and the feed was provided to young hens. The hens were distributed to all premises at both companies.

"These findings indicate that Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa are the likely sources of the contaminated shell eggs,'' CDC has stated.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is preparing an egg lawsuit on behalf of a woman who is confirmed by health authorities as a victim of this outbreak. Salmonella egg recall lawyers at the firm are in contact with other victims and the firm is continuing to accept cases. Free consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. 

Many of the cases in this outbreak have been in people who attended catered social events or who ate at restaurants where clusters of illnesses were found.  A person infected with the Salmonella Enteritidis bacterium usually has fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food or beverage. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without antibiotic treatment. However, the diarrhea can be severe, and the person may be ill enough to require hospitalization. 

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If you think you can't contract typhoid fever in the United States, ask one of the nine people who contracted typhoid fever after consuming a mamey smoothie with a little Salmonella Typhi thrown in at juice bars in California and Nevada.  

Mamey Smoothie Typhoid Fever Outbreak Facts

Our law firm is investigating a tyhpoid fever outbreak in the United States linked to mamey pulp (free consultation about a mamey pulp lawsuit). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers not to eat frozen mamey fruit pulp sold under the La Nuestra brand by Montalvan Sales Inc. Ontario, Calif., or the Goya brand by Goya Foods Inc. Secaucus, N.J. The CDC reports that at least nine people in California (5) and Nevada (4) are ill with typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi. Ill individuals have reported consuming products, including mamey fruit smoothies, made with La Nuestra or Goya brand frozen mamey fruit pulp. 

An investigation by the CDC and health officials in California and Nevada showed an epidemiologic link between an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Typhi and frozen mamey fruit pulp sold under the La Nuestra brand by Montalvan Sales Inc. Ontario, California, and under the Goya brand by Goya Foods Inc. Secaucus, New Jersey.  This evidence can be used to sue Goya Foods or Montalvan Sales for payment of medical bills and compensation for lost income, emotional distress and pain and suffering. 

People with typhoid fever have reported consuming mamey fruit pulp, including mamey fruit smoothies at juice stands.This means that the owners of the fruit stands may also be sued.

What is Typhoid Fever and How Can You Get It from a Mamey Smoothie? 

Typhoid Fever is a serious bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics. There are approximately 400 cases in the United States annually, 70 percent of which are acquired while traveling internationally. Infection occurs when a patient eats or drinks food or beverages handled by a person who is “shedding” the Salmonella Typhi bacterium in his stool, or if sewage is contaminated with the bacterium and the water is used for drinking or washing food.  The investigation into how the Salmonella Typhi got into the frozen mamey juice is continuing.  Because both companies involved got their mamey pulp from the same supplier in Guatemala, the contamination most likely happened there.

Typhoid fever can last up to three or four weeks. Symptoms occur within three days and up to three months after consuming contaminated food or water and include a sustained fever as high as 103 F to 104 F as well as stomach pains, a headache, anorexia, a slow heart rate, malaise, constipation or diarrhea, or a non-productive cough. People are the only host for the Salmonella Typhi bacterium, which is carried in the bloodstream and intestinal tract. Ten percent of untreated patients can remain infectious for as many as three months after the onset of symptoms, and 2 to 5 percent of these patients can become permanent carriers.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with typhoid fever, our Salmonella lawyers are available for a free consultation.

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The following was released August 13, 2010:

Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa is voluntarily recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by their farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.

Wright County Egg Lawsuit

To determine who is part of a Salmonella enteritidis outbreak and the source of an outbreak, health officials use both microbiology and epidemiology. Both types of evidence can be used in a Salmonella lawsuit against the parties responsible for the contamination of the food product and the sale and distribution of the contaminated product.

The microbiology is a series of tests on samples of Salmonella taken from suspected food and the stools of people sickened.

Initial tests determine if the bacteria is Salmonella enteritidis. If testing confirms that you have Salmonella enteritidis, the law in your state requires that your doctor or the hospital has to report the test findings to the state health department. The state health department will usually do further testing (or send the sample to the Unites States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC) to confirm if the genetic fingerprint of your sample matches the genetic fingerprint of the salmonella strains from other people associated with this outbreak.

The epidemiology used involves primarily interviews with people who have been sickened and their families. Health officials get information about where the sick person has been, what he or she ate and other questions that will give direction as to a source of the outbreak.

Determining Victims of an Salmonella Outbreak

A series of events occurs between the time someone is infected and when public health officials determine that the patient is part of an outbreak. So, there will be a delay between the start of illness and confirmation that a patient is part of an outbreak.

Steps to confirmation that a person is part of an outbreak:

• Laboratory Salmonella diagnosis from a stool sample and genetic testing
• Diagnosis based on Salmonella symptoms

For  Salmonella enteritidis lawsuit purposes, it is valuable to have a state health department and/or the CDC determine that a person with a Salmonella infection is part of a foodborne outbreak.  This can be used as evidence in court that:

• The person with the Salmonella infection was a victim of the foodborne outbreak
• The restaurant, food processor and/or other party linked to the outbreak is liable for the victim’s damages

Victims of Salmonella outbreaks should consult an experienced Salmonella lawsuit lawyer regarding an Salmonella lawsuit's strength and the amount of damages that should be sought.

Salmonella Lawyer

If you have been diagnosed with Salmonella enteritidis and are or may be a victim of a foodborne outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies.  You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. Call 1-888-377-8900.

Salmonella lawsuit lawyer Fred Pritzker has over 30 years of experience and has established a national reputation for excellence in the area of food poisoning litigation.  He has recovered millions for victims of food poisoning.


 

 

 

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Salmonella Egg Recall

Wright County Egg, Galt, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling 228,000,000 shell eggs because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis. Salmonella bacterium can cause serious, life-threatening infections in small children, elderly people and anyone with a weakened immune system. Salmonella poisoning symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. If serious cases go untreated, Salmonella infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream. Once in the blood stream it can produce illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.

Wright County Eggs were distributed to retailers in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. These retailers distribute nationwide, so check the eggs in your refrigerator for the follwing brands: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps. Look for codes starting with P and with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225, with plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946 (e.g. P-1026 140). This recall is of shell eggs only.

If you have any of these eggs in your refrigerator, do not eat them. You may return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

There have been confirmed Salmonella enteritidis illnesses relating to the shell eggs in California, Nevada, Colorado and Minnesota. Traceback investigations are still being conducted.

Wright County Egg is fully cooperating with FDA’s investigation and they are diverting existing inventory of shell eggs to a breaker, where they will be pasteurized to kill any Salmonella bacteria present.

Salmonella Egg Recall Lawyer

If you have been sickened with Salmonella enteritidis, you need legal representation to obtain the best settlement to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a leading foodborne illness litigation firm. We have helped thousands of clients recover millions in needed and deserved compensation. Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit the contact form on this page. The consultation is free. Call today.

 

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Salmonella enteritidis, an egg-associated bacterium, can be undetectable by sight or smell. The Salmonella enteritidis can be present in ordinary-looking eggs. If contaminated eggs are eaten raw, or even undercooked, the bacterium can cause illness.
 

Continue Reading...

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A California hamburger E. coli outbreak and recall has been announced by USDA today; starting with a 1 million-pound recall of Valley Meat hamburger that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly human pathogen.

Valley Meat Company of Modesto, California, produced about 1 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties and bulk hamburger meat  from October 2, 2009, to January 12, 2010, that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The potentially tainted hamburger was sold to retailers and restaurant suppliers in California, Arizona, Texas and Oregon.

Seven E. coli O157:H7 laboratory-confirmed infections -- all sharing the same genetic fingerprint -- have been reported by the California Department of Public Health.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen, which represents victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness, strongly urges consumers in California, Arizona, Texas and Oregon to check their freezers for the recalled hamburger meat.  Click here to see the complete FSIS Valley Meat E. coli recall list. 

 Consumers should look for any frozen hamburger marked with the USDA establishment number EST 8268 inside the USDA mark of inspection. That means it was produced by Valley Meats in Modesto.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible.

In 5 to 15 percent of cases, individuals develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) -- related conditions that are life threatening due to kidney, brain, nervous system and heart damage that can result from the release of powerful toxins from E. coli.

If you or a loved one has symptoms of E. coli infection, including bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramps, see your physician immediately and request that a stool culture be taken.

For answers to legal questions about this California hamburger E. coli outbreak, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page. Our firm is a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we have won millions for our clients.

Our lawyers have won many hamburger E. coli lawsuits against large manufacturers, restaurants and other purveyors of contaminated meat. We also advocate strongly and actively for stronger food safety laws nationally and at the state level to keep potentially deadly pathogens like E. coli O157:H7 out of hamburger and the rest of the food supply.

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Update to information below: This Salmonella Hartford outbreak has been associated with Taco Bell restaurants, according to health officials.

A multistate Salmonella outbreak is being investigated by public health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced. The outbreak involves two strains of the pathogen: Salmonella Hartford and Salmonella Baildon.

Although no restaurant or food service establishment has been named in connection with the outbreak, the CDC points to a Mexican-style food chain as a possible common link between the illnesses. According to the CDC, "In each study, analysis indicates that eating at a Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, ... is associated with some illnesses."

Salmonella Hartford Outbreak

So far, the CDC is reporting that 75 people from 15 states have become ill with a matching strain of Salmonella Hartford since early April. The cases are distributed geographically as follows: CO (1), GA (1), IL (5), IN (11), KY (23), MA (2), MI (3), MT (1), NC (1), NH (1), NY (1), OH (19), PA (1), SC (1) and WI (4). Patients range in age from 1 to 80 years old and 15 hospitalizations have so far been reported.

No particular food item was cited as a potential source of the outbreak, but, according to the CDC, "Ill persons (60 %) were significantly more likely than well persons (21%) to report eating at Restaurant Chain A in the week before illness." Outbreak victims reported eating at 13 different locations of this restaurant chain in the week before their illness and four locations were identified in connection with more than one ill person.

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An outbreak of food poisoning that may be related to a freshly prepared fruit and vegetable product  is under investigation at a farmers' market in east-central Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is handling the probe but not telling the public the location of the farmers' market. In a press release, the agency said it is currently investigating more than 10 illnesses that may be related to a freshly prepared fruit and vegetable product.

The health agency did not specify the product.

The notice came with a warning: "It's important to remember that any freshly prepared fruit and vegetable product that is not properly refrigerated can be a potential health risk because they can allow bacteria to grow.''

Iowans should be especially aware of food safety at farmers markets, the agency said. Namely, be aware that any freshly prepared product, such as hummus, salsa, cut fruit salad, and guacamole can be a potential health risk if not handled correctly.

IDPH offered these tips to consumers at farmers' markets:

• Only buy products from vendors who keep freshly prepared fruit and vegetable products cold, either in refrigerator units or on ice.
• Once purchased, keep freshly prepared fruit and vegetable products cold. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the market, bring a cooler or ice pack for storage.
• When you arrive home, place these products immediately in the refrigerator and eat within days.
• Any freshly prepared fruit or vegetable product that is not properly refrigerated should not be eaten, and should be discarded.

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Three people are dead in Louisiana from food poisoning known as  clostridium perfringens -- a bacterium that state health officials say is to blame for an outbreak at Central Louisiana State Hospital at Pineville.

Dr. David Holcombe, medical director for Region 6 of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals' Office of Public Health, told TheTownTalk.com that an epidemiological study implicated chicken salad as the agent.

The Central food poisoning outbreak killed three and sickened 40 at the state hospital starting on the morning of May 7. Patients and staff were affected.  Central Louisiana state hospital provides acute, intermediate, and long-term mental health care, treatment and rehabilitative services to adolescents and adults.

Like most outbreaks of food poisoning, the clostridium perfringens at the Pineville hospital could have been prevented. Holcombe said C. perfringens is a naturally occurring organism that can spread to unsafe levels with improper food storage and handling.

The online newspaper reported that more information is being sought about the three Pineville patients who died. Pending autopsy and toxicology reports will help determine what, if any, other factors caused their illnesses to be fatal.

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A multistate Salmonella serotype Newport outbreak is being investigated in connection with raw alfalfa sprouts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is conducting the investigation in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The outbreak has so far sickened 28 people with matching strains of this type of Salmonella infection in 10 different states. Victims range in age from younger than one year old to 75 years old and 32 is the median age. Cases are distributed throughout the ten states as follows: AZ (2), CA (14), CO (1), ID (3), IL (1), MO (1), NM (1), NV (2), OR (1), and WI (2)

According to the CDC announcement:

"Interviews of case-patients found that most reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts before becoming ill. Some case-patients reported eating sprouts at restaurants; others purchased sprouts at grocery stores. The initial investigation traced the implicated raw alfalfa sprouts to a single sprout processor in California. Investigations are currently ongoing at the sprout processor."

Because of Salmonella contamination concerns, a raw alfalfa sprouts recall was announced by Caldwell Fresh Foods on May 21. The recalled sprouts were sold under several brand names and were sold at 400 Walmart stores in 15 states.They were also sold at Trader Joe's

 

Safe Consumption of Sprouts: Avoid Food Poisoning

 

Health officials advise that children, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and the elderly NOT CONSUME raw sprouts, as they can be a particular risky source of bacteria due to the warm, moist environments in which they are grown. This includes other types of sprouts in addition to alfalfa sprouts, such as mung bean sprouts, clover sprouts and radish sprouts. Cooking the sprouts makes them safer to eat because it can kill potentially harmful bacteria such as Salmonella.

Consumers can also protect themselves by requesting that raw sprouts NOT be added to dishes in restaurants or delis.

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A Minnesota toddler has been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after consuming raw milk, according to the Star Tribune.

The Minnesota HUS case is part of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Three of the four E. coli cases are linked to unpasteurized milk produced at the Hartmann Dairy Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota, also known as M.O.M.s, or Minnesota Organic Milk.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads to a lower than normal number of red blood cells (a condition called anemia), blood clots, and damage to blood vessel walls. Complications of HUS are severe and can include the following:

• Hemolytic anemia and associated blood complications
• Abnormal kidney function
• HUS Kidney failure (renal failure) that may require a kidney transplant (renal transplant) - illness accompanying kidney failure is called uremia (develops when urea and other waste products are retained in the blood)
• Gall stones - probably caused by rapid hemolysis, breaking open of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin
• Elevated pancreatic enzyme levels that could lead to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and or HUS pancreatitis
• Central Nervous System (CNS) disturbances such as irritablilty, behavior changes, disorientation, delerium, hallucinations, dizziness and tremors
• HUS Seizures
• HUS Coma
• HUS Stroke
• HUS Encephalopathy
• Respiratory disease syndrome
• Convulsions
• Heart problems, including heart attack (myocardial infarction), cardio myopathy, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure (HUS heart attack and heart failure)
• Cortical blindness, caused by damage to the visual area in the brain's occipital cortex
• HUS Thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency in the blood)
• Death

Many people who suffer this devastating illness have life-long and very severe medical problems that show up long after the acute phase of the illness is over. This is one reason why it is important to contact an HUS lawyer to discuss your legal rights.

As in this case, many HUS victims are children. Their parents suffer along with them. The fear and uncertainty of loving a child with chronic medical problems is a constant stressor that intrudes on the parents and siblings of a child with HUS.

A recent medical journal article supports the notion that the impact of HUS is not limited to the disease survivor. The paper, Emotional and Behavioral Changes in Parents of Children Affected by Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Associated With Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia Coli: A Qualitative Analysis, concludes:

This [data] demonstrated that intense emotional distress was commonplace at the 1-year follow-up, demonstrating that emotional strain is present long after the acute phase of the child’s illness. The finding that fear of unknown long-term repercussions, relapse, and reinfection were still causing distress and rumination 1 year later suggests that dealing with an infected child is chronic stressor…

On a personal note, my wife and I are the parents of 25 year-old young man with a genetic disorder characterized by physical and cognitive challenges. Loving a child with medical issues is one of the most challenging problems faced by parents. It affects virtually every family decision and not a day goes by without its consequences reverberating throughout the home.

Are parents compensated for this emotional stress? The answer is two-fold: it depends on the law of the state in which the illness occurred and, sadly, not enough.

Many states only allow recovery for the diseased individual. Some allow recovery, but only in cases in which the parent was in the “zone of danger” (meaning they were at risk for injury as well). Fewer still recognize the obvious harm and loss that parents suffer when their children face a life of medical problems related to E. coli O157:H7-induced Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. It’s never right when common sense and the medical literature recognizes a problem for which the law offers little or no remedy.

For a free consultation with an attorney, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our online free consultation form.

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The Utah County Health Department (UCHD) continues its epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Campylobacter in the Saratoga Springs area. To date, of the reported cases of Campylobacter in this outbreak, 17 are confirmed and 333 are probable.

Attorney Elliot Olsen has recently settled a case were water sickened a young child.  Contact Mr. Olsen for more information.

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A Salmonella outbreak associated with Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts has so far sickened 20 in 10 states and hospitalized four, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced.

Caldwell Fresh Foods has recalled the following products, which include two other brand names:

• Caldwell Fresh Foods - 4-ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags, and 2-pound and 5 pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with sticker affixed with the printed words Caldwell Fresh Foods.
• Nature's Choice - 4-ounce plastic cups
• California Exotics brands - 5-ounce plastic clamshell containers
• SOLD AT: Various delis and retailers nationwide. In California, locations include: Kings Super Market, Numero Uno Stores, Cárdenas Markets, Trader Joe's Stores, Gonzalez Northgate Markets, Wal-Mart stores Jons Markets, and Canton Foods

 

Sprouts Contaminated with Salmonella

 

Sprouted seeds, typically from plants like alfalfa or mung beans, are grown in moist, warm environments where harmful pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli can thrive. In fact, Salmonella outbreaks in the past have been associated with sprouts.

The risk of contamination for sprouts can be so high, in fact, that according to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

"The FDA currently advises all consumers to cook sprouts before eating them. And it recommends that the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems should not eat sprouts."

The food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen law firm have represented victims of Salmonella food poisoning from many types of foods, including peanut butter and pepper. Anyone who suspects they may be sick with salmonella food poisoning should see a doctor immediately and be tested for the pathogen.

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An 18-year-old woman with E. coli HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome) has retained Attorney Fred Pritzker to represent her as she seeks compensation from Freshway Foods of Sidney, Oklahoma. Our client, a student at Daemen College in Amherst, New York, is one of 23 people who have confirmed cases of E. coli O145 linked to Freshway Foods romaine lettuce.

Two students in Wappinger Falls, New York (a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old) have also contracted E. coli HUS in the Freshway Foods lettuce food poisoning outbreak.  The students ate romaine lettuce that had been supplied to the school district by Freshway Foods.

HUS is a life-threatening complication of an E. coli O145 infection that can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, seizures, coma, pancreatitis and other serious health problems.  For a free consultation with attorney Fred Pritzker, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our free consultation form.

The latest information from the CDC is as follows:

The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is: MI (10 confirmed and 3 probable), NY (4 confirmed and 3 probable), OH (8 confirmed and 1 probable), and TN (1 confirmed).

Among the confirmed and probable cases with reported dates available, illnesses began between April 10, 2010 and April 26, 2010. Infected individuals range in age from 13 years old to 31 years old and the median age is 19 years. Sixty-six percent of patients are male.

Among the 30 patients with available information, 12 (40%) were hospitalized. Three patients have developed a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS. No deaths have been reported.

Multiple lines of evidence have implicated shredded romaine lettuce from one processing facility as a source of infection in this outbreak. This evidence includes the identification of the outbreak strain of E. coli O145 from an unopened package of shredded romaine lettuce obtained at an institution that received product from the processing facility linked to the outbreak. A case-control study in Michigan found a significant association between illness and consumption of romaine lettuce processed at the same facility that processed lettuce consumed by ill persons in New York, Ohio and Tennessee.

The lettuce processing company (Freshway Foods) has issued a recall of lettuce produced at their facility as a result of the evidence obtained to date.  An additional recall was issued by a separate company that received lettuce from the same farm as the processing company linked to the outbreak.

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A listeriosis outbreak in Texas has sickened seven people. Two of them died. Listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne bacteria. Analysis of Listeria isolates collected from those sickened found that the isolates were genetically identical, suggesting that the same food source is responsible for the illnesses and deaths.

The seven people who contracted listeriosis are from Bexar County (5), Travis County (1) and Hidalgo County (1). 

According to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the victims of this listeriosis outbreak were fragile, elderly people ranging in ages 66 to 93. It is likely that several others were also infected with Listeria but did not get sick or only had flu-like symptoms.

Illnesses were reported from January through May 6 of this year.

The food source of the Listeria bacteria is being investigated. Below are recent Listeria recalls and public health alerts (none of these products have been implicated in this outbreak):

• Casa Italia Prosciutto Public Health Alert – May 11, 2010 – Canadian ready-to-eat deli products produced by Zadi Foods Ltd., CFIA Establishment 665, located in Brampton, Ontario and distributed nationwide: Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto, Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Boneless, Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Mattonella, Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless, Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless Sliced, Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Sliced and Emma Dry Prosciutto. All lots and production dates for the above-listed products were subject to the public health alert.
• Manouri Cheese Recall – May 6, 2010 - Mt. Vikos, Inc., Marshfield, MA 02050 recalled all size packages and all lot numbers of Mt. Vikos Brand Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk. The cheese is distributed in clear plastic packaging for the retail market in 4oz portions with the Mt. Vikos Manouri label. In addition the cheese is distributed in approximately 1 Kilogram logs in clear plastic packaging with the Mt. Vikos Manouri label. Recalled products include 1) retail portions of Mt. Vikos Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk Cheese, Net Wt. 4 oz, UPC# 6-65291-00201-2, all Best Before dates and 2) food service portions of Mt. Vikos Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk Cheese, Random Wt. logs (approximately 1 Kilogram) – all Best By dates.  Mt. Vikos Manouri cheese was distributed nationwide to customers for the retail and food service markets.
• Parker Farm Recall of Various Products - January 15, 2010 - Parkers Farm, Inc. of Coon Rapids, Minnesota expanded the previously announced recall of products to include all date codes. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the following retail stores: Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Aldi. The following recalled products were sold under the Parker Farm or Parkers label:
  ~~~12 ounce & 16 ounce peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), regular and organic varieties are creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~34 ounce peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy and crunchy with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  ~~~7 ounce bagel spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
  ~~~12 ounce & 14 ounce dips & spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varities are jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~16 ounce salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  ~~~32 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, mild, garlic, and black bean with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  ~~~128 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, fire roasted, mild and garlic with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce, 9 ounce, 10 ounce Balls & Logs (in film overwrap), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, smokey bacon, ranch, garlic, jalapeno, pimento, spinach, jajik, beer and chorizo with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
  ~~~5#, 5.5#, 10#, 30# Parker Farm cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, onion, bacon, smoked cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  ~~~16 ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~14 ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  ~~~16 ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
   ~~~7 ounce Dutch Farms cream cheese spreads in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are strawberry, wild berry, honey walnut & apple cinnamon with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Crystal Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, bacon and jalapeno cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Heluva Good cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and horseradish cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~8 ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieites are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
  ~~~10 ounce Amish Classic cheese balls & logs (in film overwrap), varieties are cheddar, port wine, ranch, smokey bacon, beef n onion with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
  ~~~128 ounce San Pablo salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are fire roasted and mild with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
  ~~~12 ounce Century Resources cold pack cheese food (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, horserdish, bacon with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
  ~~~12 ounce Century Resources pimento spread (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9.
  ~~~8 ounce and 12/12 ounce Century Resources cheese ball & log (in film overwrap) sharp cheddar with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
  ~~~12 ounce Century Resources salsa con queso (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
  ~~~4#, 5.5# Block & Barrel cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, port wine and pimiento spread with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
  ~~~30# Block & Barrel sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
  ~~~5# Cobblestone cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
  ~~~30# Cobblestone sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
  ~~~5# Biery label cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar and port wine with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
  ~~~~~~5# Dierks Waukesha cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.

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Three people have contracted E. coli HUS after eating lettuce supplied by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Oklahoma. Our law firm is representing one of the HUS victims, a student at a student at Daemen College in Amherst, New York.

The other two E. coli HUS victims are students at Wappinger Falls—a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old.  The students ate romaine lettuce that had been supplied to the school district by Freshway Foods.

Other Wappingers Falls students were also sickened in this Freshway Foods lettuce E. coli outbreak. They attend Roy C. Ketcham High School, John Jay High School Wappingers Junior High School and Van Wyck Middle School.

The outbreak has sickened people in Michigan (10 confirmed and 3 probable), New York (4 confirmed and 3 probable), Ohio (8 confirmed and 1 probable), and Tennessee (1 confirmed). Among the confirmed and probable cases with reported dates available, illnesses began between April 10, 2010 and April 26, 2010. Infected individuals range in age from 13 years old to 31 years old and the median age is 19 years.

The bacteria responsible for this outbreak is E. coli O145, also referred to as O145 STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli). E. coli O145 is one of several strains of non-O157 STECs. Currently, there are limited public health surveillance data on the occurrence of non-O157 STECs, including E. coli O145; therefore, E. coli O145 may go unreported. Because it is more difficult to identify than E. coli O157, many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC infection.

Investigators have found multiple lines of evidence have implicated Freshway Foods romaine lettuce as a source of infection in this outbreak. This evidence includes the identification of the outbreak strain of E. coli O145 from an unopened package of Freshway Foods shredded romaine lettuce provided by the Wappingers Falls school district.

A Freshway Foods recall of lettuce products was issued on May 6. The recalled romaine lettuce products were sold to wholesalers and food service outlets in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The recalled romaine products were used in restaurants, cafeterias and in-store salad bars and delis for Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the states listed. 

For a free consultation with an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen regarding a Freshway Foods lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our online consultation form.

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A Freshway Foods lettuce recall has been issued in the wake of an E. coli 0145 outbreak that has sickened approximately 50 people at universities and colleges in Michigan, New York and Ohio, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Illnesses have been reported at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and Daemen College in Amherst, New York.

The potentially contaminated lettuce was sold under the Freshway and Imperial Sysco brands to wholesale, service outlets, and in-store retail salad bars and delis in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The lettuce was distributed to those states at salad bars and delis in the following stores: Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores.

E coli Infections from Lettuce

The food safety attorneys at Pritzker Olsen law firm have, unfortunately, dealt with foodborne illness outbreaks associated with Ecoli in lettuce before. Our lawyers have, in fact, successfully recovered monetary damages for victims of lettuce E.coli food poisoning. People with E. coli infections from food products like the contaminated Freshway Foods lettuce could be able to file a lawsuit against producers and distributors of contaminated food.

The Spinach E. coli outbreak of 2006 drew national media attention to the issue of E coli contaminated produce. Unfortunately, that outbreak was not an isolated incident. The recent Freshway Foods lettuce outbreak associated with a different strain of the pathogen--E. coli 0145--shows the need for food producers to focus on the safety of products and for government agencies to tighten produce regulations and inspections, said food poisoning attorney Fred Pritzker. "The USDA currently only regulates one strain of E. coli, and that is E. coli O157. However, if other strains of E. coli can severely sicken and even kill people, those strains need to be regulated as well."

 

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An E. coli outbreak at Four Mile Prison in Canon City, Colorado has been associated with E. coli O111, a lesser-known but no less dangerous strain of E. coli. So far three inmates are sick with E. coli O111 and eight more could potentially be part of the outbreak as well, according to local news sources.

Colorado health officials have inspected the facility's kitchens and found no unsanitary conditions, according to Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti. The Colorado DOC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are working together to locate the source of the outbreak and keep it from growing.

 

About E. coli O111

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified six types of E.coli besides E. coli O157:H7  that are lesser known but still can be seriously harmful and even deadly. E. coli O111 is in this category.

These types of Ecoli are known as Shiga toxin-producing E coli, or STEC, because they produce a dangerous toxin that causes severe illness in normally healthy people. Symptoms can include:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Severe abdominal cramping
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS)
• Kidney failure
• Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)

There have been 11 outbreaks since 1990 that the CDC has associated with E. coli O111.  Although it is more rare than E. coli O157:H7, it can be just as deadly. STEC cause about 110,000 foodborne illnesses per year, and about 30 percent of those illnesses could be traced to non-O157 types of E. coli, such as O111, according to the CDC.

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Our law firm recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a husband and wife who contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating beef at a barbecue restaurant. We sued the beef processor, a distributor of the meat and the barbecue restaurant that served the couple the meal that made them sick.

The husband was hospitalized with severe bloody diarrhea and cramps. The wife also suffered bloody diarrhea and cramps, but she developed TTP-HUS, a complication of an E. coli O157:H7 infection that can cause kidney failure, brain injuries, heart damage, other serious injuries and death.  She spent two months in the hospital and almost died several times.

An E. coli outbreak in Honolulu, Hawaii that sickened at least seven people in March also involves a barbecue restaurant, Peppa’s Korean BBQ. The Peppa’s E. coli may be the result of food handling violations that closed the restaurant down yesterday. According to the Honolulu Advisor:

After it was confirmed that some of those sickened by E. coli 0157:H7 had eaten at Peppa's, state Sanitation Branch inspectors were dispatched to the restaurant, where they observed food-handling violations….

Those violations, coupled with confirmation of the Peppa's connection, caused inspectors to issue a "notice of permit suspension" and a cease-and-desist order against the restaurant at about 10 a.m. yesterday….

To contact a lawyer at Pritzker Olsen about the Peppa’s E. coli outbreak, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

Keywords: Peppa’s E. coli, lawsuit, Honolulu E. coli, lawyer, attorney, Peppa’s Korean Barbecue, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura (TTP), child E. coli.

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Epidemiologists are studying what caused more than 150 people to fall ill with diarrhea, vomitting and stomach cramping after a catered dinner Friday night at Raleigh Convention Center.

The event was part of a regional youth and government conference held by YMCA. According to a report on the apparent foodborne illness outbreak by the Charlotte News and Observer newspaper, at least five attendees were hospitalized.

The illnesses were so sudden and widespread that ambulances were sent to the downtown Raleigh Sheraton Hotel where many of the sick were staying. The newspaper said at least 20 ambulances and several firetrucks were parked along Salisbury Street behind the hotel throughout Saturday morning.

Wake County health investigators interviewed students Saturday afternoon to determine whether the illness might have been caused by a food-borne pathogen.  

Wake County spokeswoman Marshall Parrish said epidemiologists will be studying the outbreak over the next few days or weeks in an attempt to find the cause.

If you were affected by this outbreak and have questions about possible legal compensation, contact national food poisoning law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we have been helping victims collect compensation for years.

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The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has added another year of results to its standing analysis of foodborne disease outbreak investigations and the biggest new finding is that states are completing fewer probes than at any time in the past decade.

The "Outbreak Alert!'' report said that nearly 1,100 outbreaks -- including E. coli HUS outbreaks --were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007 (the latest year of completed figures), but in only 378 cases did states identify both a food and the pathogen, which is the mark of a completed investigation.

In the early years, the number of completed outbreak investigations improved and reached a high of 44 percent in 2001. "Unfortunately, the percentage has gradually declined from 44 percent to 34 percent in 2007, the lowest percentage of fully investigated outbreaks in any year since 1999,'' the report said.

CSPI  says the results suggest that states may have been devoting fewer resources to tracking down the causes of outbreaks. Such a trend is troubling in a food safety system that depends heavily on state and local health departments for detection of outbreaks.

Fewer completed investigations mean that less information is available to the CDC -- downgrading their ability to identify problems in the food safety system or issue recalls to protect the public.

The latest findings by CSPI are another reason why national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is actively pushing for the completion of food safety reform legislation that began this year with passage of a bill in the House of Representatives. Sometime in 2010, the Senate will take up the issue, which the Obama Administration has identified as a priority.

An important element of the food safety overhaul calls for beefing up the network of detection via more resources to regionally strong labs and better communication between state and federal public health investigators. That is the kind of approach the U.S. needs to shift to a food safety culture that is more focused on preventing disease and limiting the spread of outbreaks.

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The luxury Epic Hotel in downtown Miami is closed this week while officials inspect and super-chlorinate its water system following the death of a hotel guest and illnesses to two others -- all from Legionnaires' Disease.

Miami-Dade health officials are still investigating and have not yet linked the outbreak to the Epic Hotel. But the investigation so far has found that a powerful water filtration system newly purchased by the hotel was stripping out chlorine, making it susceptible to bacterial growth and waterborne disease.

Dr. Vincent Conte, the health department's top epidemiologist, told the Miami Herald that his department wants to hear from anyone who has recently stayed at the hotel and experienced Legionnaires' Disease symptoms. Symptoms include cough, fever with or without chills, greenish or yellow sputum, headaches and body aches. The incubation period is two to 14 days from the time of exposure.

If you or a loved one is exhibiting these symptoms after a stay at the Epic, see a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions or for assistance in dealing with the Miami-Dade health department, call national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit a contact and information form on the side of this web page.

One European tourist died in October, and two others fell ill in November, all from Legionnaires' Disease, Conte told the Miami newspaper. Staying at the Epic was a variable that all three victims had in common. 

Legionnaire's Disease is a type of pneumonia that can kill 5 percent to 30 percent of those it infects. Each year in the U.S., between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease. However, many infections are not diagnosed or reported, so this number may be higher. The disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Pritzker Olsen is a law firm for victims of foodborne and waterborne disease. We are one of the few firms in the country practicing extensively in this area of litigation and we have recovered tens of millions for our clients. If you need legal representation in connection with the Miami Epic Hotel Legionnaires' outbreak investigation, please contact us. 

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By FOOD SAFETY ATTORNEY FRED PRITZKER

A new Salmonella outbreak was announced today: over 825,000 pounds of ground beef products processed by Fresno, CA-based Beef Packer, Inc. and distributed to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), the “particular strain of Salmonella Newport is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.” In other words, this already “bad bug” is potentially much more dangerous than the “garden variety” of Salmonella (which by itself is particularly dangerous to the elderly, young children and people who are immune-compromised).

This latest Salmonella outbreak highlights a number of long-standing food safety issues.

The first is widespread and dangerous overuse of antibiotics in animal production. As many studies have shown, the prophylactic administration of massive amounts of antibiotics to livestock results in drug-resistant superbugs that are much harder to control and cause much greater harm to people sickened in foodborne illness outbreaks. I can think of no greater heartbreak than watching a loved one get progressively more ill from a foodborne illness and know that doctors are powerless to treat it.

Another issue raised by this Salmonella Newport outbreak is referenced in the following excerpt from the USDA-FSIS recall notice:

The ground beef products were produced on various dates ranging from June 5, 2009 through June 23, 2009 and bear the establishment number "EST. 31913" printed on the case code labels. The ground beef products were distributed to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah. Because these products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names, consumers should check with their local retailer to determine whether they may have purchased any of the products subject to recall.

In effect, our government is telling us that it’s up to individual consumers to track down whether the hamburger they consumed is laced with feces-laden poison. Could this approach be any more ass-backwards?

Continue Reading...

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FOX13 out of Memphis interviewed Attorney Fred Pritzker for their story on the Salmonella outbreak associated with the A&E Bar-B-Q located at 3721 Hickory Hill, Memphis, Tennessee.  Mr. Pritzker is representing a victim of the outbreak.

(There is a short commercial before the news report because we have embedded the video in the form required by FOX13.)

 For more information, please see A&E Bar-B-Q Lawsuit.

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The CDC provided updated Nestle cookie dough outbreak information today:

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.

As of Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 72 persons infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7 with a particular DNA fingerprint have been reported from 30 states. Of these, 51 have been confirmed by an advanced DNA test as having the outbreak strain; these confirmatory test results are pending on the others. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (2), California (3), Colorado (6), Connecticut (1), Delaware (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (2), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (6), Missouri (1), Montana (1), North Carolina (2), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), Nevada (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (4), Virginia (2), Washington (6), and Wisconsin (1).

Continue Reading...

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Federal investigators continue their investigation of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with consumption of raw Nestle Toll House cookie dough that has sickened at least 69 people in 29 states. The evidence implicating the cookie dough consists of both epidemiological and microbiological evidence.

According to the CDC:

In an epidemiologic study, ill persons answered questions about foods consumed during the days before becoming ill and investigators compared their responses to those of persons of similar age and gender previously reported to State Health Departments with other illnesses. Preliminary results of this investigation indicate a strong association with eating raw prepackaged cookie dough. Most patients reported eating refrigerated prepackaged Nestle Toll House cookie dough products raw.

In addition to this epidemiological evidence, FDA has uncovered microbiological evidence at the Nestle plant in Danville, Virginia. At least one unopened package of refrigerated Neste Toll House cookie dough that was at the plant tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, according to Nestle USA:

FDA has found and confirmed evidence of E. coli 0157:H7 in a retained production sample of 16.5 oz. Nestlé Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar. The product has a day code of 9041 and a "Best before 10 JUN 2009" notation.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 after consuming Nestle Toll House cookie dough, contact our law firm regarding the evidence that can be used in a Nestle lawsuit. If you were sickened but did not have a stool sample tested, you may still have a case against Nestle if you have leftover cookie dough and it tests positive for the outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7. Contact our law firm for information regarding testing leftover cookie dough.

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Beef Recall Alert: JSB Swift Beef Company, a Colorado firm, has recalled about 380,000 pounds of beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  The recall was prompted by an outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people nationwide.  The recall is an expansion of a June 24 JBS Swift Beef recall of 41,280 pounds of beef products that were distributed to Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

The recalled JBS Swift Beef products were produced on April 21, 2009 and were distributed both nationally and internationally to "establishments" and retail customers who then further processed the beef.  Some of the recalled beef was ground into hamburger.

Because the recalled beef was further processed, the only way you can know if you consumed any of the recalled beef is to contact all stores and eating establishments where you purchased a beef product.  Read "Are You Part of an E. coli Outbreak?"

CONTACT OUR LAWYERS ABOUT E. COLI VICTIM COMPENSATION >>

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by Attorney Fred Pritzker

 

 A Wall Street Journal report says that inspection reports covering the past five years show that officials at Nestlé’s Danville, Va. plant, which manufactured the suspected E. coli O157:H7 tainted cookie dough, "refused to allow a Food and Drug Administration inspector to review consumer complaints or inspect its program designed to prevent food contamination." The FDA can only demand access to records if it shows “a reasonable belief” that the foods are a serious health threat.

This just goes to show how absolutely broken our food safety system is. The FDA does not even have authority to inspect a major food producing plant’s records. Thankfully, legislation currently being considered by Congress would strengthen food safety requirements for food producers, calling for them to keep more records, undergo more frequent and thorough inspections, and give the FDA access during inspections. Despite several recent national outbreaks that have sickened thousands, industry insiders made it clear that this legislation would be opposed by many in the food industry. The question that remains – how many people must get sick and die from the food they eat before the food industry acknowledges the system is broken? Hopefully Congress will decide that enough is enough and pass real food safety reform as soon as possible. 

Attorney Fred Pritzker has represented E. coli victims nationwide. If believe you are part of the Nestlé Toll House E. coli outbreak, contact Fred at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form.

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by Attorney Fred Pritzker

The recent multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products is still under investigation by state and federal health authorities.  At this stage of the investigation, there is no solid hypothesis as to how cookie dough became contaminated with a pathogen generally found in the feces of cattle. In all my years investigating and representing victims of foodborne illness, this particular E. coli O157:H7 outbreak may be the most baffling. There simply is not an obvious source of contamination like we have seen with other meat or produce related E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks. One very real possibility, however, is that cross-contamination at some stage of the manufacturing process contaminated the cookie dough on a very large scale.

Cross-contamination is not just a concern for commercial food producers – it poses a risk to every consumer in their kitchen and local grocery store. Consumers need to be vigilant about the food they feed their family, and take time to think about the consequences of using the same utensils and surfaces to prepare potentially dangerous raw food and ready to eat food. Often we do not think about the potential hazards of cross-contamination, yet E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella infections can be lethal. By following these useful food safety recommendations you can greatly reduce the chances your family becomes ill because of cross-contamination.  

When shopping:

• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery-shopping cart.
• Place these foods in plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods.
• It is also best to separate these foods from other foods at check out and in your grocery bags.
• Ask your grocer or butcher about their sterilization process for utensils and meat cutters that touch raw meat.

When refrigerating food:

• Place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods. Raw juices often contain harmful bacteria.
• Store eggs in their original carton and refrigerate as soon as possible.

When preparing food:

• Wash hands and surfaces often. Harmful bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops. To prevent this:
• Wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers; or handling pets.
• Use hot, soapy water and paper towels or clean cloths to wipe up kitchen surfaces or spills. Wash cloths often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, and counter tops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next item.

Cutting boards:

• Always use a clean cutting board.
• If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, you should replace them.

Marinating food:

• Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
• Sauce that is used to marinate raw meat, poultry, or seafood should not be used on cooked foods, unless it is boiled just before using.

Fruits and vegetables:

• Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt and grime.
• Remove and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.
• Because bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of fruit or vegetables, be careful not to contaminate these foods while slicing them up on the cutting board, and avoid leaving cut produce at room temperature for many hours.

When serving food:

• Always use a clean plate.
• Never place cooked food back on the same plate or cutting board that previously held raw food.

Attorney Fred Pritzker represents E. coli victims nationwide.  He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form.

 

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Nestle Toll House cookie dough packages are printed with a warning against raw consumption of the product. In a press release, the founder and president of national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys explains the emptiness of the warning and calls on Nestle to immediately pay medical bills and lost wages for victims of the ongoing Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2009 -- Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm with extensive experience in E. coli O157:H7 litigation, has called on Nestle USA to immediately pay the medical bills, lost wages and other expenses incurred by victims of the E. coli outbreak that state and federal health officials have associated with eating uncooked Nestle Toll House cookie dough.

Fred Pritzker, founder and president of the law firm, also said that Nestle will eventually be held accountable for full compensation to victims even though Toll House cookie dough packages carry a warning against eating the product raw. According to Consumer Reports, 39 percent of American consumers make a habit of eating cookie dough raw.

"It's a popular snack eaten from the package and no one knows that better than Nestle,'' Pritzker said. "A tidy little warning against eating raw dough won't get a company off the hook for selling food that is laced with a deadly pathogen.''

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 70 individuals in 30 states have been diagnosed since March 1 with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, an organism that produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness and death. Thirty of the 70 victims have been hospitalized, including seven who have suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous complication that attacks a person's red blood cells and kidneys. Nestle has recalled ALL varieties of its refrigerated Toll House cookie and brownie dough and the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have warned consumers not to eat or bake with the product.

"It is only fair that Nestle pay for the medical bills of its injured customers,'' Pritzker said. "The families deserve that peace of mind.''

He said other corporations involved in E. coli outbreaks have advanced medical expenses to those injured by their food products. "Corporate responsibility means taking concrete steps to right a wrong. It is time for Nestle to step up and guarantee that its Toll House cookie dough customers will not be stuck with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills,'' he said.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and it is involved in practically every major outbreak, including the peanut product Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 700 people and killed nine late last year and early this year. PritzkerOlsen is representing the families of three women who died in the Salmonella outbreak and has filed a Salmonella wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corp. of America -- the company that federal officials have linked to the outbreak.

Currently, Pritzker Olsen is preparing information for a possible Nestle cookie dough lawsuit and it is doing some of its own investigating into the outbreak and product recall. Most of Nestle's Toll House cookie dough is produced at a factory in Danville, Virginia, where 550 people work. The plant also makes Buitoni refrigerated pasta.

To contact an E. coli  lawyer Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact us online by completing one of our forms for a free case consultation.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in with its first report on the Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak and recall, saying that young females dominate the known universe of victims.

The CDC also named all states involved in the outbreak. States with the most cases are Minnesota (6), Washington (5), Colorado (5), Illinois (5), Ohio (4), Massachusetts (4), Texas (3) and Maine (3).

The complete list -- provided by the CDC -- goes as follows:  Arkansas (1), Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Delaware (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (6), Missouri (2), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), Nevada (2), Ohio (4), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (2), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (1).

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is accepting cases from all states involved in the outbreak, which has sickened at least 66 people. Federal authorities say 25 of the victims have been hospitalized and seven have suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, a  type of kidney failure that presents severe complications.

If you or someone you know has become ill from eating Nestle cookie dough products, see a physician and make sure E. coli test results are forwarded to your state health department. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 and have eaten raw cookie dough from Nestle, an E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen is ready to assist you. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our online forms for a free case consultation.

Nestle has said that its cookie dough packages carry a warning not to eat the product raw. But everyone knows that Americans commonly eat raw cookie dough as a treat. In addition, a person could get sick without knowingly eating raw dough -- just from handling it during the cooking process and getting it on your hands.

Nestle has recalled ALL varieties of its refrigerated, prepackaged Toll House cookie and brownie dough and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC have warned consumers not to eat the product raw nor bake it. See the complete recall list by clicking here.

The CDC said the illnesses have been traced to March 1. More than 70 percent of the confirmed cases are in patients under the age of 19. Three-fourths of all patients are female. The CDC said "most'' patients sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 told investigators that they had eaten raw Nestle cookie dough before experiencing vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. No one over the age of 57 is in the group.

Continue Reading...

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded $1.05 million in grants to three states to increase laboratory testing capacity, including capacity for analyzing food and bacteria during outbreaks of foodborne illness.

The agreement  enhances federal and state cooperation and is designed to strengthen our national response to food emergencies, including outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and other infectious diseases.

National food poisoning and food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is acutely aware of the importance state health departments play in tracking outbreaks of potentially deadly foodborne illnesses. In January of this year, it was Minnesota's health investigators who first tracked the cause of a 3-month-old Salmonella outbreak to peanut products from Virginia-based Peanut Corp. of America.

Pritzker Olsen represents the families of three women -- one from Ohio and two from Minnesota --   whose deaths were tied to the outbreak. The firm is one of  only a few in the country that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and its lawyers have won millions of dollars for clients. To contact food poisoning lawyers at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online for a free case consultation . 

The three states -- Arkansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska -- each receive $350,000 for Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) chemistry laboratories, the FDA said.

According to an FDA press release dated June 2, here are the highlights of each grant:

1. Arkansas – Arkansas Department of Health, Little Rock, Ark. The grant award will be used to increase the department’s ability to test for toxic and unknown substances in food products, provide regional support for national responses during food surveillance activities, increase state and local emergency response capacities and become more proficient in testing foods for toxic and unknown substances.
2. Nebraska – Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Lincoln, Neb. The award will enable analyses of foods and food products in the event redundancy or additional laboratory capacity is needed for chemical-related analyses.
3. Wisconsin – Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Madison, Wis. The grant will provide for standing reserve capacity within the FERN for response to chemical-related analysis needs, or an event of such significance that it threatens the national food supply.

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On Sunday, a seven-year-old girl died from an E. coli infection that may be linked to an E. coli outbreak associated with consuming ground beef produced by Valley Meats LLC.  In response to this outbreak, the company recalled over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products that had been sold to restaurants and food service accounts.

When ground beef tests positive for E. coli O157:H7, it means cow feces got ground in with the meat. There are sanitation measures that meat producers can take to prevent this. When E. coli-contaminated ground beef is distributed, it means the producer did not test the meat for E. coli or sent it out even though it did test positive for E. coli. When ground beef (usually hamburgers) cooked by a restaurant transmits E. coli to a customer, it means the restaurant did not cook the meat adequately because E. coli can be killed with heat. 

This little girl’s death was preventable, and the companies that are responsible should pay.  Contact E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen, a national E. coli litigation law firm, for information on compensation for E. coli victims and their families: 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form for review by an attorney.

In addition to fighting for the best possible compensation package for E. coli victims and their families, our attorneys support changes in law and policy that will help prevent E. coli outbreaks. 

When Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) called needing a family member of a food poisoning victim to testify before Congress, we arranged to have one of our clients go to Washington and tell Congress about his mother who died from Salmonella poisoning. Congress and the population in general need to know that we have a food safety crisis in this country and that people are dying. 

We are asking all of our readers to contact their federal legislators to tell them we don’t want any more seven-year-olds to die because they ate ground beef or any other food product.

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Alfalfa seeds from Italy have been associate with a multistate Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. After preliminary epidemiology regarding the ongoing outbreak of illness from Salmonella Saintpaul in people who had eaten alfalfa sprouts was shared with the supplier of the seeds, the supplier made the decision to voluntarily withdraw certain alfalfa seeds from the market.  According to an FDA alert, the recalled alfalfa seeds include the following:

[Seeds] in 50-pound white bags that are either paper or woven from a synthetic material, and the lot numbers in question begin with “032,” followed by a hyphen and three more digits. The bags carry a computer-generated white or yellow label, on which is printed “Distributed by Caudill Seed Company., 1402 W. Main St., Louisville KY 40203” and the lot number.

CDC Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak Information

CDC is providing updated information on the alfalfa sprouts Salmonella outbreak.  Here is the most recent information from the CDC (last modified April 27):

Since mid-March, 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 7 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Michigan (17), Minnesota (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (2), Utah (1), and West Virginia (2). Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may be reported from other states. No deaths have been reported.

FDA Recommendations for Growers and Retailers

The FDA alert to growers, retailers and other businesses regarding the alfalfa seed recall provides recommendations for businesses:

Retailers, restaurateurs, and personnel at other food-service facilities should ask their suppliers to verify that the alfalfa sprouts or seeds being provided do not come from an affected lot before buying or serving them. Suppliers who can verify that their products were not sourced from the affected lots may wish to notify their customers; likewise, retailers, restaurateurs, and food-service facilities who have verified the sources of their alfalfa products may wish to notify their customers.
Seeds from the affected lots, lot numbers beginning with 032, and sprouts grown from them, should be safely discarded, as should other products that contain the sprouts, such as sprout blends.

Growers who have used seeds from the potentially contaminated lots should clean all equipment and other surfaces that came into contact with them. They should also safely discard any water that came into contact with the sprouts, and disinfect receptacles or equipment that came into contact with the water.

FDA has long-standing guidance for the sprout industry and continues to urge growers to follow this guidance, which can reduce the risk of contamination with Salmonella and other bacteria (available on the FDA web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html). FDA also urges retailers to use sprouts obtained from growers who follow the FDA guidance.

FDA Warning to Consumers Not to Eat Raw Alfalfa Sprouts

Although the FDA, CDC and state and local health officials have found at least one source of the sprouts Salmonella, FDA has not revised its warning to consumers not to eat raw alfalfa sprouts:

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, until further notice because of a risk of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination.  As soon as the source of the contamination is identified, FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened after eating alfalfa sprouts.  For more information about the legal implications of this alfalfa seed recall, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the free consultation form. 

More information: Alfalfa Sprouts Lawsuit, Salmonella Lawyer, Food Poisoning Lawyer.

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This week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a CDC publication, has an article about an E. coli outbreak associated with a day camp petting zoo:

On June 7, 2007, the Pinellas County Health Department in central Florida was notified by a private physician regarding a positive laboratory result for Shiga toxin--producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) infection in a child aged 9 years. Initial interviews revealed the child had attended a week-long session at a day camp and had come into contact with animals in the camp's petting zoo. On June 8, an investigation was begun by the Pinellas County Health Department; the same day, the petting zoo was closed on the recommendation of the health department.

The outbreak investigation identified seven cases of E. coli O157 infection: four laboratory-confirmed primary cases, two probable primary cases, and one laboratory-confirmed secondary case, all associated directly or indirectly with the petting zoo. Two children were hospitalized.

The symptoms reported were as follows:

• Diarrhea with bloody stools (four patients)
• Diarrhea without bloody stools (three)
• Abdominal cramping (four)
• Nausea (two)
• Vomiting (two)
• Fever (two)

Both epidemiological and microbiological evidence associated the petting zoo with the E. coli outbreak:

All four campers with primary confirmed cases reported contact (e.g., petting, carrying, and feeding) with the petting zoo animals. Direct contact with the animals also was reported by a camper with probable infection; whether the second camper with probable infection had animal contact was unknown. Investigation revealed no common food, beverage, or recreational water exposures that might account for the STEC O157 infections.

Stool specimens from five of the seven children were collected during May 31--June 12. Specimens from the 30 zoo animals and four soil samples from the grounds of the petting zoo were collected by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on July 23. Four human clinical isolates of E. coli O157:NM (nonmotile), nine isolates from goats, and all four soil isolates had an identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern (EXHX01.0202) when tested at the Florida Public Health Laboratory. The PFGE pattern did not match any of the 30 other STEC O157 strains collected in Florida's E. coli database in 2007 and did not match any of the strains in the CDC PulseNet database. One isolate from a goat had a different PFGE pattern from the human clinical isolates.

On June 8, the first day of the Pinellas County Health Department investigation, the petting zoo was closed on the recommendation of the county health department. The zoo animals were placed under quarantine for E. coli O157:NM colonization. Subsequently, no additional cases of STEC O157 infection were reported among campers or staff members.

This a good reminder to petting zoo operators that they should adhere to CDC guidelines for supervised handwashing and other prevention measures (e.g., no eating near the pens) when children are around animals.

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Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened in a mutistate Salmonella outbreak linked to raw alfalfa sprouts.

This outbreak continues to widen, and the FDA and CDC are recommending that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, which have been linked to widespread Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

According to an FDA announcement:

The investigation indicates that the problem may be linked to contamination of seeds for alfalfa sprouts. Because suspect lots of seeds may be sold around the country and may account for a large proportion of the alfalfa seeds currently being used by sprout growers, and cases of illness are spread across multiple states, FDA and CDC are issuing this general advisory.

FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which seeds and alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination, so that this advisory can be changed as quickly as possible.

CDC, FDA and state and local authorities in six states have associated this outbreak with eating raw alfalfa sprouts. Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia have reported 31 cases of illness with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul to CDC. Most of those who became ill reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts.  Some reported eating raw sprouts at restaurants; others reported purchasing the raw sprouts at the retail level.

The illnesses began in mid-March. Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may appear in other states. No deaths have been reported. The number of infected people may be higher than currently reported because some illnesses have not yet been confirmed with laboratory testing.

The CDC and FDA recommend at all times that persons at high risk for complications, such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems, not eat raw sprouts because of the risk of contamination with Salmonella or other bacteria. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as meningitis and bone infections.

Initial investigation results trace the contaminated raw alfalfa sprouts to multiple sprout growers in multiple states. This suggests a potential problem with the seeds used, as well as the possible failure of the sprout growers involved to appropriately and consistently follow the FDA Sprout Guidance issued in 1999 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html. The guidance recommends an effective seed disinfection treatment immediately before the start of sprouting (such as treating seed in 20,000 parts per million Calcium hypochlorite solution with agitation for 15 minutes) and regularly testing the water used for every batch of sprouts for Salmonella and E coli O157:H7 contamination.

This outbreak appears to be an extension of an earlier outbreak in 2009. In February and March, an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections occurred in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota. This outbreak was linked to raw alfalfa sprouts, and the outbreak strain was indistinguishable from that of these recently reported cases.  A separate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections was also linked to sprouts in 2009. In the 1990s, a number of outbreaks related to sprouts led FDA to issue its guidance. Experience over the past decade has shown that the likelihood of Salmonella in sprouts can be minimized when recommendations from FDA’s Sprout Guidance are followed.

Preventive controls are very important in the growing of alfalfa sprouts. FDA reminds sprout growers to be vigilant in their food safety practices and strongly encourages sprout growers to follow the Agency’s Sprout Guidance. Additionally, the United Fresh Produce Association has advised all of its members to follow FDA’s guidance on sprouts. FDA appreciates that the produce industry has reinforced this message and reminds retailers that it is prudent to sell sprouts from growers who follow FDA's recommendations.

There are a number of parties that may be liable for illnesses related to this Salmonella outbreak:

• The grower of the alfalfa sprouts
• The processor
• The distributor
• A restaurant, deli, cafeteria or other eating establishment

Many of the victims of this outbreak consumed the Salmonella-contaminated sprouts at restaurants.  Generally, restaurants are liable for any illnesses associated with their food, even if the the food was contaminated with Salmonella before it got to the restaurant.

Compensation for victims of Salmonella outbreaks may include the following:

• Medical Expenses (past and future)
• Lost income (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (past and future), including physical pain, suffering, emotional distress and disability

For more information and a free consultation, please contact our law firm: 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free consultation form.

 

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Paramedics were called to a restaurant Friday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend to at least nine cases of possible foodborne illness.

Independent Weekly quoted a Wake County health official saying that an outbreak of illness was under investigation, but the official wouldn't even say if the patients ate at the same restaurant.

"Typically we don't implicate a facility until we have confirmation of lab results,'' Andre Pierce, director of environmental health and safety division of the county's environmental services division, told the weekly. "The investigation is ongoing and we don't have any results yet.''

But the newspaper checked with the Raleigh-Wake 911 Center and an official there said the center received an emergency call shortly before 10 p.m. Friday for help at Evoo, a Mediterranean restaurant in Raleigh's Five Points.

When the paramedic unit arrived, it called for backup and additional personnel were dispatched to the scene. In all, the newspaper reported, nine rescuers attended to victims at the restaurant.

According to the online comments of an unidentified reader of the Independent Weekly story, investigators are not only investigating for possible food poisoning. Reportedly, the officials also are looking at the possibility that a virus was brought into the restaurant by a customer or third party.

If you or someone you know has become seriously ill from food poisoning, call a food poisoning attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Our lawyers are recognized nationally and have been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, CNN, Fox News and CBS News.

To contact one of our attorneys, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete one of our free online case consultation forms.

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A state health department has taken a firm stand against Peanut Corporation of America (pay attention FDA, and you might learn something). From a press release issued today by the Texas Department of State Health Services:

The Texas Department of State Health Services today ordered Peanut Corporation of America to recall all products ever shipped from its Plainview plant. The order was issued after dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers were discovered yesterday in a crawl space above a production area during an in-depth DSHS inspection.

The inspection also found that the plant’s air handling system was not completely sealed and was pulling debris from the infested crawl space into production areas of the plant resulting in the adulteration of exposed food products.

DSHS also ordered the plant, which began operations in March 2005, to stop producing and distributing food products.  Though plant officials voluntarily stopped operations Monday night, the DSHS order prohibits the plant from reopening without DSHS approval.

State law allows DSHS to issue such orders when conditions exist that pose “... an immediate and serious threat to human life or health.”

Laboratory tests are being done on food and environmental samples from the plant, but DSHS officials said today’s orders are not contingent on finding Salmonella or other illness-causing organisms.

The orders were signed by DSHS Commissioner David Lakey, M.D.

Our only line of defense against companies like Peanut Corporation of America seems to be state departments of health.  The FDA has consistently put profits ahead of food safety.

We welcome your comments.  Do you think that the FDA is protecting your family from dangerous food products?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Fred Pritzker 1-888-3777-8900 (toll-free)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – February 6, 2009 – Eating contaminated food is still far and away the most common way for people to become infected with E. coli O157:H7, a deadly pathogen that sickens more than 70,000 Americans each year.

But national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen Attorneys is reminding families early in 2009 that contact with animals at livestock shows, petting zoos and other exhibits is another proven way for the organism to travel.

The law firm's warning stems from a current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Colorado. Health officials there are investigating an apparent connection between a growing number of genetically matched infections and attendance at the recent Western National Stock Show in Denver.

According to numerous press reports, at least 20 people who live on the Front Range in Colorado have been infected with the same strain of E. coli. Sixteen of the illnesses are in children who attended the animal exhibit, including a child who is 17 months old. The two-week show drew more than 643,000 attendees before it ended January 25 and health officials expect the number of E. coli O157:H7 infections in the current outbreak to grow.

"This outbreak should not have happened and could have been prevented,'' said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen. "When stock shows encourage or permit public contact with animals, there is a well known risk of E. coli O157:H7 infection and equally well known measures that should be in place to prevent such infections.''

Pritzker said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV) published a compendium of such infection prevention measures almost four years ago.

"Although the matter is still under investigation, it seems likely that rules of this sort were not implemented or followed,'' he said.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a rare variety of E. coli that produces a toxin that causes severe damage to the lining of the intestine. Specifically, the acute disease caused by E. coli O157:H7 is hemorrhagic colitis. E. coli O157:H7 can also result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.

With the understanding that children are more at risk for being seriously injured or killed by E. coli O157:H7 infection, it is imperative for families and school groups to take precautions while attending petting zoos, livestock shows and other animal exhibits.

Based on guidelines set by the (CDC) and the National Ag Safety Database, PritzkerOlsen presents the following strategies to reduce the risk of E. coli transmission in settings with animals:

• Locate hand-washing stations and always wash your hands after being in an area with animals, even if you don't touch them. Bacteria can be spread by shaking hands, touching railings or coming in contact with soil.
• Running water and soap are best for hand washing. Where there is no running water, hand sanitizing gel is better than nothing.
• Don't consume food or drinks in any area shared with animals.
• Older adults, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems and young children should be extra careful.
• Avoid hand-mouth activities such as smoking, drinking or nail biting in any area shared with animals.
• Do not eat or drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or other dairy products.
• Children younger than 5 years old need adult supervision around animals.
• Never allow children to put their hands, toys, pacifiers or other objects in their mouths while around animals.
• Supervise the hand washing of children.
• Even after hand washing, be aware that exposure to E. coli O157:H7 can come from shoes, contaminated clothing or even strollers that were in areas shared with animals.

PritzkerOlsen currently is representing victims of the nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter and peanut products made by Peanut Corporation of America at a plant in Blakely, Georgia.  The Minneapolis-based firm is representing the families of two Minnesota women who died in the outbreak after consuming contaminated peanut butter served on toast.

In one case, Pritzker already has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corporation of America and King Nut Companies, a peanut butter distributor.

PritzkerOlsen has considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing survivors of foodborne illnesses, including E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella and Shigella. The firm is involved in virtually every national outbreak and has collected large sums on behalf of people injured or killed by adulterated food.

In addition, the firm is devoted to educating the public about food safety issues and advocating for badly needed food safety legislation and increased funding for the federal, state and local agencies charged with protecting our food and enforcing food safety laws.

Pritzker and members of his firm are frequent guests and commentators about food safety issues and have been interviewed by and profiled in a number of media sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and CNN.

For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free). PritzkerOlsen has offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

###

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In 2008, large-scale corporate farms and centralized production facilities continued to play a major role in America's E. coli problem.

But by far the largest E. coli outbreak of the year was centered at a lone family restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

The Country Cottage Restaurant outbreak started August. 15. By the time it was over, 341 people were sickened with E. coli O111 infections, 72 persons were hospitalized and one 26-year-old man, a gospel singer, was dead.

Fred Pritzker, a Minneapolis lawyer whose law firm is nationally recognized in the area of foodborne illness litigation, said that when taken all together, 2008 was a year in which America's deadly E. coli threat showed no signs of slowing down from a dangerous pace set in 2007.

Pritzker said the variety and number of serious outbreaks was due in large part to a failure of regulation. He also said it's easy to gloss over the problem if you don't see the individual suffering inflicted during and long after outbreaks.

"The agony and the suffering of these individuals is dramatic and significant,'' he said.

With hope for greater food safety in 2009, here's a listing by Pritzker Law of five major E. coli outbreaks in 2008: 

• Country Cottage Restaurant. The outbreak was linked in August to contamination by E. coli O111. A total of 341 outbreak-related cases were reported, 56 cases were in children, 72 persons were hospitalized and one died. The restaurant was shut down and reopened in late November under an agreement with health officials. While no single food item was found to be the source, officials believe several different foods became contaminated with the bacteria.
• Nebraska Beef Ltd. In late June, the Omaha company recalled 5.3 million pounds of trimmings for ground beef. Health officials linked the product to 49 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in seven states. About a month later, the same slaughterhouse recalled another 1.2 million pounds of meat linked to 31 confirmed E. coli O157:H7 cases in 12 states. Much of the recalled meat was supplied through the Kroger grocery chain, but the tainted beef also turned up elsewhere. At the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia, there were at least eight confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. In four of those illnesses, victims suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that can lead to kidney failure.
• Goshen Boy Scout Reservation. Health officials this summer confirmed 25 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection among attendees at a Boy Scout camp in Goshen, Virginia. The cases were matched through molecular fingerprinting and linked to frozen ground beef from California-based S&S Foods. S&S recalled about 153,630 pounds of ground beef products.
• Aunt Mid's Iceberg Lettuce. Michigan officials confirmed that bagged iceberg lettuce was the common source of illness in a September-October outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections that included 38 cases in Michigan, nine in Illinois and three in Ontario. At least 21 of those who were sickened spent time in the hospital. The outbreak strain of E. coli was never found at Aunt Mid's processing plant and investigators could never say if the lettuce became contaminated at the plant or in California, where it was grown. Aunt Mid's lettuce was associated with E. coli infections at the Lenawee County Jail, two Illinois restaurants and Michigan State University.
• Vermont Ground Beef. In September,Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing Co. in Ferrisburg, Vermont, recalled 2,758 pounds of ground beef products that had been distributed to restaurants in the state. The recall was prompted by an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. At least 10 people were sickened, including one who was hospitalized. An investigation by state and federal health officials found that the recalled beef may have caused the illnesses.

Pritzker Law & Associates, P.A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker Law has offices at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402  

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Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 infections in 8 children, aged 4-12 years of age, in the Evergreen mountain area. 

The children contracted E. coli from July through October. Testing by the Colorado Public Health Laboratory has identified similarities in the specific strains of E. coli O157:H7 infecting several of the children, leading health officials to believe that the E. coli infections may be linked to a common source or exposure.  According to the Denver Post: 

State and local health officials are investigating possible sources of exposure, including deer and elk droppings, as well as common behaviors, activities, foods and drinks.

"We are doing a comprehensive investigation," said Gayle Miller, an epidemiologist with the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment. "We don't have a smoking gun. We don't know yet what the source is."

All of the earliest affected children have fully recovered without complications. Two children who became ill in mid-late October required hospitalization in a Denver area hospital after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure.  The Denver Post reported:

An 11-year-old girl has been in Children's Hospital since Monday, her grandmother said Thursday.

"She's doing better, but it has affected her kidneys," said the woman, who did not want to be identified.

Our law firm is currently representing E. coli victims who developed HUS.  To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online consultation form.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating an E. coli outbreak that has been associated with a Jimmy John’s in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) began investigating the Colorado E. coli outbreak in September when 7 students and a sorority adviser at the University of Colorado at Boulder became ill. All 8 had eaten Jimmy John’s subs.

The Colorado Health Department is now investigating 3 additional cases that have surfaced in Boulder and 3 cases elsewhere in Boulder County.

Alicia Cronquist, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told KUSA-9News:

“It's pretty clear to us that many of the cases in Boulder County are connected to the same sandwich shop. What's not clear to us is how the other cases around the state are linked to that. We suspect that they all ate some kind of common food item, but we're investigating to determine which one it is.”

Although the Boulder cases have been associated with Jimmy John’s, the health department is continuing its investigation to determine what sickened the three people that do not reside in Boulder. E. coli isolates from those three cases have the same genetic fingerprint as E. coli isolates from the 11 Boulder cases, meaning the illnesses were caused by the same source. 

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Health officials in southeast Iowa and neighboring Illinois have confirmed four cases of E. coli O157:H7, with the latest case confirmed by the Hancock County Health Department in Illinois on Thursday.

Health officials have not determined the source of the illnesses.

According to news reports from the area, two of the Iowa cases were confirmed in Lee County and a third was confirmed in Des Moines County. The most recent case was confirmed across the state line in Hancock County, Ill.

In the past few months there have been numerous E. coli outbreaks linked to beef products. A report issued last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  has shown conclusively that there is a link between distillers’ grain  and the prevalence of E. coli in cattle. The grains, which are fed to some cattle, are a byproduct of ethanol production.

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A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study has shown “conclusively that there is a link between distillers’ grain [ethanol by-product] and the prevalence of E. coli,” according to University of Minnesota associate professor Francisco Diez, who was interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio for a report on the USDA study.

The objective of the USDA research project, which started in October of 2007, was to determine the effect of feeding distillers’ grain on the shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in finishing feedlot cattle.  The USDA researchers collected hide and feces samples from 300 control cattle and 300 cattle fed diets supplemented with distillers’ grain.

USDA researcher Jim Wells told MPR that the study found E. coli O157:H7 in almost 15 percent of the samples from the distillers’ grain group and in only 1.5 percent in the samples from the control group.  

This is a significant difference, yet Wells stated what is clearly the profit-comes-first position of the USDA:

"The point of the study isn't necessarily to say that what someone is doing is bad, it's just to make the people aware that there are consequences," said Wells. "I don't know if I could tell them to change it, because there are advantages to feeding distillers’ grain."

Here are the advantages of using distillers’ grain as cattle feed:

1. Distillers’ grain is a cheap food source, thus saving ranchers money and
2. Ethanol companies make money selling the distillers’ grain to ranchers

E. coli O157:H7 kills and severely sickens people. This disadvantage outweighs the “advantages.” USDA, prohibit the use of distillers’ grain as cattle feed. 

The following image is from a 2006 USDA article praising the use of distillers' grain as livestock feed to boost the profitability of ethanol production:

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Snohomish County health officials are investigating at least 6 cases of E. coli that may be related.   According to the Seattle Times:

Dr. Gary Goldbaum says that while at least six cases have been confirmed, health officials still don't know what caused people to become ill.

The public heath agency alerted doctors Friday afternoon that it was investigating a possible cluster of E. coli cases.

A Washington E. coli outbreak in June was associated with lettuce.  That outbreak sickened at least 9 people.

 

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Vermont Livestock, Slaughter and Processing Co., LLC, a Ferrisburg, Vermont firm, has recalled approximately 2,758 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with O157:H7www.pritzkerlaw.com/escherichia-coli-O157/. Vermont health officials have confirmed 10 cases of E. coli in Vermont associated with consumption of the recalled ground beef (hamburger). The 10 people sickened ate the ground beef at certain Vermont restaurants.

These recalled hamburger was produced on Sept. 5, 8, 12, 19 and 22 and delivered to distribution centers. It was intended for restaurants and institutions in Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York; it was not intended to be available for direct retail purchase.

The possible E. coli contamination was discovered through a joint epidemiological investigation by FSIS and the Vermont Department of Health.
 

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Our law firm is representing several victims of a Texas Salmonella outbreak linked to The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) on Western Street in Amarillo, Texas.

Health officials have linked 25 cases of Salmonella poisoning to a September IHOP Salmonella outbreak and more than 100 to a June IHOP Salmonella outbreak.

Health officials determined that the source of the IHOP Salmonella outbreaks was a warming bath used to keep the syrup warm. Health officials found the outbreak-strain of Salmonella in a culture taken from the warming bath. Interviews with IHOP employees revealed that syrup pitchers were not rinsed, washed or sanitized before refilling, and some of the 25 people sickened in September outbreak were IHOP employees in charge of refilling syrup containers.

The troubled IHOP has been closed since September 17, but it may be opening soon. Health officials are requiring the IHOP to complete environmental testing for Salmonella along with 14 other measures before reopening.

 

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The Michigan Department of Community Health has provided a nice summary of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been associated with iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid’s Produce Company. Below is the information from the MDCH. 

1. Since September 1, 38 cases of E.coli O157:H7 with the same genetic fingerprint have been reported to Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) from various counties. Additionally, nine individuals in Illinois and three from the Province of Ontario have also been identified with the same genetic strain of E. coli O157.

2. Of the 38 Michigan E. coli cases, 21 have been hospitalized, and one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths are known to be associated with this outbreak.

3. Based upon analysis of scientific evidence from MDCH’s epidemiological investigation, iceberg lettuce has been identified as the source of the illness outbreak. Case control studies performed independently in Michigan and in Illinois both identified iceberg lettuce as the common source of illness.

4. Based upon the product traceback investigation conducted by the MI Department of Agriculture (MDA), Fresh Pak/Aunt Mid’s was the common processor of the lettuce supplied to the outbreak locations at MSU, Lenawee County Jail, and in Illinois as well as other foodservice locations identified by ill individuals.

5. The heads of lettuce being supplied to Aunt Mid’s for washing, cutting, and bagging during the outbreak timeframe were identified as lettuce from California. However, the point at which the lettuce was contaminated is still unknown. MDA continues to work in close cooperation with our food safety partners at the California Department of Public Health – Food & Drug Branch who are investigating the origin and handling of the lettuce in that state.

6. MDA conducted product and environmental sample testing at Aunt Mid’s the week of September 26. Additional testing was conducted by the firm, MDCH, MSU, and FDA and all those tests were negative for E.coli. However, those were CURRENT products, not products from the outbreak timeframe.

7. Lettuce from the outbreak timeframe was not available for testing during the investigation due to the perishable nature of the product.

8. Aunt Mid’s has resumed operations on its iceberg lettuce product line. Aunt Mid’s is monitoring and testing each lot of lettuce production over the next 30 days and providing testing documentation to MDA. MDA will also be randomly testing production and checking records.

9. None of the E. coli illnesses that have occurred within the past two weeks have been linked to this outbreak in Michigan. Because the contaminated iceberg lettuce that caused this outbreak of E. coli O157 is no longer available for consumption, no new illnesses linked to the outbreak are expected to occur. However, as the investigation into illnesses that occurred during the identified outbreak period continues, and additional laboratory results are available, more related cases may be identified and reported. MDCH will continue to conduct surveillance and investigate any new cases of E. coli O157 as they occur.

10. The product traceback process is lengthy and time-consuming. State and federal investigators need to go through the entire supply chain, sorting records, analyzing data, and case history to determine the origin of the patient’s illness and the food source involved.

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Not surprisingly, Michigan agriculture officials have determined that iceberg lettuce associated with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Canada came from California, which produces the majority of the commercial lettuce in the United States.

The California lettuce was sold to Aunt Mid’s Produce Company, a Detroit firm, and possibly other distributors, who sold the lettuce to institutions and restaurants.

The outbreak first surfaced at Michigan State University and Lenawee County Jail. A Michigan State University student sickened by E. coli-tainted lettuce is suing Aunt Mid’s. Other lawsuits will follow. 

Our law firm is available to represent E. coli victims.  For information, please see Aunt Mid's lawsuit and University of Michigan and Michigan State University (MSU) E. coli lawsuit.

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A 20-month-old little girl is recovering from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), an illness she developed after contracting an E. coli O111 infection. She stayed in the hospital for 12 days and needed dialysis treatment to get her kidneys working again. Her father stated in a USA Today report that “she received dialysis treatment and was stuck with so many needles she thought she was being punished.”

This little girl was part of an E. coli O111 outbreak that health officials associated with the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. According to the CDC, 313 people were sickened in the outbreak. One person died and 17 developed HUS and needed dialysis. To date, health officials have not found a food source for the outbreak.

 

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Health officials have found the source of the Amarillo, Texas IHOP Salmonella outbreak, the warming bath that the restaurant used to keep the syrup warm. Health officials found the outbreak-strain of Salmonella in a culture taken from the warming bath. Interviews with IHOP employees revealed that syrup pitchers were not rinsed, washed or sanitized before refilling, and some of the 25 people sickened in outbreak were IHOP employees in charge of refilling syrup containers.

The warm water bath in which the syrup pitchers soaked was an ideal growing environment for the Salmonella bacteria. The Salmonella in the water contaminated the outside of every syrup pitcher that soaked in the water. Employees and diners then touched the Salmonella on the outside of the syrup pitchers, and people became ill, some severely.

Our law firm, Pritzker Law, is representing some of the victims of this Salmonella outbreak linked to the Amarillo IHOP. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our online form for a free consultation.

News Source: KFDA-News Channel 10

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Butte County Public Health continues its investigation of a California E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak that sickened at least twenty-seven people. The outbreak occurred among attendees of an event held in the community of Forest Ranch on September 6. The event was a fundraiser for the Forest Ranch Volunteer Fire Department. The people sickened ranged in age from two years old to eighty years old. Four cases were hospitalized and are now home recovering.

After analyzing data collected from interviews of those sickened and others who attended the event, health officials determined that beef tri tip served at the barbecue was the most likely source of the outbreak.  Butte County Public Health now reports that cultures taken from leftover meat cooked at the event have grown E. coli 0157:H7 which genetically matches the outbreak E. coli O157:H7.  This finding links the beef tri tip to the outbreak.

Butte County health officials continue to investigate how the cooked meat was contaminated.

 

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Breaking News April 19, 2010: An E. coli outbreak in Washtenaw County, Michigan has sickened at least 10 people, 2 of whom have been hospitalized.  Most of those sickened live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Our law firm is currently representing E. coli victims and E. coli HUS victims.  Contact us.

The Michigan E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid’s Produce Company has sickened at least 35 people in Michigan. At least 6 people in Illinois have also been sickened in this outbreak.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, some of the Michigan cases consumed shredded or chopped iceberg lettuce in restaurants or institutions purchased from Aunt Mid's Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor. This is epidemiological evidence that associates Aunt Mid’s with the outbreak. 

The Michigan Depatment of Agriculture has been testing Aunt Mid's iceberg lettuce samples and Aunt Mid's processing facility. To date, the state tests have found no contamination of either Aunt Mid’s iceberg lettuce or Aunt Mid’s processing facility.

According to James McCurtis, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Community Health, Aunt Mid’s is still suspected because its lettuce is the only kind delivered to the Lenawee County Jail (5 inmates sickened) and the two restaurants in Illinois where the outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria was also found.

Legally, an epidemiological association with an outbreak can be sufficient evidence to find liability. This is necessary in cases involving a perishable food product because by the time an outbreak is uncovered, perishable food items are often consumed. This is particularly true in the case of a perishable food product served at a restaurant or other food service facility.  In this case, the epidemiological evidence is supported by the finding of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 (microbiological evidence) at the Lenawee County Jail and the two restaurants in Illinois.

If you or your child has been sickened in the Michigan E. coli outbreak, it is critical that you contact an E. coli lawyer if you want to be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages. Liable parties could include farms, processors, distributors, a food service company, a restaurant and others. If you retain our law firm, we will immediately investigate your case.

Our law firm has a national reputation in this area, and we handle E. coli cases throughout the United States. We are currently handling a number of E. coli cases, including cases involving hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To contact the firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online consultation form for a free consultation.

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Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least eight people, seven of them students at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).  The investigation began September 23rd.

Health officials have not determined the source of the outbreak, but initial investigations indicate that on-campus dining is not related to the illness. BCPH staff is working closely with CU and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to identify the source of the outbreak and any additional cases among students and the public.

News reports have indicated that most of the students sickened are members of the same sorority.  This suggests that the source of the outbreak is water or food associated with the sorority.  Contact our law firm regarding liability and compensation in an E. coli case.

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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has identified Aunt Mid’s Produce Company as the distributor of iceberg lettuce consumed by six Illinois residents during late August to mid-September who have been diagnosed with E coli 0157.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has also identified Aunt Mid’s Produce Company as one of the wholesale processors who sold institutional-sized iceberg lettuce to establishments which served 26 people who were diagnosed with the same strain of E coli.

IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory to test persons suspected of being linked to this Illinois E. coli outbreak and to trace-back where the lettuce came from. Aunt Mid’s Produce Company has voluntarily suspended any processing and sale of its iceberg lettuce product line throughout the United States.

For information on the legal rights of E. coli victims, distributor liability and an Aunt Mid's lawsuit, please contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900 or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

 

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Health officials have associated cases of E. coli O157:H7 with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold to restaurants and institutions by Aunt Mid's Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor.  Health officials have indicated that additional distributors may be involved in this E. coli outbreak.

To date, 26 of the E. coli cases are from Michigan, including 7 students at Michigan State University (MSU) and 3 students at the University of Michigan.

“Our top priority at the Michigan Department of Community Health is to protect the public,” said Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH. “We appreciate all of the assistance from Aunt Mid’s. They have been very helpful in this investigation. We want to ensure that the public’s health and well-being is protected. Even though the investigation is ongoing, available evidence is strongly pointing to iceberg lettuce."

Liability in an E. coli lawsuit can be complex.  Contact attorney Fred Pritzker with questions about who is responsible for paying compensation to the victims of the outbreak.

 

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Last week a 3-year-old boy from Aurora, Colorado died after contracting an E. coli infection. The boy attended an unlicensed home daycare center in Aurora, Colorado. Health officials have focused their investigation on the home daycare center, which has been closed.

According to KWGN out of Denver, health officials have confirmed that another child who attended the home daycare center has an E. coli infection:

Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director of Tri-County Health, said a positive test culture came back taken from a 1-year-old girl. The bacterial illness killed a 3-year-old boy last Friday. Health officials traced the cause back to a daycare the toddler attended. Since then health workers have taken samples from every child who attended the center.

Health officials have not found the source of these illnesses, but according to the KWGN news report, health workers believe the E. coli outbreak originated from food served at the daycare center. The news report suggests that the source may be “spoilt” food, but that wording is not quite accurate. E. coli contamination does not happen when a food spoils; it happens when fecal matter with E. coli in it gets on or in the food. Spoilage might suggest simply that the E. coli bacteria had more time to colonize.

The Aurora, Colorado daycare may have violated state laws, according to the same KWGN report:

Arapahoe County Human Services have issued a cease and desist order to the operator of the daycare. It was estimated that 21 children attended the daycare on and off. That swollen number broke state laws which state an unlicensed daycare can only take care of relatives and two additional children. Vogt said given the investigation, it is very doubtful that this operation would ever be allowed to operate again.

This appears to be a case where issues of gross negligence need to be explored by an E. coli lawyer. If you would like to contact a lawyer at our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.  We have experience with daycare liability.

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Seven MSU E. coli O157:H7 cases have been linked by genetic testing to 17 additional cases of E. coli throughout the state of Michigan. The Michigan E. coli cases are located as follows:

• 7 students at MSU
• 3 students at Michigan University
• 5 inmates at Lenawee County Jail
• 3 people in Macomb County
• 2 people in Wayne County
• 2 people in Kent County
• 1 person in St. Clair County
• 1 person in Oakland County

Health officials have genetically linked the Michigan E. coli cases with E. coli cases in several other states: Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oregon.

Health officials do not know the source of the E. coli, and investigations are ongoing. According to WILX-TV, however, the source may be food from a commercial distributor:

There's speculation the food came from a commercial distributor, so MSU says, as a precaution, they've removed frozen turkey and particular produce items from their cafeteria for the time being.

Eight of the nine people hospitalized in this E. coli outbreak were MSU students.

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The E. coli outbreak associated with a barbecue benefit for volunteer firefighters in Forest Ranch, California has sickened at least 21 people, according to health officials. Four people were hospitalized, one of them a six-year-old girl.

This little girl is fighting for her life at the U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that is usually caused by E. coli O157:H7. HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States, and it can also cause damage to other organs, including the brain.

HUS can cause life-long illness, and patients may need future surgeries and other medical care. These future medical expenses and the future pain and suffering need to be considered when seeking compensation from responsible parties. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker for more information. Fred is representing E. coli victims who have developed HUS and has years of experience in this area.

To learn more about the struggle of this six-year-old, please see the following news report on the KHSL-TV Web site.

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As we predicted, beef tri-tip is the source of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened attendees of a BBQ Benefit in Forest Ranch, California. The BBQ Benefit took place on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Fire Station 24. 

Beef processors have recalled millions of pounds of beef products in the last several months. These recalls were all allegedly due to unsanitary conditions in processing plants. In one case, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service concluded that Nebraska Beef Ltd., a beef processor that had recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef, had production practices that were insufficient to effectively control E. coli bacteria. "The products subject to recall may have been produced under unsanitary conditions," the government said.

Health officials have not reported names of the processor, distributors or retailer of the contaminated tri-tip associated with this E. coli outbreak in Forest Ranch, California. These parties are all potentially liable to the victims of this outbreak for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and other damages.  We are representing several victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to beef products. Contact us for E. coli lawsuit information.

According to the Butte County Public Health Department, at least 18 people were sickened, 4 of them seriously. 

Two people are still hospitalized, one of them a six-year-old child. As happens to many children who contract E. coli infections, the child has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, brain damage and damage to other organs. As attorneys who represent people with HUS and families of people with HUS who have died, we have witnessed the pain and suffering and emotional distressed caused by this illness. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently spent two days in an intensive care unit with a family whose loved one was in a HUS-associated coma.

If you are a victim of this outbreak or a parent of a victim, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.  Even if you do not hire us to represent you, we understand that it can be helpful just to have the opportunity to have some questions answered.

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Saturday, September 13, 2008, the community of Forest Ranch, California gathered for a benefit barbecue for volunteer fire Station 24 and Station 23. What attendees did not know was that deadly E. coli bacteria had contaminated some of the food. According to Butte County health officials, at least 13 people were sickened, 4 of them seriously. 

Two people are still hospitalized, one of them a child. E. coli infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, brain damage and damage to other organs. We are representing E. coli victims who developed HUS and have recently recovered compensation for families of E. coli victims who died after developing HUS. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently spent two days in an intensive care unit with a family whose loved one was in a HUS-associated coma.

Most of the E. coli outbreaks in the last several months have been linked to beef products. One of the outbreaks was linked to beef tri-tip. One of the food items served was beef tri-tip sandwiches. Health investigators have not yet associated this outbreak to the beef tri-tip sandwiches or any other food source. Interviews and tests should shed light on what caused this outbreak. If the beef tri-tip is the source of the E. coli outbreak, the processor, distributor and retailer of the meat may be liable for any injuries caused by the contaminated meat. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker for more information about liability for E. coli-associated illness.

The following is an upbeat report of the benefit barbecue in Forest Ranch found on the Forest Ranch Community Association Web site that is dated September 19, 2008, days before health officials reported the E. coli outbreak associated with the event:

Saturday morning, the air was filled with anticipation as members from the community and Station 24 and Station 23 came together to set up for the Benefit BBQ. . . Inside Station 24, members of the Women's Club were arranging pies, cakes, cookies. . . Members of Mountain Joy Bible Fellowship were busy in the kitchen getting the food ready for the day. Many folks who came enjoyed the Tri-tip sandwiches, hot dogs, chili, BBQ Chicken Breast, veggie burgers and salad. The magic hour of noon came and the event was on underway.

With the Butte County Health Department, we encourage people to wash their hands to help prevent secondary spread of E. coli.

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At least 10 Michigan State University (MSU) students have been hospitalized with E. coli O157:H7 infections. The Ingham County Health Department has reported that 4 additional students may also have E. coli infections.

If the food source of this MSU E. coli outbreak is found, there may be a number of parties that could be held liable for damages, which could include medical expenses, pain and suffering and loss of income. If a specific food source is not found, epidemiological evidence alone may be sufficient to hold parties liable. Epidemiological evidence includes interviews with those sickened, an analysis of food purchased with the sickened students’ MSU cards, and other evidence that would point to a common source of illness.

Our law firm represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact one of our lawyers, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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According to news reports, health officials in Butte County, California have associated an E. coli outbreak in Forest Ranch, CA with a fundraiser that was held in Forest Ranch earlier this month.

At least 4 people contracted E. coli infections after attending the fundraiser, which was held to raise money for a volunteer fire station in Forest Ranch.

If you have questions about E. coli, please contact attorney Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or fhp@pritzkerlaw.com.

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10 Michigan State University (MSU) students have contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is investigating this outbreak.  To date, health officials have not uncovered the source of this outbreak.

Because students make their food purchases on campus with a MSU card, health officials can determine what the students ate and where.  This will provide significant evidence for health officials' epidemiological investigation.  We will continue to monitor this situation.

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As part of the investigation into the E. coli 0111 outbreak linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), the Tulsa Health Department, and a team from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating an event catered by the Country Cottage restaurant at the Bethany Free Will Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, OK on Aug. 16. According to the OSDH, about 250 persons attended the event. At least 30 of the attendees have reported illness with diarrhea and other symptoms. According to news reports, one attendee at the event (an annual ladies’ tea) has been diagnosed with E. coli.

The number of confirmed cases of E. coli 0111 associated with the Country Cottage continues to grow. OSDH reports that at least 291 persons have confirmed cases of E. coli 0111. Of that number, 227 were adults and 46 were children; the ages of 18 cases have not yet been identified. One person has died.

At least 67 persons have been hospitalized, including 16 who have received dialysis treatment after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause E. coli-associated kidney failure. Of that number, nine were children and seven were adults.

We are representing a victim of this Oklahome E. coli 0111 outbreak and her family. The victim is a toddler who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To contact us about a Country Cottage lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), e-mail attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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According to the Anchorage Daily News, a Campylobacter outbreak that has sickened 18 in Alaska has been traced back to Mat-Valley Peas in Palmer, Alaska.  The 18 people became sick starting August 1 after eating raw peas. The pea farm sells the product in 5 and 10-pound bags with clear cooking instructions, which under most circumstances would have prevented the bacterial outbreak.  Investigators, however, note that some retailers and sellers at farmers markets repackaged the peas from Mat-Valley and did not include the cooking instructions.  Campylobacter often causes foodborne illness with symptoms of diarrhea, weakenss, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

 

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According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), at least 231 persons have become ill as the result of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma that has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Of that number, 185 were adults, 43 were children and the ages of three cases have not yet been confirmed.

At least 61 persons have been hospitalized including 16 who have received dialysis treatment due to the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Of that number, nine were children and seven were adults.  One 26-year-old man died.

The OSDH cautions that the number of reported cases and hospitalizations associated with the outbreak are likely to change as the investigation continues.

The source of the outbreak has not been found. Laboratory analysis of the restaurant’s well water found no E. coli 0111 bacterium. Laboratory analysis of environmental samples taken from the restaurant indicated no disease-causing pathogens were found on the restaurant’s surfaces. Laboratory analysis of food samples from the restaurant is continuing.

“We found no firm evidence of E. coli 0111 on food preparation and serving surfaces,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “I would caution, however, that it is very challenging to go to the scene of a food-borne illness outbreak and try to retrieve an organism from surfaces that may have been cleaned since any contamination took place.”

“It is possible that any environmental contamination was not widespread in the restaurant, so our epidemiological investigation will continue to focus on what foods may have been contaminated and caused persons to become ill,” Bradley said.

E. coli 0111 was identified from laboratory specimens of patients sickened by the outbreak.

Our law firm has been contacted by families of victims of this outbreak.  To contact us for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), with the aid of 3 CDC staff, interviewed an additional 310 people over the weekend who ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK, from August 15 through August 17.  Over 200 people who ate at the restaurant on these dates contracted E. coli 0111 infections.  One 26-year-old man, a gospel singer, died and several children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and are on dialysis.

So far more than 1,300 persons who ate at the restaurant have been interviewed as part of the OSDH investigation. The OSDH is interviewing both those who became sick as well as those who did not after eating at the Country Cottage in an attempt to identify the distinction between what might have been a popular food choice versus a valid association with food selection and illness.

The OSDH and the CDC are doing an epidemiological analysis of the interview data. In addition to studying the possible association of illness to specific food items, the OSDH has conducted environmental sampling of food preparation and serving surfaces at the restaurant, as well as some food sampling. Laboratory results are still pending on environmental and food samples.

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Sprouters Northwest, Inc. of Kent, Washington has recalled alfalfa sprouts, onion sprouts, and salad sprouts because they may be linked to a recent Salmonella Typhimirium outbreak in Oregon and Washington State. To date, 13 cases of Salmonella Typhimirium infection have been associated with the consumption of raw alfalfa sprouts.

The recalled sprouts are Sprouters Northwest brand and include all lot numbers with a best by date of 9/17/08 or earlier of: 5oz alfalfa sprout cups UPC - 033383701417, 4oz alfalfa clamshells UPC-815098001088, 1lb bags of alfalfa sprouts UPC - 079566123508, 2lb trays of alfalfa sprouts UPC – 079566123492, 5oz salad cups UPC - 033383702674, 4oz salad clamshells UPC - 815098002061, 5oz alfalfa onion sprout cups UPC - 033383701905, and 4oz onion sprout clamshells UPC – 815098002054.

The recalled sprouts were distributed in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alasks in retail stores and through wholesale produce suppliers.

Salmonella Typhimirium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis (swelling of the lining of the heart) and Reiter's syndrome.
 

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) said today it has determined the need to interview about 320 additional persons as part of its ongoing investigation into the source of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma.  The E. coli 0111 outbreak has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley:

In our efforts to establish if there is an association with particular food items and illness, we will be interviewing more persons to find those who ate at the Country Cottage and did not become ill. In an investigation of this scope, it is as important to collect information on those who did not get sick as those who did become ill. We’ve determined that our statistical database does not adequately represent those who ate at the Country Cottage but did not become ill. This information is necessary so that we can make the distinction between what might have been a popular food choice versus a valid association with illness.

The OSDH also announced that the CDC is going to participate in the outbreak investigation:

“This outbreak is of great interest to CDC because it will add to knowledge on the range of disease that the E. coli 0111 organism can cause,” Bradley said. She said federal officials will conduct medical reviews to look at acute symptoms and complications of those who became sick due to the E. coli 0111 infection. They will also assist OSDH staff in telephone interviews.

At least 206 persons have become sick as a result of this E. coli 0111 outbreak, including 149 adults, 53 children, several of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, liver damage, brain damage and damage to other organs. One person has died.

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Many of the persons who were hospitalized as a result of the Oklahoma E. coli O111 outbreak have recovered and are being released from area hospitals. State health officials believe the total number of persons hospitalized at the peak of the outbreak exceeded 50; about 27 are currently hospitalized.

At least 206 persons have become sick as a result of the outbreak including 149 adults, 53 children, and four whose ages have not yet been confirmed. Cases range in age from 2 months to 88 years. One person has died.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) investigation is focused on the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK. Most of the people who became ill reported eating at the restaurant from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23. The 26-year-old man who died in this outbreak also reportedly ate at the Country Cottage before becoming ill. 

Health officials have not found the source of the outbreak.  As OSDH officials continue their investigation of this outbreak, they are sampling and testing food preparation and serving surfaces in the Country Cottage restaurant for any E. coli 0111 contamination. They are also still interviewing people who may have eaten at the restaurant from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23.

OSDH did not find E. coli in the restaurant's well water, which means the source of the outbreak was most likely a food item.

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An Oklahoma E. coli 0111 outbreak has sickened over 200 people.  The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has linked the outbreak to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.  Last week, news reports indicated that the source of the outbreak may have been the restaurant's well water.  Today, the OSDH reported "that laboratory analysis of water samples taken from a private well on the property of the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK, has found no disease-causing bacteria."

“The well water is not the source of this outbreak,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “We are continuing our efforts to conduct microbiological testing of food preparation and serving surfaces in the restaurant, and we continue to interview cases, as we try to establish an association with those who became ill and a potential source.”

At least 206 persons are sick as a result of the outbreak including 149 adults, 53 children, and four whose ages have not yet been confirmed. One person has died, a 26-year-old man, and several children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

“This appears to be the largest E. coli 0111 outbreak ever reported in the U.S.,” Bradley stated. “The complexity of this outbreak and the necessity to be extremely thorough in our investigation means we still have more questions than answers.”

Although health investigators have interviewed more than 500 persons, they have not yet determined the source of this Oklahoma E. coli 0111 outbreak.

For information about restaurant liability and an E. coli 0111 lawsuit, please contact our law firm: call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli litigation cases.

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The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has notified the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) that it has identified E. coli 0111 from laboratory specimens CDC has analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation into the diarrheal illness outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

According to the OSDH, at least 116 persons have become ill as a result of the E. coli 0111outbreak, including 87 adults and 29 children.

“This is a rare type of E. coli that is not normally found in an outbreak this large,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley.

According to health investigators, most of the people sickened in this E. coli 0111 outbreak ate at the Country Cottage restaurant during the time period of August 15 through August 23. The OSDH has not found the source of this Oklahoma E. coli outbreak. Legally, even if a specific source is not found in an outbreak linked to a restaurant, that does not prevent those sickened from seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income and other damages from the restaurant.  Contact our law firm about restaurant liability. To contact the firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health has issued an update regarding the E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. According to the update:

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has narrowed the focus of its investigation into a severe diarrheal outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK. The OSDH is trying to determine how food served at the restaurant might have become contaminated. The restaurant continues to remain closed while the outbreak investigation continues.

Yesterday the OSDH confirmed that this is an Oklahoma E. coli outbreak. One man has died, four children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (three of them are on dialysis and fighting to recover), at least 50 people have been hospitalized and at least 23 others have been sickened but not hospitalized.

The OSDH is trying to determine how food served at the restaurant might have become contaminated.  Contact our law firm regarding restaurant liability: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker, managing partner for our E. coli litigation practice.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported that the outbreak that has resulted in one death and dozens sickened is an E. coli outbreak. The Oklahoma State Department of Health's public health laboratory found "a type of E. coli bacteria" in 10 patient specimens tested. (Update: On August 29, 2008 the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported that the E. coli involved in this outbreak is 0111 and that 116 persons have been sickened in the outbreak.)

Four children sickened in this Oklahoma E. coli outbreak have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  Three of those children are on dialysis.

We are representing people who contracted E. coli infections after eating at restaurants. One person we are representing developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and is in a coma.  Attorney Fred Pritzker spent two days in the intensive care unit with the family.

Antibiotics and anti-diarrheal medicines are not recommended for treating E. coli. Research has shown that antibiotics and anti-diarrheal medicines can lead to the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome.  Although the CDC has issued a warning to medical professionals regarding this, we have been contacted by people who have been prescribed these medications when they presented to a doctor with the symptoms of an E. coli infection.

For information about E. coli lawsuits, restaurant liability, or any other legal help, please contact our law firm: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli litigation cases.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has issued an update of what appears to be an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been associated with the Country Cottage restaurant in Lotus Grove, Oklahoma.  (Update: On August 28, 2008 the OSDH reported that the E.  coli involved in this outbreak is 0111 and not O157:H7.) The Country Cottage "E. coli" outbreak may have sickened over 50 people.  According to the OSDH, "At least 17 cases have been hospitalized and 40 or more cases are under investigation. One person has died."

This is up from the 14 hospitalized cases and "20 or more potential cases" reported yesterday.

Although health officials have not determined the source of the illness, epidemiological evidence has determined that "a large number" of the people sickened and the person who died ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK.

Oklahoma health laboratory officials continue to analyze specimens taken from ill persons to try to determine if the diagnosis is E. coli O157:H7 infections. (Again, as of 8/29/08 the diagnosis is E. coli 0111.) Signs and symptoms of these Country Cottage "E. coli" cases include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramping.

Our law firm has been contacted by people sickened in this Country Cottage "E. coli" outbreak. It is imperative for both medical and legal reasons for people experiencing symptoms of E. coli to seek medical attention. If you or your child is diagnosed with E. coli, you should immediately contact us regarding the additional testing that needs to be done to connect your or your child’s case of E. coli to this outbreak.

Our law firm represents people sickened in E. coli outbreaks linked to restaurants. We recently recovered compensation for victims of an outbreak linked to a restaurant even though health officials never found the source of the outbreak. Contact us about restaurant liability.

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A 26-year-old newlywed from Pryor, Oklahoma died on Sunday from what appears to be an E. coli O157:H7 infection.  (Update: On August 29, 2008 the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported that the illnesses are E. coli 0111 infections.) As a law firm that practices in the area of E. coli litigation, we feel that we have a responsibility to do our part to make people aware of the dangers of E. coli and to advocate for food safety. That is why we started this blog.

When someone dies from the complications of an E. coli infection, we think people need to know. The young man who died, a gospel singer, was a husband (for only a few months), son and friend, and he died of a preventable illness. Although health investigators may never find the source of the E. coli that killed this young man and sickened over 30 other people, E. coli contamination is always the result of unsanitary practices that lead to feces (usually cattle feces) getting into food or water.

If you follow the links above, you will meet a young man with talent and a bright future. We urge you to take action and contact your federal legislators:

• Tell them that they need to quit just talking about food safety and do everything possible to eliminate E. coli from the food chain. 
• Tell them either to create one, well-funded food safety agency, or to give the USDA (meat regulation) and the FDA (non-meat food product regulation) the authority and funds needed to keep our food safe.
• Send them to the links above, to Eric's Echo and to Safe Tables Our Priority, and tell them to meet some of the people whose lives were cut short by E. coli.

Although the name of the man from Oklahoma who died is in news reports, we have withheld his name from the content of this post out of respect for the family.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) published a press release today regarding the outbreak of diarrheal illness that has been associated with the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK.  The following is the press release: 

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is investigating an outbreak of severe diarrheal illness among residents of several northeastern Oklahoma communities. At least 14 cases have been hospitalized and 20 or more potential cases are under investigation. One person has died.

Disease investigators from the OSDH, Tulsa Health Department, and several northeastern Oklahoma county health departments are looking at all likely sources, including restaurants and specific food sources. Early investigation indicates a large number of persons who became ill ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK. The restaurant is working closely with the OSDH to assist in the investigation. No source has been identified.

State public health laboratory officials are conducting confirmatory testing of specimens to try to determine the diagnosis.

Persons who have become ill are from a number of communities including Bixby, Pryor, Sand Springs, Locust Grove, Broken Arrow, Peggs, Tulsa, and McAlester.

Signs and symptoms of these cases include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramping. Fever is generally mild to absent. Persons who believe they have symptoms of this illness should contact their health care provider immediately.

 

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One person in Oklahoma has died from what appears to be E. coli food poisoning. At least 14 others have been hospitalized with symptoms of E. coli. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is also investigating at least 20 other cases of diarrhea that may be E. coli.  A large majority of the people sickened ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

This situation is tragic for everyone. The culprit in this case may be beef. Millions of pounds of beef products have been recalled recently, most if it by one processor, Nebraska Beef, Ltd., a company with a history of sanitation violations.

Although beef is the most common source of E. coli outbreaks, other foods can be the source of E. coli infections, including but not limited to leafy greens and unpasteurized apple cider and milk.

One of our recent E. coli wrongful death cases involved spinach. Another E. coli wrongful death case our law firm is handling involves a restaurant where a goat was slaughtered in the restaurant kitchen.

Legally, E. coli outbreaks involving restaurants can lead to a finding of liability on the part of the restaurant, a distributor, a processor and/or others. We investigate all possibilities and thoroughly discuss the options with our clients. Our goal in all of our E. coli cases is to recover compensation for our clients.  

E. coli victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering and other damages.  In E. coli wrongful death cases, family members receive any money recovered in a settlement or jury verdict. These cases are governed by specific wrongful death laws. In cases involving sickness but not death, family members may also recover amounts for losses suffered, including but not limited to loss of income and loss of consortium. It is important to hire an E. coli lawyer who will take the time to listen to the victim and the victim's family and be able to communicate the extent of the losses to a judge and jury.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this Oklahoma E. coli outbreak and their families. If you would like a free E. coli litigation consultation, please contact our law firm:

• Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) and ask to speak to one of our lawyers, all of whom have E. coli litigation experience
• Email our lawyers
• Submit our online form for a free E. coli litigation consultation

 

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Health officials have associated raw milk from Alexandre Family EcoDairy Farms, a Del Norte County, California dairy with an outbreak of Campylobacter . The Del Norte County Department of Public Health has confirmed 3 cases of Campylobacter infection and is awaiting the results for 12 additional cases.

One woman sickened in this outbreak has developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the body damages its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and, in some cases, paralysis and death.

Because selling raw milk is illegal in California, dairies sell shares in a cow and distribute raw milk from the cow to "owners." The dairies often have the "owners" sign contracts where the "owners" agree to hold the dairies harmless if someone is sickened by the raw milk.

If you signed one of these "hold harmless" agreements and contracted Campylobacter after consuming the raw milk, you may still have grounds for a lawsuit against the dairy.  Contact our law firm for a free Campylobacter case review. 

 

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 The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has determined that the production practices employed by Nebraska Beef, Ltd., on June 24 were insufficient to effectively control E. coli O157:H7. According to FSIS, the products subject to the expansion may have been produced under insanitary conditions. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has expanded its August 8 recall of beef products to 1.36 million pounds due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. According to the USDA-FSIS announcement:

The total amount of product subject to recall is approximately 1.36 million pounds. The expansion of approximately 160,000 pounds and the clarifying information include:

• Primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on June 24, whose shipping containers and labels bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" inside the USDA mark of inspection and the company name "Nebraska Beef Ltd" The products may or may not bear a green sticker.
• Primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on July 8, whose shipping containers and labels bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" inside the USDA mark of inspection, the company name "Nebraska Beef Ltd." as well as a 2-inch plain, circular green sticker on one side of the shipping box.

This recall is an expansion of the recall that was prompted by an E. coli outbreak linked to Nebraska Beef and Coleman Natural Foods that has 31 confirmed cases on 12 states and Canada.  We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef and are representing several families. For a free E. coli case review, please contact attorney Fred Pritzker, managing partner for our E. coli litigation practice: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or fhp@pritzkerlaw.com

 

 

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Thank you, Annys Shin of the Washington Post, for your update on the E. coli outbreaks linked to Nebraska Beef and the Whole Foods Market and Coleman Natural Foods connection:

Nebraska Beef, an Omaha meat packer, has been linked to two separate outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in the past two months. The first triggered a ground beef recall by Kroger's supermarkets. The second outbreak kicked off a ground beef recall by Dorothy Lane Market, a small chain in Ohio. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider these two separate outbreaks because they involve two genetically distinct strains of O157:H7.

Whole Foods initiated the recall after Massachusetts health officials investigating a cluster of E. coli illnesses discovered all seven victims had bought meat at Whole Foods. The chain pulled ground beef from some of its stores on Wednesday. The Nebraska Beef recall was announced late Friday night.

. . . The strain found in the Whole Foods customers matches the strain found in the Dorothy Lane customers and the one found in a sample of Nebraska Beef meat, according to USDA. Dorothy Lane and Whole Foods both bought meat from Coleman Natural Foods which temporarily used Nebraska Beef to process its meat.

What this means legally for Whole Foods Market and Coleman Natural Foods is that they will most likely be sued, perhaps by our law firm. 

Innocent people contracted a violent illness because they consumed contaminated meat that went through a number of hands to land on their plates. Every company involved in the processing, distribution and sale of the contaminated meat is a potential defendant in a lawsuit seeking medical expenses and compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of income and other damages. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker for more information.

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 An E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in at least 12 states and Cananda has been associated with Nebraska Beef, Ltd. beef products that were sold under the Coleman brand.  As a result, Nebraska Beef recalled 1.2 million pounds of ground beef.

We have contacted a number of the states involved in this outbreak, and the investigation is ongoing.  To date, states involved in this outbreak include the following: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Nebraska Beef produced the recalled products on June 17, June 24 and July 8, 2008. The shipping containers and product labels bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the brand “Coleman Natural.” However, these products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” on products available for direct consumer purchase.

On July 3, Nebraska Beef recalled 5.3 million pounds of beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26. This recall also involved some Coleman brand products.   This recall was prompted by an E. coli outbreak that sickened people in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Utah. Read more about the previous Nebraska Beef recall.

We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef.  Read more about the Nebraska Beef lawsuit.

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today confirms another E. coli case linked to ground beef.  This new case brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 7.  Investigators found that the seven individuals had eaten ground beef purchased from Whole Foods Markets in July.  The Department of Public Health has since warned consumers not to eat ground beef purchased from Whole Foods Market stores between June 2 and August 6.  The warning applies to all ground beef and ground beef patties from the meat counter and prepackaged in meat coolers.

Interestingly enough, health officials believe these cases are connected with the nationwide recall of ground beef from Nebraska Beef. The beef products have already been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination, but Whole Foods Markets purchased some of the affected products from Nebraska Beef (Coleman brand name).  Officials are looking into why Whole Foods Market sold the products after the recall had been issued. Whole Foods Market has since removed all beef products purchased from Nebraska Beef from store shelves.

E. coli can cause serious symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and can lead to kidney failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS).  The Department of Public Health continues to warn all consumers to always cook ground beef properly in order to kill any possible bacteria. So far, 5 of the 7 confirmed cases of E. coli in Massachusetts have been hospitalized.  Below is more information on each of the cases.

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S&S Foods LLC., a California company, is recalling approximately 153,630 pounds of frozen bulk ground beef because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. 

The recalled ground beef was sold in 30 pound boxes and was intended for food service and institutional use. The frozen, bulk ground beef was shipped to distribution centers located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Some of the ground beef has been linked by DNA fingerprinting to an E. coli outbreak at Goshen Scout Reservation in Virginia, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal that included statements by Laura Reiser, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service agency spokeswoman:

Reiser said the only known E. Coli cases connected to the meat are from the camp. State health officials said there are 25 confirmed cases among people who attended camp between July 20 and 26. Two campers who attended last week were also infected, and more than 80 people have shown symptoms since the outbreak, said Christopher Novak, an epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health.

At least one Scout, a Northern Virginia resident, remains hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication that can occur when the E. coli toxin enters the bloodstream and that can lead to kidney failure, Novak said.

A box of meat from the Goshen Scout Reservation, near Lexington, had an "establishment number" corresponding to an S&S plant, Reiser said, and E. coli in the meat has been genetically matched to bacteria found in samples taken from some campers. That and other evidence led the agency to recommend the recall, Reiser said.

"Virginia tested products and provided us the information, and then we have our illness investigation, and between all that, we can say, 'Yes, these illnesses [at Goshen] are associated with this product," Reiser said.

J. Michael McMahan, an environmental health supervisor with the state Health Department, said Virginia health officials obtained the box of meat July 28, one day after the department first received reports of ill campers.

In this case, we got extremely lucky that we got a box of product left we could test," McMahan said. "That's really fairly unusual in an outbreak."

The contaminated meat went from the hands of S & S Foods, a California company, to Cargill, a Minnesota company, to a single food service customer, whose name was not released by Cargill. The food service provider for Goshen Scout Reservation was Sodexo, a worldwide food service provider.

The contaminated meat traveled from California to Virginia and landed in meals eaten by boy scouts, 25 of whom have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. One scout is still in the hospital and has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

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According to the Virginia Department of Health, ground beef may be the source of the E. coli outbreak associated with Goshen Scout Camp.  According to the Wall Street Journal, "the number of people who contracted the E. coli infection has grown to at least 18, with two boys in the most serious condition."  The serious condition is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause renal failure, pancreatitis and central nervous system damage.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is devastating.  Attorney Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli cases, recently spent two days in intensive care with a family whose loved one was in a coma because of E. coli-related HUS.

The Wall Street Journal story provides additional information about the Goshen Scout Camp E. coli outbreak:

Christopher Novak, a Health Department epidemiologist, said about 30 employees were investigating the outbreak, interviewing Scout troops and taking stool samples from those with symptoms.

Novak said a possible source was food in foil-packaged meals that included ground beef and vegetables. The camp staple, typically cooked over a fire by Scouts, is not problematic if cooked long enough and at the right temperature, Novak said.

Those who were infected with E. coli 0157, a harmful strain of the bacterium, were a mix of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and two people from Maryland, officials said. The sick children ranged in age from 10 to 16, and about 10 required hospitalization, Novak said.

Six of those were treated and released, Novak said. Of the remaining four, two had hemolytic uremic syndrome, which occurs when the toxin produced by the bacterium enters the bloodstream, he said.

The "camp staple" referred to by the Wall Street Journal is "grubby stew," ground beef and vegetables wrapped in foil and cooked in a campfire.

If ground beef is the culprit, test should reveal whether this outbreak is connected to the outbreaks around the country linked to Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components.  We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef on behalf of an E. coli victim, and we are other families whose loved ones have been sickened by ground beef made with Nebraska Beef products.

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A Nebraska E. coli outbreak has been associated with pork sandwiches eaten at a community event. 

According to the Four Corners Health Department:

5 laboratory confirmed cases of E. coli have been reported, with the sickened individuals having attended a common event held in York.  Of the 5 confirmed cases, 2 required hospitalization, no one died.

Vicki L. Duey, Executive Director of the Four Corners Health Department explains that “we are focusing on an event where barbeque pork sandwiches were eaten. There is no evidence at this time to relate these illnesses to food served by a restaurant or licensed caterer.” She reports investigators have interviewed 70 people who ate food from the event. “Twenty-eight have indicated they fell ill after consuming a barbeque pork sandwich, including the 5 confirmed cases, with the individuals becoming ill sometime between July 18 and July 26. The food preparation process may have contributed to the contamination. Because there have been no other related E. coli cases in the region, officials are focusing on this one time event.  The investigation continues.” 

The people sickened in this outbreak should have their medical expenses paid and be compensated for their injuries.  In this case, the responsible parties may include:

• The organization that sponsored the event
• The organization that sold the pork sandwiches
• The retailer who sold the pork
• The distributor who supplied the pork to the retailer
• The processor who processed the pork

If you have questions about compensation for E. coli victims, please contact our law firm: call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our Free E. coli case review form.

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The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 infection among recent attendees of a Boy Scout reservation located in Goshen, Virginia. In an effort to determine the source of the outbreak, health officials are interviewing staff, the parents of the ill children, and health care providers.

“The majority of ill persons are residents of northern Virginia, although we are aware that attendees of the camp live in areas throughout Virginia, as well as in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and possibly other states,” said Virginia State Health Commissioner, Karen Remley, M.D., M.B.A..

There are at least 13 confirmed cases, all of them boys, according to a story in the Washington Post.  Twelve of  the thirteen sickened boys are from Northern Virginia, and one boy is from Maryland.

Two of the thirteen boys were hospitalized. 

“Some people who are exposed to E. coli O157 do not become ill,” explained VDH epidemiologist, Seth Levine. “Others may develop stomach cramps and watery bloody diarrhea. Fortunately, most people recover on their own within 5-10 days - but it is important that anyone who has bloody diarrhea seek medical attention just to be safe. However, antibiotics do not appear to help people get better faster and are not usually indicated. Persons with diarrhea should drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Drugs that stop diarrhea (e.g., Imodium) should not be used.”

About 5% of the people who contract E. coli O157:H7 infections develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that often causes kidney failure and damages other organs.

Nebraska Beef, Ltd, has recently recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef components due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  The recall was prompted by a multistate E. coli outbreak that has over 40 confirmed cases.  We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of one of the victims of the outbreak against Nebraska Beef, Ltd. and Kroger Co., the retailer who sold ground beef to our client.

Further testing is needed to determine whether this E. coli outbreak associated with the Virginia Boy Scout reservation is also connected to recalled Nebraska Beef, Ltd. beef products.

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E. coli outbreaks linked to raw milk can be caused by unsanitary conditions that exist during the milking process.  An example of this is a 2005 E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from a farm in Washington State. The outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7 was found in the farm’s raw milk and in environmental samples, including "seven environmental samples collected from the floor of the farm milking parlor," according to a CDC report on the outbreak.

Unsanitary conditions were found at the farm by state health officials investigating the outbreak:

During inspections of the farm, officials from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) noted mud and manure accumulation in the entrance to the milking parlor and on the rubber mats covering the dirt floors of the parlor. The bucket used for milk collection had direct contact with these surfaces. Inspectors also noted inadequate hand-washing facilities and improper procedures for cleaning milking equipment and handling fresh milk.

It is critical that farmers supplying raw milk for human consumption keep milking areas impeccably clean.  If not, people may get sick.  And when elderly people and children end up on dialysis and fighting for life because they consumed raw milk, the farmers who didn't take the time to clean up the milking area should compensate those sickened and their families.

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Three more people have tested positive for E. coli in Nebraska, according to an Associated Press story.  This brings the total number of Nebraska E. coli cases to five.

Health officials are still investigating the outbreak, but according to the AP story:

Vicki Duey of the Four Corners Health Department says she's looking at whether the food served at a public event held earlier this month may have sickened people. She declined to give specific information about the event or where it took place.

During the investigation, it is valuable to have legal representation. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker, managing partner for our E. coli cases, or submit our E. coli case review form.

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Investigators have linked a confirmed case of  Salmonella Saintpaul infection to a contaminated jalapeno pepper. The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul has over 1,300 confirmed cases in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.  Last week, the FDA confirmed a jalapeno pepper sample at a distribution center tested positive for the outbreak strain.  Now, the Laboratory Services Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed that a jalapeno provided by an ill patient also tested positive for the outbreak strain--the first pepper that has been directly linked to human illness.

The La Junta TribuneDemocrat reports that the pepper was purchased at a local Wal-Mart around the June 24.  The individual who purchased the pepper became sick on July 4.  The Colorado State Health Department is working with the FDA to determine the origin of the pepper.  The FDA has issued a warning to consumers about raw imported jalapenos, especially those grown in Mexico.

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The slow investigation of the FDA and other government agencies in the nationwide Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak has pressured lawmakers and the food industry into updating its record-keeping system.  An electronic tracing system would help to quickly identify the source of outbreaks like the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 1200 people this summer.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle,

The food industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators trace produce that sickens consumers, according to interviews and government reports.

The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers' favorite foods - especially fresh produce.

Representative John Dingell (D-Michigan) claims that the food industry has brought trouble upon itself.  The “successful” lobbying effort to halt regulations requiring a better record-keeping system has backfired, slowing down investigators and costing businesses and growers approximately $250 million.  According to William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner, “If the FDA had been given the resources and authority years ago that it requested to solve these kinds of problems, I think we would have solved this already.”

The search for the source of the outbreak was long and arduous, to an extent that Congress is holding a hearing to investigate why it took so long to get any real answers.  Although an electronic tracking system would have expedited the investigation, there are already supposed to be measures in place to help with these types of investigations.  The Public Health Security and Bio Terrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 already requires the food industry to keep records so that food can be traced.

Frank Pecarich at the California Progress Report writes that,

In Congress, a leading advocate of food industry safety reforms said the industry would do well to listen to consumers on the need for tracing. "We live in an age of technology where you can bar-code a banana," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "We've got to work this through with the industry and come up with something that's reasonable. The more confidence consumers have, the more goods they will purchase."

It’s about time that the industry changes its views on a better record-keeping system.  After the devastating losses of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, the system is a logical choice.  The industry, working with Congress and food safety agencies, can do a lot better to make sure that future outbreak investigations go quickly and smoothly, minimizing damage to the economy and to the industry, all while protecting the health of America.

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The Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, which now has over 1200 confirmed cases, could have been much smaller if the technology was in place to effectively trace the source of foodborne outbreaks.
According to the Associated Press,

The salmonella outbreak has set off a scramble among industry, regulators and lawmakers to devise a system that would allow food to be traced quickly through a serpentine supply chain that spans nations and continents.

"We clearly have the technology to trace food from field to fork, but we don't have any national system to coordinate it," said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo.

Canada already uses an electronic tracing system to track cattle. Cattle ranchers produce a report that shows farms, auction pens, and feed lots that their cattle stopped in from birth to slaughterhouse.  The same technology is now being adapted in the U.S. produce industry.

Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief, says a better tracing system needs three key components: a unique identifier that follows each food item from field to consumer, electronic record keeping and a common framework for sharing information among all the players.

"It is unquestionable that we need to put more emphasis on the importance of traceability," said Acheson. "Tracing foods back can be really tough, or pretty straightforward, depending on the system."

Some retailers, such as Costco, already require a certain level of traceback. Costco annually audits its suppliers to make sure they are receiving safe products. FoodLogiQ, a North Carolina-based company that handles Canada’s cattle tracing uses radio frequency ID tags to trace cattle movement.  FoodLogiQ believes that a simple label on packages aren’t helpful enough and that the most effective way of tracking is to constantly track what places through which the product moves. FoodLogiQ’s system was used to traceback a case of mad cow disease in Canada in 2003.

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Now that the FDA has discovered a jalapeno that tested positive for the strain of Salmonella Saintpaul that has sickened over 1200 people across the country, the tomato industry is seeking compensation for losses incurred by the outbreak. Investigators originally thought that tomatoes were the source of the outbreak, but no tests ever came back positive for the outbreak strain.  The FDA lifted its advisory on tomatoes, but still maintains that tomatoes may be linked to the outbreak.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Representative Tim Mahoney (D-Florida), has introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would compensate the tomato industry $100 million, in a way similar to that of disaster assistance.  The amount is based on the number of tomatoes thrown out by retailers and lower market prices during the period that the FDA warned consumers against eating raw tomatoes.  Even though restaurants dumped tomatoes and many consumers refused to eat them, the number of Salmonella cases continued to grow. The FDA now advises against eating raw jalapenos.

According to The Wall Street Journal,

Consumer advocates oppose the bill. Sarah Klein, a staff attorney at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the food-industry lobby over the years has weakened federal food-safety oversight, and consumers shouldn't foot the bill now. "We'd like to see the industry focusing on how to prevent these outbreaks for the future to protect consumers and their bottom line," she said.

The bill is being processed in the House of Representatives, with no similar legislation in the Senate.  There is also a time crunch with the coming election in November.  Last year, the House denied a similar bill, one seeking compensation for the spinach industry after the 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to fresh spinach.  The viability of the current bill remains uncertain.

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The FDA updated its advisory on jalapeno peppers today by narrowing the advisory to raw jalapenos grown, harvested, or packed in Mexico.  Raw jalapeno peppers have been linked to the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul after the FDA discovered a jalapeno contaminated with the outbreak strain at the Agricola Zarigoza distribution center in McAllen, Texas, but the pepper was grown and harvested in Mexico.

Using traceback and traceforward information, the FDA discovered that the Agricola Zarigoza center in Texas was not the original source of contamination. Not only has the FDA cleared the center from being linked to the outbreak, but the FDA has stated that domestically grown and harvested jalapenos and Serrano peppers are safe for consumption.  The FDA also notes that commercially canned, pickled, and cooked jalapenos from any and all geographic locations have not been connected to the outbreak.  The advisory only applies to raw jalapenos produced in Mexico.

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The FDA needs to get some training from the Minnesota Department of Health. 

The Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that the FDA initially traced to tomatoes has 1279 confirmed cases to date. People started getting sick in April and the numbers have continued to climb fast.  The FDA started looking at other foods as the possible source of the outbreak, but the investigation was going nowhere until people from Minnesota got sick and the Minnesota Department of Health got involved.

According to a story in today’s StarTibune by Josephine Marcotty and Maura Lerner, the Minnesota Department of Health traced the source of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak to jalapeno peppers in less than two weeks:

Minnesota health officials first learned of a salmonella outbreak in the state on June 23. By July 9, they were on the phone with their federal counterparts making it "crystal clear" it was not tomatoes but jalapenos that were the likely source, said Kirk Smith, head of foodborne diseases at the Health Department.

Smith said that by mid-June, federal investigators already had begun to think tomatoes were not the sole culprit.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials still have not completely ruled out tomatoes. Data indicate jalapeno peppers caused some illnesses but not all, said FDA spokesman Mike Herndon in an e-mail interview.

In Minnesota, the break came when 27 people who ate at the same Twin Cities restaurant fell ill from the exact rare salmonella strain in the national outbreak.

On Monday, federal officials said they found the same strain on a jalapeno pepper in a giant produce warehouse in McAllen, Texas -- the same warehouse identified by Minnesota investigators weeks ago.

"What happened in Minnesota should be the norm," said Mike Osterholm, University of Minnesota foodborne illness expert and an adviser to state and federal health agencies. "They did it quickly and they did it effectively and they were able to trace back what nobody else was able to trace back."

Read the full story, “'Team Diarrhea' helped state crack salmonella case.”

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Before she has even had time to brush the dust off of her shoes after leaving the campaign trail, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) is in the news again.  This time for her reaction to the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak that has sickened over 1200 people.

As most people know, particularly those who ordered a BLT last month and got a BL, the FDA initially believed tomatoes were the source of the outbreak.  Monday, the FDA announced that one jalapeno pepper sample had a positive genetic match with the outbreak-strain of Salmonella Saintpaul.  A recall of jalapeno peppers was issued; restaurants quit using raw jalapeno and serano peppers; and Hillary (hereinafter referred to as Senator Clinton) wrote a letter.

In her letter to Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, FDA Commissioner, Senator Clinton expressed concern about the FDA’s inability to localize the source of the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, saying “despite the work of investigators from your agency, we still cannot provide assurances to consumers that their produce, especially certain types of peppers, is safe.”

Senator Clinton also commented on the FDA’s progress on implementing the Food Protection Plan:

In November 2007, your agency announced a Food Protection Plan that would improve the FDA’s ability to prevent, intervene, and respond to food-related outbreaks.  This plan detailed concrete actions that the agency would be taking to ensure safety from the earliest points in the production phrase through consumption.  Earlier this month, you released a six-month progress summary.  Given the number of serious food outbreaks that have occurred in the past few years, I am disappointed at the lack of progress you have made in implementing the Food Protection Plan.

Also in the letter, Senator Clinton pointed out specific areas in which the FDA has failed to live up to the goals of the Food Protection Plan.  Those areas include setting up meetings with sates, food industry representatives, and consumer groups to discuss ways of preventing outbreaks, and negotiating with neighboring countries (Canada and Mexico).  She also pointed out the lack of improvement in regard to traceability of outbreaks.

After reviewing the FDA’s progress report on implementing the Food Protection Plan, Senator Clinton asked four questions of Dr. von Eschenbach to provide more details:

1. What is your schedule for meetings with stakeholders and industry regarding traceability? With which groups will you be meeting?

2. Given that models exist for traceability, when you will release a “best practices” document?

3. What is your schedule for meetings and implementation of the Food Protection Plan with our neighboring nations, particularly Canada?

4. You have scheduled a meeting with the states on food safety for August 2008. What is the agenda for this meeting, and what does the FDA anticipate as action steps that will emerge from this conference?

Perhaps pressure from Congress, including senators such as Senator Clinton, will prompt the FDA to finally live up to the standards and goals it has set in order to protect the nation from foodborne illness. Then again, maybe the FDA is still working on what the definition of food safety is.

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Four people have fallen ill in Connecticut after consuming raw milk that may have been contaminated with E. coli. The raw milk was produced by the Town Farm Dairy in Simsbury, Connecticut, and the farm has since stopped the production and sale of all milk products.  Investigators say that drinking raw milk from Town Farm Dairy was a common link.

Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk has not been treated to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes.  Currently, 21 states require that all milk products for sale be pasteurized, while 25 allow the production of raw milk.  However, federal regulations by the FDA require that all milk products produced for interstate sale be pasteurized.  According to courant.com, Connecticut allows the sale of raw milk, but it must be labeled saying that the product contains “organisms that may be harmful to human health.”

Town Farm Dairy was originally shut down by its owner in 2003, but was reopened recently by a group known as Friends of Town Farm Dairy.  The farm is also the only one in the state of Connecticut that is a certified organic dairy farm that has retail and wholesale distribution.  The group running the dairy had hired farmers to run daily operations, but the farmers left July 1, leaving the group’s board members and volunteers to operate the farm. The milk was purchased with sell-by dates of June 24, July 4, and July 16, which was during the transition period of the farmers leaving.  The timing of the outbreak questions whether or not enough attention was being paid to the safety of the dairy products during the transition.

For information on legal representation, please contact our law firm:

• 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free)
• Email our lawyers (the messages in this account are reviewed by our lawyers)
• Submit our E. coli case review form (this form is reviewed by our lawyers)

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The FDA has announced that one jalapeno pepper sample is a positive genetic match with the Salmonella Saintpaul strain causing the current Salmonella outbreak that has over 1200 confirmed cases in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

According to the FDA, "The positive sample was obtained during an FDA inspection at a produce distribution center in McAllen, Texas. The pepper was grown on a farm in Mexico, however, that does not mean that the pepper was contaminated in Mexico."

The following is the announcement of the resulting jalapeno pepper recall:

Agricola Zaragoza, Inc. of McAllen, Texas is recalling Jalapeno Peppers distributed since June 30th, 2008 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The Jalapeno Peppers were distributed to customers in GA and TX.

The Jalapeno Peppers being recalled were shipped in 35lb. plastic crates and in 50lb. bags with no brand name or label.

The recall is a result of sampling by FDA, which revealed that these Jalapeno Peppers were contaminated with the same strain of Salmonella Saintpaul responsible for the current Salmonella outbreak. It is unknown at this time which, if any, of the more than 1,200 illnesses reported to date are related to this particular product or to the grower who supplied this product.  Distribution of these products has been suspended while FDA, the Texas Department of State Health Services and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

Consumers and retailers who purchased Jalapeno Peppers should contact their supplier to determine if their products are involved in the recall. Commercial manufacturers that have used these recalled Jalapeno Peppers as an ingredient in other products (i.e. salsas, etc.) are encouraged to contact their local FDA office to determine if these products should be recalled.  Additionally, restaurants, retail food stores, and similar retail institutions that have used these Jalapeno Peppers as a garnish or as an ingredient to prepare entrees, salsas or other products are asked to dispose of these products making sure that all such peppers are not inadvertently made available for purchase, salvage or donation and therefore preventing any possibility for human or animal consumption.

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Updated CDC information on the multistate outbreak of E. coli now includes the state of Utah and more confirmed cases in Georgia.  The outbreak now has affected 7 states: Georgia (4 cases), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20), New York (1), Ohio (21), and Utah (1).  The illnesses began between May 27 and July 1, 2008, resulting in 27 hospitalizations and one case of a type of kidney failure caused by E. coli known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Investigators first traced the outbreak strain to contaminated ground beef purchased at Kroger retail stores located in Michigan and Ohio. Kroger has recalled all of its ground beef products that may have been contaminated.  Kroger’s supplier was then found to be Nebraska Beef, who originally recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef on June 30, but then expanded the recall on July 3 to include approximately 5.3 million pounds of ground beef components produced between May 16 and June 26.

The cases in Georgia were traced back to the Barbecue Pit restaurant in Moultrie, Georgia, which also had used ground beef components from Nebraska Beef. 49 confirmed cases have been linked to the outbreak, with Nebraska Beef as the common denominator for supplying contaminated ground beef components.

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The multistate E. coli outbreak that originally affected residents of Michigan and Ohio has now spread to four more states.  According to the CDC, there have been 45 confirmed cases linked to this outbreak, 20 in Michigan and 21 in Ohio, which now includes one case in each of the following states: Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York.  In all instances, illness began between May 27 and June 24.

According to the CDC,

Twenty-three persons have been hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Twenty-six (58%) patients are female. Patients range in age from 4 to 78 years with a median age of 19 years.

Ground beef samples from several patients were found to match the outbreak strain of E. coli. The ground beef was connected to Kroger retail stores in Michigan and Ohio, prompting Kroger to recall ground beef sold at their Michigan and Ohio stores. On June 30, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. (Kroger’s supplier) recalled half a million pounds of ground beef. One July 3, the Nebraska Beef recall was expanded to include 5.3 million pounds of beef products.

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The CDC has reported that one case in Georgia is now part of the multi-state E. coli outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components.  The first cases reported in this outbreak were in Michigan and Ohio.  On July 15, the CDC reported that Indiana, Kentucky and New York each had one confirmed case.  With Georgia added to the list, there are now 6 states involved in the outbreak.

Our law firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of this E. coli outbreak.  To contact us regarding this lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

The Georgia case is one of 8 E. coli cases in Georgia that have been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia. According to the Moultrie Observer:

“This is not a new case,” Southwest Georgia Public Health District Health Director Jacqueline Grant said. “What is new is that the CDC has now determined that it fit their case definition for the outbreak that began in Michigan and Ohio.”

Late Tuesday, Grant said the CDC announced that New York, Kentucky and Indiana each had a lab-confirmed case of bacterial infection that matched the clusters in Michigan and Ohio that had been traced to beef sold in Kroger supermarkets. With the inclusion of Georgia, six states are now linked to the outbreak.

“The number of lab-confirmed E. coli cases associated with the Colquitt County outbreak remains at eight, with four presumed cases,” Grant said. “That number has not changed. The lab-confirmed cases are undergoing additional testing to determine whether they also match the multi-state case definition. Testing results are expected later this week.”

The Colquitt County cases are the only cases related to the national outbreak found in Georgia by disease investigators, Grant said. All confirmed and presumed cases involve people who ate at the Barbecue Pit, located at 311 First Ave. S.E. in Moultrie from mid-June through July 3.

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According to the CDC, the E. coli outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components now involves 5 states: Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20 according to the CDC and 22 according to the Michigan Department of Community Health), New York (1), and Ohio (21). The illnesses began between May 30 and June 24, 2008. Patients range in age from 4 to 78 years with a median age of 20 years.

Twenty-one ill persons have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. One patient has developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), an illness that can develop from an E. coli O157:H7 infection. HUS can cause kidney failure (renal failure) and damage to other organs. 

Health officials have linked Kroger ground beef to this outbreak.  According to the CDC:

State health and agriculture departments tested ground beef recovered from several patient residences that was purchased at Kroger® retail stores in Michigan and Ohio. Molecular fingerprinting testing conducted by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Health and Agriculture Laboratories, in collaboration with PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from these ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157.

CDC's OutbreakNet Team conducted a multi-state case-control study in collaboration with health authorities in Ohio and Michigan to epidemiologically examine exposures that would be related to illness. The data indicate a significant association between illness and eating ground beef purchased at one of several Kroger® Company stores in Michigan and Ohio. CDC has provided these results to the USDA-FSIS and public health agencies in Michigan and Ohio.

On June 25, 2008, a recall was announced for ground beef sold at Kroger® Co. Stores in Michigan and Ohio. On July 3, the Kroger® Co. expanded the June 25th recall to include ground beef products from Kroger® establishments outside of Michigan and Ohio.

Kroger used Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components to make the Kroger ground beef involved in this outbreak. According to the USDA:

Nebraska Beef, Ltd., was identified as a common supplier to those stores in addition to two federally inspected establishments where FSIS obtained a positive ground beef sample that was matched to the outbreak strain.

On June 30, 2008, a recall of 531,707 pounds of ground beef components from Nebraska Beef Ltd. was announced. On July 3, 2008, the Nebraska Beef recall expanded to include all beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26, 2008, totaling approximately 5.3 million pounds.

Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of a victim of this E. coli outbreak.  To contact our law firm regarding this lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

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Now that the health investigators have associated Nebraska Beef, Ltd. with the Ohio and Michigan E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 43 people, they are looking at this outbreak as evidence that our food safety system that does not go far enough to protect consumers.

The Columbus Dispatch has conveniently drawn up a timeline of events in the outbreak:

June 9

• Nebraska Beef gets the first word from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that samples of meat from processing companies tested positive for E. coli. According to a company spokesman, that notice said Nebraska Beef was among a group of firms suspected to have supplied the product.

June 11

• Central Ohio health officials express concern over six reports of E. coli O157:H7 infections in Franklin and Fairfield counties in one week. The cases followed the death in late May of a Gahanna woman who was infected with the bacteria.

June 16

• Columbus Public Health declares an E. coli outbreak as reports of new cases accumulate and emergency rooms see a spike in visits from patients with gastrointestinal problems.

In central Ohio, the E. coli count jumps to 11.

June 17

• Nebraska Beef gets another notice about contaminated meat.

June 23

• The Ohio Department of Agriculture laboratory confirms a ground-beef sample from a sickened resident is contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

June 24

• Michigan Health officials say many of the sickened people ate ground beef from Kroger. The grocer's Columbus division confirms that its meat was consumed by at least one of the people infected in central Ohio.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declare a multistate outbreak.

June 25

• Ohio health officials genetically match bacteria found in ground beef sold at a Gahanna Kroger to 33 DNA-linked illnesses, 17 in Ohio and 16 in Michigan.
• Kroger recalls an undetermined amount of ground beef with sell-by dates from May 21 through June 8.

June 27

• USDA issues Nebraska Beef a notice of intended enforcement, a warning that the agency issues to companies that need to make changes. In this notice, the department's Food Safety and Inspection Service cited an inability to control E. coli O157:H7.

June 30

• Nebraska Beef recalls 531,707 pounds of meat used to make ground beef. The meat was sent to companies in seven states.
• The first Ohio product-liability lawsuit is filed in Franklin County by a New Albany woman who was sickened by E. coli bacteria.

July 3

• Nebraska Beef expands recall to 5.3 million pounds of meat.
• The Nebraska Beef recall prompts Kroger to expand its recall to include company-owned stores throughout the country with sell-by dates as late as July 5.

When Kroger ground beef was confirmed as a source of the Ohio and Michigan E. coli O157:H7 outbreak on July 25, Nebraska Beef knew that they supplied ground beef components to Kroger, knew that some of their ground beef components were testing positive for E. coli O157:H7, and still chose to do nothing until June 30, when the company issued its initial recall (later expanded to 5 million pounds of beef).

Arguably, Nebraska Beef's failure to quickly act on knowledge of contamination resulted in more people being sickened in Michigan and Ohio.  An E. coli outbreak in  Georgia (E. coli outbreak linked to the Barbecue Pit) has also been linked to Nebraska Beef.

Nebraska Beef's delayed response during this outbreak has prompted the Ohio Department of Agriculture to make a change in its policies.  the Ohio Department of Agriculture will no longer wait for agencies or companies to make an announcement about tainted products that the department finds.  The department will now only wait three hours (or until 4 pm) for agencies or companies to notify the public of the results before the department releases the information itself.

 

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Health officials in Franklin County, Ohio, are attempting to find the cause of 97 reported cases of shigellosis. Shigellosis is an intestinal infection of the Shigella bacteria, causing diarrhea, fever, and cramping, and is most common in toddlers. The source of the disease can often be traced back to daycare centers, restaurants, and swimming pools that do not contain chlorine.

According to 10TV, Franklin County only reported 17 cases of shigellosis in 2007, but nearly 100 cases have been reported in the past few weeks. The source of disease has not yet been identified by health officials, but they have notified area daycares and health institutions to increase the awareness of the disease.

If the source of the disease is found to be a restaurant or daycare center, affected individuals may be entitled to compensation due to the liability held by those institutions. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit our firm's free E. coli case consultation form.

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The number of confirmed cases of Salmonella Saintpaul has again risen, bringing the total to 1090. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) people in 42 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened in the outbreak:

Alabama (2 persons), Arkansas (14), Arizona (49), California (9), Colorado (15), Connecticut (4), Florida (2), Georgia (25), Idaho (5), Illinois (104), Indiana (16), Iowa (2), Kansas (17), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maine (1), Maryland (29), Massachusetts (26), Michigan (19), Minnesota (19), Mississippi (2), Missouri (15), New Hampshire (4), Nevada (11), New Jersey (11), New Mexico (99), New York (30), North Carolina (14), Ohio (8), Oklahoma (24), Oregon (10), Pennsylvania (12), Rhode Island (3), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (8), Texas (408), Utah (2), Virginia (31), Vermont (2), Washington (17), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (11), and the District of Columbia (1).

Health officials have had a difficult time pinpointing the source of this outbreak. The CDC has acknowledged some of these challenges, stating:

“The investigation is complex and difficult. One difficult aspect is that people often have difficulty remembering exactly what foods they ate, and remembering specific ingredients in those foods is even more difficult. Although laboratory testing of foods might help identify the source, perishable foods that were consumed by ill persons are often not available to test. When food items are mixed together and consumed in the same dish, all the items may be statistically linked to illness. In that case, determining by statistical means which item caused the illness can be difficult or impossible. Tracing suspect produce items back to processors and growers is an integral part of the effort to identify a single source and a possible means of contamination.”

Health officials first reported that tomatoes were the source of the outbreak, but the duration of the outbreak and further interviews with patients suggested that peppers may have also made people sick. According to the CDC:

“Illnesses were linked to an item containing fresh jalapeño peppers and no other of the suspect items. The accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeño peppers caused some illnesses but that they do not explain all illnesses. Raw tomatoes, fresh serrano peppers, and fresh cilantro also remain under investigation. Investigators from many agencies are collaborating to track the source of the implicated peppers and other produce items.”

The CDC advises that until they are certain that the contaminated items are off the market, consumers, especially those at heightened risk for illness, should avoid eating uncooked jalapeño, and Serrano peppers, as well as raw tomatoes not on the Food and Drug Administration’s Safe List.

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Microbiological evidence has linked ground beef taken from the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people, probably more. According to WCTV news:

Ground beef taken from the Barbecue Pit, the restaurant that has been the common thread in a Colquitt County disease outbreak, has tested positive for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157, says Southwest Georgia Public Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

"We received confirmation that ground beef samples tested positive," Grant said.

. . . There are eight lab-confirmed cases of E. coli and four presumed cases to date in the Colquitt County disease outbreak, which began in late June. All confirmed and presumed cases involve people who ate at the Barbecue Pit, located at 311 First Ave., S.E. in Moultrie.

According to the Southwest Georgia Public Health District, the ground beef was made with Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components have also been linked to an outbreak that has sickened at least 43 people in Ohio and Michigan. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled beef trim and other ground beef components.  The Nebraska Beef recall involves 5 million pounds of ground beef components.  

We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of the E. coli outbreak associated with Nebraska ground beef components and Kroger ground beef. For information about this Nebraska Beef and Kroger lawsuit and E. coli litigation, please contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit the firm’s free, E. coli-case consultation form.

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Further investigation into an outbreak of E. coli in Colquitt County, Georgia, has uncovered a possible link to the Georgia outbreak and the Michigan/Ohio outbreak related to Nebraska Beef and Kroger, according to the Moultrie Observer. Laboratory tests of patients revealed that the strain in the two outbreaks were the same, which establishes a possible connection between the two outbreaks. So far, six people in Georgia have been sickened, with another three probable cases being investigated. The three individuals listed as probable cases have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a deadly disease associated with E. coli infection. Brenda Greene, Southwest Georgia Public Health District Deputy Health Director had the following to say:

“A specimen sample from one of the patients resulted in a match to the same strain of E. coli bacteria in disease outbreaks in Michigan and Ohio, and those illnesses are linked to ground beef. The National Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and state epidemiologists agree that ground beef may be a source of the infection in Colquitt County.”

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According to a Southwest Georgia Public Health District news release, the Barbecue Pit, a restaurant in Moultrie, Georgia may be linked to an E. coli outbreak that may have sickened at least nine people in Colquitt County, Georgia. Six people have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7, and three other patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure (renal failure) and that is often associated with E. coli infections.

“All of the patients with lab-confirmed cases of E. coli have recalled eating there [at the Barbecue Pit],” said Southwest Georgia Public Health District Deputy Health Director Brenda Greene.

Two of the people with hemolytic uremic syndrome also ate at the Barbecue Pit, according to Greene.

“The two patients with HUS are considered probable and we have some other tests pending that are possible cases of E. coli. Patients are still seeking medical treatment for symptoms that suggest the infection remains active,” said Greene.

According to Green, “We do not have all the evidence needed to clearly point to any one item as the source of the infection.” Even if a specific food is not implicated in this outbreak, restaurants are strictly liable for illnesses and death caused by the food they prepare. Our law firm has had several cases where a restaurant was held liable even though a specific food item served at the restaurant was not pinpointed as the source of the outbreak. 

If health officials determine that a specific food item served at the restaurant was the source of the outbreak, the supplier and manufacturer of that food item, the restaurant and others may all be found liable for illness and death.

According to the Moultrie Observer, this E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Barbecue Pit may have been caused by ground beef and may be connected to an E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio that has been linked to Kroger ground beef, the components of which were supplied by Nebraska Beef, Ltd, which has recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef components due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (Nebraska Beef recall):

“A specimen sample from one of the patients resulted in a match to the same strain of E. coli bacteria in disease outbreaks in Michigan and Ohio, and those illnesses are linked to ground beef,” Greene said. “The National Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and state epidemiologists agree that ground beef may be a source of the infection in Colquitt County.”

Ground beef is used in some of the dishes served in the Barbecue Pit, a Moultrie restaurant that has voluntarily closed as disease investigators attempt to find the source of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157 contamination. A common thread among patients with confirmed cases of the disease is that they ate at the restaurant.

If ground beef is connected to this Georgia outbreak, it would be possible to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of income and other damages from the supplier of the ground beef components [for example, Nebraska Beef, Ltd.], the processor of the ground beef, the distributor of the ground beef, the seller of the raw ground beef, the Barbecue Pit and others. A law firm with E. coli litigation experience should be consulted.

Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of one of the victims of the Ohio E. coli outbreak.  We are a national law firm and represent E. coli victims throughout the United States.  To contact our law firm about an E. coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit our firm's free E. coli case consultation form.

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As of this morning, there are 40 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 associated with Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd., the company that supplied the beef trim, etc. that went into the Kroger ground beef. In response to this outbreak, Kroger recalled an “undetermined amount” of Kroger ground beef on June 25, 2008 because the ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. On June 30, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. recalled approximately 531,707 pounds of beef trim and other ground beef components because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Note: Our law firm is representing one of the victims of this outbreak.  Please see our press release about the imminent Kroger lawsuit.

On July 1, 2008, Kroger expanded its ground beef recall as follows (from the Kroger website, www.kroger.com):

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) that Nebraska Beef, based in Omaha, Neb., has been identified as the supplier of ground beef products linked to E. coli illnesses in Michigan and central and northern Ohio. The illnesses were reported between May 31 and June 8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not reported any additional illnesses related to this outbreak. [Note from Pritzker Law: There have been additional illnesses reported by Michigan and Ohio. There are now 19 confirmed Ohio E. coli cases and 21 confirmed Michigan E. coli cases.]

Kroger has expanded the voluntary recall the Company initiated last week for Kroger stores in Michigan and in central and northern Ohio (Columbus and Toledo areas). [Read the June 25 Kroger Recall.]

Based on the latest information from the USDA, Kroger is expanding the recall to include ground beef products in Styrofoam tray packages wrapped in clear cellophane or purchased from an in-store service counter from the stores described below.

There are various “sell by” dates on the ground beef being recalled due to different Nebraska Beef production dates.

The following chart explains the range of “sell by” dates that customers should check:

Fred Meyer May 21-July 5

QFC May 21-July 5

Kroger stores May 21-July 3 *

(*except Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Knoxville, Tenn. and Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, which includes stores in North Carolina, Northeastern Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn. are not involved in the recall of ground beef in Styrofoam trays or from in-store service counters.)

Kroger Mid-Atlantic May 19-June 6

Fry’s May 21-July 3

Ralphs May 21-July 3

Smith’s May 21-July 3

Baker’s May 17-June 4

King Soopers June 20-July 3

City Market June 20-July 3

Customers who shop at Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less, and Scott’s should follow the “sell by” dates listed above for Kroger stores.

In addition to the ground beef described above, Kroger is recalling Private Selection Natural ground beef sold in 16 oz. packages that were in the self-service meat case. The “sell by” dates for this product is July 11 through July 21, 2008. The product was available at all Kroger stores (including Kroger Mid-Atlantic and stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn.) and Dillons, Fred Meyer, Baker’s, Smith’s and Fry’s.

What Customers Should Do:

Kroger is asking customers to carefully check the ground beef they have at home in their refrigerators and freezers. If they have any products covered in this recall, they should return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement.

[Note from Pritzker Law: If someone has been sickened by the ground beef, DO NOT DISPOSE OF OR RETURN THE PRODUCT. Test may have to be done on the product, the results of which may be used as evidence in a Kroger E. coli lawsuit.]

What Kroger Is Doing:

Kroger has expanded the recall due to new information provided by the USDA. This information links product produced by Nebraska Beef to the illnesses. As a precaution, Kroger is removing all ground beef supplied by Nebraska Beef during the dates provided by the USDA.

The following items are not included in this recall: ground beef sold in sealed tubes in one, three or five-pound packages and frozen ground beef patties sold in the frozen food section of its stores.

Kroger has already begun notifying customers about this recall by placing signs in stores in meat departments. Kroger is also using its register receipt notification system that alerts customers about recalls of products they may have purchased.

Kroger has instructed every store involved in the recall to discard the ground beef products in question and thoroughly clean and sanitize all equipment used to prepare ground beef for sale.

We commend Kroger for taking measures to prevent further illness; however, any measures taken by Kroger does not alter the company’s responsibility to its customers who were sickened in this outbreak. If you or your child has been diagnosed with E. coli, please contact our law firm.

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Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef, Ltd. in an Ohio E. coli case that is part of a Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef ground beef components.  The Ohio and Michigan outbreak may be connected to a Georgia E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia.

EXPANDED NEBRASKA BEEF, LTD. RECALL: In response to the Michigan and Ohio outbreak, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has expanded its recall to over 5 million pounds of ground beef components (Expanded Nebraska Beef Recall) and Kroger has recalled an "undetermined amount" of ground beef products.sold at a number of stores, including Kroger stores (Kroger recall).

The supplier of the Kroger ground beef linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 35 people in Michigan and Ohio was Nebraska Beef, Ltd., an Omaha, Nebraska firm. In response to the outbreak, Kroger recalled an "undetermined amount" of Kroger ground beef products. (Read about the Kroger recall.)  Nebraska Beef has recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef components because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The potentially-contaminated ground beef components were distributed to a number of states, meaning cases of E. coli O157:H7 in other states may surface that are connected to the Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef.   

The recalled Nebraska Beef ground beef components were sold to firms that processed the components into ground beef. This means that one contaminated component could have contaminated thousands of pounds of ground beef. The ground beef processors who used the recalled Nebraska ground beef components need to recall any ground beef products that may have been contaminated with the recalled ground beef components.

Our law firm has been retained to represent 20-year-old Zachary Everhart from Pickerington, Ohio, one of the victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef.  In a recent interview on WBNS 10TV, Mr. Everhart had this to say, “It was very painful, actually severe abdominal pains for probably a duration of four days.” The WBNS story states:

Everhart said that in addition to having his medical bills paid for, he wants to send a message to those who sell, prepare and process ground beef to pay closer attention to how they clean the food they sell.

 We are privileged to represent Mr. Everhart.  (Read about our recent Kroger lawsuit filed on behalf of Zachary Everhart.) To contact our law firm about legal representation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker.

Recalled Nebraska Beef Products

The following Nebraska Beef products have been recalled:

• Combo bins of "Coleman 75/25 Trim." The shipping containers bear the case code "38097," and were produced on June 17. These products were sent to an establishment in Colorado for further processing.
• Combo Bins of "Coleman Plate Navel Combo." The shipping containers bear the case code "38044," and were produced on June 17 and 24. These products were sent to an establishment in Texas for further processing.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10260," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10263," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in New York.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Knuckle." The boxes bear the case code "46140," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois and New York.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Clod." The boxes bear the case code "13060," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois.

Continue Reading...

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UPDATE TO THE INFORMATION BELOW (July 7, 2008) -- There are now six confirmed cases of E. coli, all of which have been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia.  There are also 3 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that may be part of this E. coli outbreak. 

 

This outbreak may be connected to an Ohio and Michigan E. coli outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components.  We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of this outbreak.  Read about the Nebraska Beef and Kroger lawsuit. We are a national law firm and represent E. coli victims throughout the United States.  To contact us, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker.

---

(June 30, 2008 - See updated information above) -- There are now two confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Cloquitt County. Several other cases are probable. 

Southwest Georgia Public Health District Deputy Director Brenda Greene had this to say about the outbreak:

"This appears to be a cluster of E. coli 0157, which is one of the most commonly identified disease-causing groups of this bacteria in the United States. Public Health became involved last week after healthcare providers noticed a number of patients from Moultrie were experiencing similar symptoms. Symptoms ranged from stomach pain to bloody diarrhea."

The investigation is ongoing and we are doing everything we can to find out as quickly as possible what is behind the cluster of illnesses. In the meantime, we are urging people to practice good hand-washing and food preparation techniques to avoid this and other types of food-borne illnesses.

Symptoms of E. coli include stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, which is often bloody. In some instances, fever occurs.

"Most people who become sick with E. coli become better within five to seven days without treatment. While some infections are very mild, others can be severe or even life-threatening," Greene said.

"If you are experiencing severe symptoms, you should consult your personal healthcare provider at once,"she said.

The investigation is focusing on patients who have been hospitalized or treated as outpatients, but is expected to expand to include persons who visited physicians or similar healthcare providers and did not go hospitals, she said.

Those most at risk of experiencing severe illness from E. coli include children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

"As our disease investigators learn more, we will continue to update the community," said Greene. "We are looking for what the patients may have in common. Investigations such as these may take days or even weeks."

Along with looking at whether patients have foods or places and times they ate in common, investigators ask about activities such as swimming, since some disease-causing bacteria are found in water.

"Since we know illness occurs when E. coli bacteria are swallowed, we are reminding the public to take precautions when handling food,"Greene said. "At this time, however, we have not linked a type of food or any specific food item to the symptoms we are investigating."

Pritzker Law is representing victims of E. coli outbreaks.  Our law firm has also recently settled an E. coli wrongful death case where an elderly woman contracted an E. coli outbreak that developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit the firm's free case consultation form.

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In an update to a possible E. coli outbreak in Georgia, one teen has been confirmed to have an E. coli infection.  15-year-old Lauren Hill Bannister is being treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and is in fair condition, according to The Moultrie Observer.  WALB News had recently reported that at least a dozen people in Colquitt County, Georgia, had gone to emergency rooms with symptoms resembling an E. coli infection, but the teen is the only confirmed case at this point. Health officials think the common link might be ground beef, much like the recent Kroger ground beef outbreak in Michigan and Ohio.  Officials are still investigating any possible causes of the infection and are determining whether or not the other illnesses may be linked.

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As of this afternoon, Ohio has confirmed 18 cases of E. coli O157:H7 with an additional 4 cases that are probable.

According to the Ohio Department of health, the 18 cases have been confirmed in the following Ohio counties:

• Franklin (ten confirmed)
• Delaware (one confirmed)
• Fairfield (four confirmed)
• Lucas (one confirmed)
• Seneca (one confirmed)
• Union (one confirmed)

Also of this afternoon, Michigan has confirmed 17 cases E. coli O157:H7 with an additional 4 cases that are probable. According to the Michigan Department of Health, the 17 genetically-linked cases of E. coli O157 are present in seven Michigan counties including,

•  Eaton (one)
•  Macomb (three)
•  Washtenaw (four)
•  Saginaw (one)
•  Genesee (one)
•  Wayne (three)
•  Oakland (four)

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Although the multistate E. coli outbreak which is linked to Kroger is making headlines across the nation, there may be another E. coli outbreak farther south.  WALB News reports that at least 12 people in Colquitt County, Georgia, have shown up in emergency rooms with symptoms of E. coli infection. Just as in the Kroger outbreak, the common link so far is ground beef.

“During this investigation, we will see if there is any common denominator in the community, but basically we will like the public to know how to handle ground beef and good hand washing and not to handle the beef while touching any other objects, so that we will stop any of the bacteria from spreading," said Denise Linnenkohl, Director of the Colquitt County Health Dept.

Attorney Fred Pritzker represents victims of E. coli outbreaks throughout the United States.  To contact an attorney with E. coli litigation experience, please call 1-888-377-8900, email Fred Pritzker or submit the firm's free case consultation form.

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As the CDC reports that more than 800 people have become ill from Salmonella Saintpaul, federal health officials are questioning whether or not raw tomatoes are to blame.  Although the CDC states that raw red plum, red Roma, and round red tomatoes are the most likely source of the national outbreak, officials have not yet confirmed that the tomatoes are carrying the rare Salmonella strain.

According to the Los Angeles Times,

Of 1,700 domestic and international tomato samples collected so far, none has tested positive, said David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods with the Food and Drug Administration. Officials would not divulge if, or what, other produce was being seriously investigated, only saying that they would "continue to keep an open mind about the possible source."

The 810 cases span across 36 states and the District of Columbia, including at least 95 hospitalizations. Some of the tomatoes thought to have been linked to the outbreak were traced back to Florida and Mexico, but no concrete evidence was established because contamination could have occurred due to a variety of factors.

The Los Angeles Times also reports that “tomatoes that could be carrying the bacteria might still be entering the market because of large growing areas, long harvesting periods or unsanitary warehouse conditions, Acheson said.”

It seems that the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak may not yet be over, and consumers should continue to be wary of consuming raw tomatoes or whatever source is found to be the cause of this massive outbreak. 

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The CDC reports that the national outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul from raw tomatoes has now resulted in 810 cases of illness. The outbreak has affected 36 different states along with the District of Columbia, resulting in at least 95 hospitalizations.  Officials are still investigating the matter to determine the specific type and source of tomato, but current data suggests that illness is linked to the consumption of raw red plum, red Roma, or round red tomatoes (and products which contain them).

Strains of Salmonella from affected individuals are tested by state laboratories, and the evidence shows a matching genetic fingerprint in the illnesses of more than 750 people.  The CDC does not think that the increase in cases is due to a wave of new infections, but in response to health professionals’ better identifying illness resulting from Salmonella Saintpaul. Most of the illnesses began between April 10 and June 13, 2008, and have not directly resulted in any deaths.  One man in his sixties, however, who died from cancer in Texas, had a Salmonella infection linked to the outbreak, which may have contributed to his death.

The following states have been affected:

Arkansas (10 persons), Arizona (39), California (10), Colorado (8), Connecticut (4), Florida (1), Georgia (18), Idaho (3), Illinois (78), Indiana (11), Kansas (14), Kentucky (1), Maine (1), Maryland (25), Massachusetts (18), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Missouri (12), New Hampshire (3), Nevada (4), New Jersey (4), New Mexico (85), New York (25), North Carolina (5), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (19), Oregon (7), Pennsylvania (6), Rhode Island (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (342), Utah (2), Virginia (22), Vermont (1), Washington (4), Wisconsin (6), and the District of Columbia (1).

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The national food safety law firm of Pritzker Law has been retained to represent 20 year-old Zachary Everhart from Pickerington, Ohio in connection with injuries he received as a result of consuming Kroger hamburger contaminated with the dangerous foodborne pathogen, E. coli O157:H7.

Everhart’s illness was confirmed by genetic testing. The strain of E. coli O157:H7 found in his stool sample matched the outbreak strain found in stool samples from other victims in Ohio and Michigan and from hamburger purchased at a Kroger store in Ohio.

Everhart’s symptoms initially included cramping and diarrhea. He subsequently developed bloody diarrhea and vomiting. He required hospitalization.

Everhart is represented by the national food safety law firm of Pritzker Law, P.A. located in Minneapolis, MN. The firm has been involved in most of the major foodborne illness outbreak involving E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and other dangerous pathogens and has collected millions on behalf of foodborne illness survivors and the families of people killed by foodborne illness.

Attorney Fred Pritzker, who represents Mr. Everhart, has called on Kroger to pay for the medical expenses incurred by him and other victims of this outbreak. Pritzker has also called on Kroger to promptly identify the distributor and producer of the adulterated meat implicated in this outbreak and to quickly release the results of its internal investigation into this crisis. “The public deserves corporate responsibility and transparency from Kroger now that its product has been implicated,” Pritzker said.  

If you have been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 from this or other outbreaks, please contact Senior Partner, Fred Pritzker toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, via email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com  or on the web at www.pritzkerlaw.com.

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Health officials have linked Kroger ground beef to an Ohio and Michigan E. coli outbreak. "Whether the source of the E. coli is the grocery store or its suppliers," said Fred Pritzker, a leading food safety attorney, "it is only fair that the retailer pay for the medical bills of its injured customers. The families deserve that peace of mind."

 

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 26, 2008 -- Fred Pritzker, a prominent Minneapolis lawyer that practices in the area of E. coli litigation, called on Kroger to pay the medical expenses of the victims of the Ohio and Michigan E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), more than half of the fifteen people sickened in Michigan reported buying and eating ground beef from Kroger grocery stores. Moreover, molecular fingerprinting testing on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from Kroger ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157, according to the CDC. These Kroger ground beef samples were collected from the homes of outbreak victims and had been purchased at Kroger stores in Michigan and Ohio.

In response to these illnesses, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157. The products subject to recall include all varieties and weights of ground beef products bearing a Kroger label sold between May 21 and June 8 at Michigan Kroger stores and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio Kroger stores. The recalled Kroger ground beef products have a sell-by date between "05/21/08" and "06/08/08."

"Whether the source of the E. coli is the grocery store or its suppliers," said Fred Pritzker, a leading food safety attorney, "it is only fair that the retailer pay for the medical bills of its injured customers. The families deserve that peace of mind." According to Pritzker, other corporations involved in E. coli outbreaks have advanced medical expenses to those injured by their food products. "Corporate responsibility means taking concrete steps to right a wrong," Pritzker said. "It is time for Kroger to step up and guarantee that its customers will not be stuck with hundreds or thousands of dollars in medical bills."

Pritzker also stated that he believes retailers should do more to ensure that meat processors follow state of the art techniques. "It is really up to retailers to demand that the meat they sell is produced under the safest possible conditions," Pritzker said. "Retailers have the market power to change dangerous practices."

Pritzker has recovered substantial amounts for victims of E. coli outbreaks associated with ground beef products sold at grocery stores. "These people suffered unimaginable pain. It has been our privilege to help our clients obtain just compensation."

Pritzker Law is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker: (612) 338-0202; 1-888-377-8900(toll-free); email Fred Pritzker; or submit the firm free case consultation form. 

###

 

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Kroger Ground Beef Recall

Today, in response to the E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef, Kroger recalled ground beef sold at Kroger® Co. Stores in Michigan and Ohio. The products subject to the Kroger beef recall include all varieties and weights of ground beef products bearing a Kroger label sold between May 21 and June 8 at Michigan Kroger stores and and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio Kroger stores. The recalled Kroger ground beef products had a sell-by date between "05/21/08" and "06/08/08." Read more about the Kroger recall.

Number of E. coli Victims Climbs to 32

According to the CDC, 32 confirmed E. coli O157:H7 cases have been linked both epidemiologically and by molecular fingerprinting to Kroger ground beef: 15 in Michigan and 17 in Ohio. Onset of illness in these patients occurred from 5/30/08 to 6/11/08. Fourteen ill persons have been hospitalized. One patient has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Read CDC information regarding the Kroger E. coli outbreak.

E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef

Health investigators tested ground beef from victims' homes that was purchased at Kroger® retail stores in Michigan and Ohio. Molecular fingerprinting testing on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157, meaning Kroger ground beef has been linked to the outbreak.

Health investigators also found a significant association between illness among case patients and eating ground beef purchased at at one of several Kroger Co. stores in Michigan and Ohio.

Read about a Kroger lawsuit.

Legal Representation

Pritzker Law is one of the leading E. coli litigation law firms.  Lawyers at the firm have obtained a national reputation and have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. 

To contact one of our experienced lawyers regarding an E. coli case, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit the firm's free case consultation form.

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Pritzker Law, a leading E. coli litigation law firm, is monitoring the E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio linked to ground beef, at least some of which was purchased at Kroger stores.  Read about a Kroger lawsuit.  People sickened in the outbreak reported purchasing ground beef at Kroger stores.  Morever, according to an Ohio Department of Health press release,  health officials found E. coli with a genetic fingerprint that matched the outbreak strain in a sample of  Kroger ground beef:

A raw ground beef sample provided by an Ohio E. coli O157:H7 case is linked by genetic fingerprinting to the multistate outbreak in Ohio and Michigan. Test results released today verify the E. coli present in the beef sample shares the same genetic fingerprint with the bacteria that has sickened 19 Ohioans in recent weeks. Information submitted with the positive beef sample indicates the product was purchased at the Kroger Marketplace in Gahanna [Ohio].

CDC reports 17 confirmed E. coli cases in Ohio and 15 confirmed E. coli cases in Michigan.

The Ohio cases involve a number of counties:

• Franklin (nine confirmed, two probable)
• Delaware (one confirmed)
• Fairfield (four confirmed)
• Lucas (one confirmed)
• Seneca (one confirmed)
• Union (one confirmed) cases

Onset of the E.coli cases began at the end of May and continued into early June. Fourteen victims of this outbreak have been hospitalized. Of those 14, “One patient has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).”

In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

While the E.coli outbreak has only been linked to beef from Kroger, the Ohio Department of Health stressed increased vigilance when handling all foods and has issued guidelines to the public to prevent any further spread of E.coli.  They encourage people to:

• Wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, before and after eating or preparing food and after touching animals.
• Cook ground beef to 160° F. Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Wash the thermometer after each use. Don’t eat ground beef that is pink in the middle. If a restaurant serves you an undercooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.
• Don’t spread bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat away from other foods. Wash your hands, cutting board, counter, dishes and silverware with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat, spinach, greens or sprouts. Never put cooked meat in a container that held uncooked meat.
• Drink only pasteurized milk, juice or cider. Frozen juice or juice sold in boxes and glass jars at room temperature has been pasteurized, although it may not say so on the label.
• Drink water from safe sources such as municipal water that has been treated with chlorine, wells that have been tested, or bottled water. Do not swallow lake or pool water while swimming.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables prior to eating them.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

More information keeps on piling up as investigators try to get to the bottom of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Michigan and Ohio.  Although not as widespread as the Salmonella outbreak in tomatoes affecting the entire country, the residents of Michigan and Ohio have cause to worry about ground beef purchased from the Kroger chain of grocery stores. 24 cases have been epidemiologically and genetically linked in the two states, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 15 of the cases were reported in Michigan and 17 cases in Ohio. 14 people have already been hospitalized and one person has developed kidney failure related to E. coli O157:H7 infection (hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS).

Ohio officials are also investigating two other possible cases. Officials from the Michigan Department of Community Health also say there are now 15 cases related to this strain of E. coli in the state, 10 of whom have been hospitalized.

More than half of the affected individuals were found to have purchased ground beef from Kroger grocery stores.  One of the infected patients in Ohio had a sample of the ground beef purchased from Kroger, which then tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.  According to an Ohio Department of Health press release issued today, the E. coli in the Kroger ground beef sample has the genetic fingerprint of the outbreak E. coli.

Kroger has been cooperating with state and federal officials regarding the outbreak, but has not yet issued a recall of any ground beef.  All of the cases began experiencing symptoms in late May and early June (May 31-June 8), and Kroger has urged customers to dispose of any ground beef purchased in that time frame, especially near the cities of Columbus and Toledo in Ohio.  Kroger also states that the ground beef during that period is no longer in stores. Kroger is also working with the state and federal agencies to find which supplier provided the contaminated ground beef.

The evidence linking the illnesses together and to the ground beef sold by Kroger can be used in a lawsuit against Kroger as causal evidence that the product was behind the outbreak of sickness. Pritzker Law has dealt with many cases involving victims of E. coli outbreaks and complications that come with it, including deaths associated with E. coli infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Contact a lawyer from our firm:

• Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free)
• Email our lawyers
• Submit our free case consultation form

Pritzker Law represents foodborne illness survivors in cases throughout the United States.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), more than half of the 15 people sickened in the current Michigan E. coli outbreak reported buying and eating ground beef from Kroger grocery stores. Also,a raw ground beef sample provided by an Ohio E. coli O157:H7 case is linked by genetic fingerprinting to the multistate outbreak in Ohio and Michigan. Test results released today verify the E. coli present in the beef sample shares the same genetic fingerprint with the bacteria that has sickened 19 Ohioans in recent weeks. Information submitted with the positive beef sample indicates the product was purchased at the Kroger Marketplace in Gahanna, Ohio.  We just checked with the USDA-FSIS, and there is not yet a Kroger ground beef recall.  [Update: There is now a Kroger recall.]

It is extremely likely that many people have ground beef in their freezers that was purchased at the Kroger stores purchased by those sickened in the  Michigan E. coli and Ohio E. coli outbreak.  This outbreak has 24 confirmed cases and more cases awaiting confirmation. Fourteen people have been hospitalized and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure). An immediate Kroger recall would most likely prevent further illness.

We call on Kroger to recall all ground beef that may be contaminated. It is the company’s corporate responsibility to prevent further illness.

To contact Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli litigation cases, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit the firm's free case consultation form (reviewed by Fred Pritzker).

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We spoke with Toni Corona, the administrator for the Madison County Health Department to get an update on the Salmonella outbreak associated with Los Tres Amigos in Wood River, Illinois. Seven confirmed cases of Salmonella have been reported to the health department since June 4, 2008. Six of the cases reported eating at Los Tres Amigos, located at 1820 Vaughn Road, Wood River, Illinois.

The restaurant closed on June 18 and will remain closed until health officials can “get their arms around this,” according to Corona. 

One of the 6 cases that reported eating at Los Tres Amigos was sickened by Salmonella with a DNA fingerprint that matches the Salmonella strain of the nationwide outbreak associated with tomatoes. Health officials are awaiting the results of tests using Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), a technique used for genotyping (genetic fingerprinting) of Salmonella and other bacterial foodborne pathogens.

The Illinois Department of Health is working with the FDA on this investigation.

Pritzker Law is currently representing victims of the Salmonella outbreak associated with the Taste of Chicago.  our law firm has also recently recovered money damages for victims of a Salmonella outbreak associated with a restaurant.  To contact a lawyer at our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our law firm or submit our free case consultation form.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

Information from the CDC regarding the investigation of the Ohio and Michigan E. coli outbreak associated with ground beef, including ground beef sold at Kroger grocery store:

State departments of health and agriculture in Michigan and Ohio, CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. Based on this investigation, 24 confirmed cases have been linked both epidemiologically and by molecular fingerprinting to this outbreak, 11 in Michigan (Michigan E. coli) and 13 in Ohio (Ohio E. coli). Onset of illness in these patients occurred in late May and early June. Fourteen ill persons have been hospitalized. One patient has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Thirteen (54%) of patients are female. Patients range in age from 9 to 78 years with a median age of 22.5 years.

For information about grocery store liability, E. coli cases involving ground beef, money damages in an E. coli case, compensation for pain and suffering and E. coli and HUS, please contact our law firm.  An attorney can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free).  If you would prefer, you can email our law firm or submit our free case consultation form.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been associated with a Michigan E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. The MDCH has stated that more than half of the 15 people sickened in Michigan reported buying and eating ground beef from Kroger. This epidemiological evidence of the source of the Michigan E. coli outbreak has legal implications for a possible Kroger E. coli lawsuit.

When epidemiological evidence associates ground beef sold at a grocery store with an E. coli outbreak, that epidemiological evidence can be used by an E. coli lawyer to seek compensation for victims of the E. coli outbreak. Our law firm has successfully used epidemiological to successfully prove “causation,” an element of an E. coli lawsuit that looks at whether the suspected food product was the actual cause of the victim’s E. coli infection and related complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (renal failure).

We have recovered compensation for victims of E. coli outbreaks involving ground beef sold at grocery stores. We have also recently recovered amounts for families of people who died from E. coli and HUS. 

Contact a Pritzker Law lawyer:

• Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free)
• Email our lawyers
• Submit our free case consultation form

Pritzker Law represents foodborne illness survivors in cases throughout the United States.

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In 2007, the Taste of Chicago dished up a hummus dish at the Pars Cove booth that was contaminated with Salmonella, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Over 180 people were sickened in the resulting Salmonella outbreak. 

We are representing a number of the people sickened in the Taste of Chicago Salmonella outbreak of 2007. If you had a confirmed case of Salmonella after eating at the Taste of Chicago,  please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or fill out our free online consultation form.  

During the outbreak, the number of reported cases of Salmonella grew daily. Below is a 2007 press release issued by the Chicago Department of Public Health regarding the Taste of Chicago Salmonella outbreak:  

08-Aug-2007 City Health Dept. Continues Investigation of Food Borne Illnesses: Reports of lllness Slowing Down Considerably

As anticipated, reports of illnesses related to the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth at Taste of Chicago are slowing down considerably.

As of noon today, a total of 790 people have reported that they became ill after they ate food purchased from the Pars Cove booth—up from the 770 reported on July 27.

One hundred eighty-two of the 790 are laboratory-confirmed cases of salmonellosis, with more results pending—up from the 158 reported on July 27. Of these 182 cases, 169 have been identified as Salmonella Heidelberg, one of the more common Salmonella serotypes in the United States.

A total of 38 people are known to have been hospitalized—up slightly from the 37 CDPH reported on July 27.

Most of the individuals live in the Chicago area; some are from downstate and some are from other states.

The Pars Cove situation represents the first confirmed outbreak of illness associated with the event in at least 20 years. In the larger context of having safely served tens of millions of people in recent years, the Taste remains quite possibly the safest food service operation in the city.

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At least 6 people who ate at Los Tres Amigos in Wood River, Illinois, contracted Salmonella infections (salmonellosis), according to the Madison County Health Department. Health officials believe that this Illinois Salmonella outbreak may be connected to the current nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul associated with tomatoes because one of the cases has been confirmed to have a genetic fingerprint that matches the national outbreak pattern.

As of June 24, 2008, the CDC reports that there are 613 confirmed cases of Salmonella Saintpaul in 33 states and the District of Columbia associated with eating raw tomatoes. 45 of the 613 confirmed cases are from Illinois. 

Most of the 613 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul are not associated with eating at a specific restaurant. However, another cluster of Salmonella Saintpaul cases in Illinois has been associated with a restaurant, Adobo Grill. Read about the Adobo Grill Salmonella Saintpaul cases.

Our lawyers have recently recovered money for victims of a Salmonella outbreak linked to a restaurant. To contact us about restaurant liability, the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, a Salmonella lawsuit or other information, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our firm’s free case consultation form.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of this E. coli outbreak.  The defendants in the case are Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd.  Please read our press release regarding this Nebraska Beef and Kroger lawsuit.  Contact us for more information: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker.

Health officials in Michigan and Ohio are investigating 45 cases of E. coli O157:H7, some of which have matching genetic fingerprints, which means the cases were most likely caused by the same source. 

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is investigating 16 cases of E. coli O157:H7. So far, genetic fingerprinting has linked 10 of the 16 cases. The Ohio counties reporting cases at this time include the following:

• Delaware (one confirmed)
• Fairfield (three confirmed; one probable)
• Lucas (one confirmed)
• Seneca (one confirmed)

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is investigating 29 cases of E. coli O157:H7. Some of these Michigan E. coli cases have the same genetic fingerprint as the 10 Ohio cases.

According to MDCH, the source of this E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is most likely ground beef:

Although the investigation is ongoing, early laboratory results, including DNA analysis of the bacteria, indicate that several of the illnesses may be linked, suggesting a common food source. Preliminary information collected from patients indicates ground beef is most likely the source.

When the source of an E. coli outbreak is ground beef, one thing is certain: feces (usually cow manure) got into the meat. Ground beef contaminated with E. coli is considered adulterated. If adulterated food causes injury, the injured person can sue responsible parties for compensation.

Our lawyers represent victims of E. coli outbreaks throughout the United States and have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, a number of TV stations and others. If you would like to talk to one of our experienced lawyers about your case, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free). If you call after business hours, leave a message for our on-call attorney, and he will contact you as soon as possible, usually within a few hours. Alternatively, you can email our lawyers or submit our free case consultation form.

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The multi-state Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with certain raw tomatoes has hit Chicago hard.  According to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), since mid-April, 17 Chicagoans are known to have been made ill by Salmonella Saintpaul, 9 of them ate at Adobo Grill.  Several additional cases of illness are awaiting laboratory results that may possibly connect them to the multi-state Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak.

According to the CDPH:

Fourteen of the 17 are ages 26-39. One patient is seven months old, another is one year old, and a third is 47 years of age.

Three of the 17 required hospitalization; but all were discharged and have recovered.

Most of the 17 live on the North and Near West Sides of the city. Five live in the West Town neighborhood; four in Lakeview; two in Logan Square, and one each in Lincoln Park, Near North Side, Near West Side, Irving Park, Rogers Park, and Roseland.

Our law firm has represented Chicagoans in past Salmonella outbreaks. Contact us regarding our Chicago Salmonella cases, restaurant liability and any other issues related to the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with tomatoes. To contact the firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our free case consultation form.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

The Ohio Department of Health is investigating at least 11 cases of E. coli.  Three of the cases are linked genetically, and health officials are awaiting test results to determine if any of the other cases are related.  Medical professionals are reporting a number of patients with symptoms of E. coli. 

The E. coli cases are spread throughout central Ohio, meaning the source is most likely a food product.  To find the source of an outbreak, health officials interview those who were sickened and their families.  If most of the people who were sickened ate at the same restaurant and/or ate the same food, this is epidemiological evidence of the source of the outbreak.

The source of most foodborne E. coli outbreaks is ground beef or leafy greens, particularly spinach and lettuce.  An E. coli outbreak in the state of  Washington has been associated with commercial, bagged romaine lettuce.  In every E. coli outbreak the underlying issue is bad sanitation. 

If you have been sickened by E. coli, contact our law firm, one of the few law firms in the nation that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.  To contact an attorney at our office, please call 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online consultation form.

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Update to the Information Below: Ohio and Michigan E. coli Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef
According to the CDC, ground beef sold at Kroger grocery stores has been linked with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan and Ohio. Read about the legal implications of this association and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of Kroger ground beef products.  Read about the Kroger recall.

Several cases of E. coli in central Ohio may be connected.  Seven cases were reported to three counties in July:

• Delaware County (1)
• Fairfield (3)
• Franklin (3)

Because these cases were reported within a short period of time, health officials believe they may be connected.  According to a story in the Columbus Dispatch, the most recent case of E. coli involved a woman who was hospitalized for three days:

A 55-year-old Delaware County woman who was hospitalized for three days with an E. coli infection brings the total number of central Ohio cases reported since June 4 to seven.

The woman is now home and has been interviewed about what and where she ate prior to the infection, said Jesse Carter, spokesman for the Delaware General Health District.

Health officials are also looking into the May 27 death of a Gahanna woman who had been hospitalized with an E. coli infection, according to the Columbus Dispatch story. 

E. coli can be spread through contaminated food or water, animal contact, or person-to-person contact.  Recent foodborne outbreaks of E. coli infections have involved spinach, lettuce and ground beef.  An E. coli outbreak in Washington State has been associated with bagged, commercial romaine lettuce.

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