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

A California Salmonella death topped the list of tragedies in the Cargill turkey Salmonella outbreak that sickend at least 78 people in 26 states. Nearly 40 percent of those were hospitalized.

Initial reports identified the deceased victim as a man, but Sacramento County officials announced late this week that the person who died was a 65-year-old woman who lived in the county. The date of the woman's death was not released, nor was her name. She was one of six California case patients in the outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg that USDA and CDC officials traced to Cargill's Springdale, Arkansas, ground turkey plant.

The company has recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey products produced there since February and the plant has been shutdown while public health investigators continue to investigate the source of the contamination. California, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Pennsylvania were the states hardest hit by the outbreak.

Cargill distributed the tainted turkey meat nationwide through Kroger, Walmart , Aldi, Giant Eagle, HEB, Ingles, Meijer, Stater Brothers and WinCo. It is the second largest meat recall by sheer tonnage, but most of the ground turkey products surely had been consumed by the time Cargill realized its failure to sell wholesome food.

A claims center for a Cargill Salmonella lawsuit has been established by PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact via the Internet. Salmonella infection, or Salmonellosis, can create long-lasting health problems. Indivduals who are confirmed as case patients in this outbreak have recourse through food poisoning litigation to recover money for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, travel, day care and related future costs. PritzkerOlsen has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and we have gone up against Cargill in previous outbreaks. Our offices in Minneapolis are located close to Cargill's worldwide headquarters in a western suburb of Minneapolis. 

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A California man is the first person to die in the 26-state Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak associated with ground turkey products. The man lived in Sacramento, according to California health officials. Five other people in California were also sickened in the outbreak.

California counties with Salmonella victims include:

• Sacramento (2)
• Los Angeles (1)
• San Francisco (1)
• Riverside (1)
• San Diego (1).

State and federal health officials have only warned consumers about this outbreak and the possible link to ground turkey. There has not been a recall of potentially contaminated products, nor have health officials let the public know the products involved in the outbreak to prevent illness. This is particularly troubling because the Salmonella Heidelberg strain involved in this outbreak is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. This antibiotic resistance can increase the risk of hospitalization, treatment failure (wrongful death) and future medical issues.

This is the second time this year that ground turkey has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. From December 2010 to March of 2011, 12 people, including one from California, were sickened by Jennie-O frozen turkey burgers contaminated with drug-resistant Salmonella Hadar.  In response to the outbreak, on April 1, 2011, Jennie-O Turkey Store®, in Willmar, Minnesota, recalled approximately 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products.

Salmonella lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are investigating this outbreak for a possible turkey Salmonella lawsuit. Our firm is accepting cases from California and other states. To pursue a claim, individuals and families who have been affected by the outbreak may call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or provide us with your contact information. PritzkerOlsen is one of the few law firms in the U.S. that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness and our attorneys are sought after for appearances at food safety conferences and by national health reporters covering outbreaks of foodborne illness.

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Salmonella traced to Don Perico Restaurant in Bakersfield, California, prompted health officials to close the establishment as a temporary measure to protect public health, investigators said.

Kern County Environmental Health Division took the action late in the week after confirming four Salmonella infections are likely associated with consumption of food served at Don Perico's Bakersfield restaurant at 4701 White Lane.

The county said two of the infected people were hospitalized. Investigators considered the possibility that the outbreak is associated with the current multi-state Salmonella egg outbreak, which has hit California hard. But the county's press release said there is no evidence that this outbreak is associated with the egg recall by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms.

"The restaurant will remain closed until the investigation is complete and we are confident this facility is able to safely serve food,'' said a press release from Matt Constantine, director of health services for the County of Kern, CA. On Sunday, the restaurant's telephone number was "temporarily out of service.''

Salmonella infection can be a serious health threat, especially for young children, older adults and others who have a compromised immune system. Symptoms normally develop 12 to 72 hours after exposure and may include diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

If you or a loved one are victims of the Don Perico Salmonella restaurant outbreak, your questions about legal compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and other harms will be answered promptly by a Salmonella restaurant lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We have years of experience handling Salmonella lawsuits,  winning millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and working actively to help prevent outbreaks that put lives at risk.

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The Salmonella egg outbreak in California has sickened more than 200 people, including 42 confirmed illnesses in Santa Clara County.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department issued an update on the outbreak this week, saying that six of the 42 confirmed victims in that county were hospitalized with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis.

As federal health officials have noted, public health investigations in California, Colorado and Minnesota were instrumental in tracking a four-fold rise in Salmonella Enteritidis illness this spring and summer to contaminated eggs sold by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, both of Iowa. The two producers have recalled more than half a billion eggs

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The announcement regarding this California Salmonella Egg outbreak came the same day that Iowa-based Wright County Egg expanded its Salmonella recall to include 380 million eggs.

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Like the peanut Salmonella outbreak of 2008-2009, the Salmonella Egg outbreak associated with Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, is triggering secondary recalls.

As a mega-producer, Wright County sells to other packagers. Hence, Los Angeles-based Country Eggs Inc. has announced a recall of shell eggs that it purchased from Wright County Egg.

Country Eggs is recalling specific Julian dates of shell eggs produced by Wright County because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. 

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Wright County Egg has voluntarily issued a recall on 228,000,000 shell eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Wright County Egg is one of the largest egg producing companies in the country. It is based in Galt, Iowa. The egg recall is only applicable to shell eggs with plant codes of P1026, P1413 and P1946. The eggs were packaged between May 16th and August 13th and were sold to distributors and wholesalers in California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The Wright County Egg voluntary recall was issued after the product was linked to Salmonella enteritidis illnesses were reported in California (266), Minnesota (7), Nevada and Colorado. The CDC reported that they have seen four times as many Salmonella enteritidis illnesses reported in June and July.

The Centers for Disease Control has issued an advisory to state health departments, hospitals, and nursing homes on specific measures to reduce the spread of Salmonella enteritidis. Government agencies and the egg industry are also working to reduce Salmonella enteritidis outbreaks by identifying and removing infected flocks from the egg supply and tightening quality assurance and sanitation measures. In addition, eggs from known infected commercial flocks will be pasteurized instead of being sold as grade A shell eggs.

Ways to Reduce the Risk of Salmonella enteritidis Infection

• Refrigerate whole eggs.
• Throw out cracked or dirty eggs.
• Thoroughly wash hands and cooking utensils with soap and water if they come into contact with raw eggs.
• Eat eggs soon after cooking. Do not have eggs out for more than 2 hours.
• Immediately refrigerate unused or leftover foods that contain eggs.
• Do not eat raw eggs (as in homemade ice cream, raw cookie dough or eggnog).
• Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing).

Wright County Egg Recall - Lawyer for Salmonella Poisoning

Lawyer Fred Pritzker and his team of attorneys are investigating the Salmonella enteritidis outbreak linked to eggs produced by Wright County Egg. Contact PritzkerOlsen, P.A. law firm for a free consultation about an eggs salmonella lawsuit and class action lawsuit information. Call 1-888-377-8900.

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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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The Wright County Egg Salmonella recall is estimated by The Associated Press to cover some 228 million eggs distributed nationwide since May 19, 2010.

A joint field investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is ongoing and intended to identify potential sources of Salmonella Enteritidis in these shell eggs, such as feed.

Public health officials in California, Colorado and Minnesota have confirmed outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis traced back to Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. The number of cases in California alone is 266, including 43 in Los Angeles County.

Since May 2010, CDC has identified a nationwide, four-fold increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates through PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories. CDC received reports of approximately 200 cases every week during late June and early July compared to an average of 50 per week in that time period over the past five years. 

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Like Minnesota, health officials in Colorado and California have traced Salmonella outbreaks to the same Iowa egg farm doing business as Wright County Egg.

The CO, CA and MN Salmonella egg outbreaks are under investigation now by state and federal health investigators, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to an Aug 4 Jefferson County Colorado Public Health statement, 28 people who ate at a locally owned restaurant called The Fort between July 10 and July 16 got sick. Salmonella Enteritidis was confirmed in 8 of the cases and suspected in 20. 

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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Goya Zapote, or frozen mamey fruit pulp, has been associated with a Typhoid Fever outbreak in California and Nevada.

This Goya mamey fruta pulp, also known as Sapote, is commonly used to make batido or licuado (milkshake or smoothie).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four confirmed cases of Typhoid Fever in Clark County, Nevada, carry the same matching strain of Salmonella Typhi as do three confirmed cases and two suspected cases in California.

Until further notice, the CDC is advising consumers not to drink or eat Goya brand frozen mamey fruit pulp, or zapote. Goya announced a recall of its 14-ounce packages of frozen mamey fruta pulp one day before the CDC published its typhoid fever outbreak investigation.

 Goya said its Mamey Pulp was distributed in the states of AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT, and WA through retail stores. The product comes in a 14 ounce plastic package and is not marked with a lot number or expiration date. The UPC is 041331090803. 

Abogados at  Pritzker Olsen law firm are conducting their own investigation of this Zapote Typhoid Fever outbreak and they are preparing a possible Zapote lawsuit on behalf of victims. To contact the firm for a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the USA practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions for our clients.

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The Butte County Public Health Department says there is no laboratory confirmation yet that the Mix-Off was the cause, but attendance at the May 8 social event was common among all who reported illnesses to the Public Health Department.

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The latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a California alfalfa sprouts Salmonella outbreak indicates the number of ill people has grown by seven, including one case in Pennsylvania.

Nearly half of the 35 total illnesses were in California, caused by contaminated alfalfa sprouts made by J.H. Caldwell & Sons Inc. of Maywood. The CDC says Caldwell's facility is still under investigation. The company made a recall stemming from the public health investigation of illnesses that first started to appear March 1.

Including the latest case, which was reported May 16, the Salmonella sprouts outbreak has infected individuals in 11 states. Seven of the victims have been hospitalized.

A sizable portion of recalled sprouts were sold at Wal-Mart and Trader Joe's stores, the CDC said.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, your legal questions about Salmonella compensation can be answered at law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our firm is a national leader in foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning in all corners of  the U.S. 

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an urgent nationwide alfalfa sprouts recall linked to an outbreak of Salmonella in 10 states.

California is hit hardest by this outbreak, with half of the 22 confirmed alfalfa sprout Salmonella Newport illnesses happening within the borders of the Golden State.

For example, three California alfalfa Salmonella cases have been confirmed in San Diego County. Health officials in the county say the only stores affected there are Trader Joe’s. They believe the products have already been pulled from the shelves but are checking with the stores to be sure.

According to the California Department of Public Health, the following products have been recalled:

• Caldwell Fresh Foods – four ounce plastic cups and one pound plastic bags; two pound and five pound plastic bags in cardboard boxes with a Caldwell Fresh Foods stickers.
• Nature’s Choice – four ounce plastic cups.
• California Fresh Exotics Brand – five ounce plastic clamshell container.

Caldwell Fresh Foods is a business located in Maywood, California. The FDA's alfalfa alert says that all consumers and restaurant/delicatessen operators should immediately stop using Caldwell Fresh Foods raw alfalfa sprouts.

Besides California, the other states involved so far in the sprouts Salmonella outbreak are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is monitoring this outbreak and accepting cases from individuals from California and other states sickened from Caldwell contaminated sprouts. A food poisoning attorney at the firm can be reached directly at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen is a national leader in foodborne illness litigation and actively supports many initiatives to prevent food poisoning.

Our experience with Salmonella in fresh produce, including alfalfa sprouts Salmonella lawsuits, prompts us to remind all consumers that bacterial contamination of sprouts is a chronic problem. Because of the pathogen risk, sprouts of any kind should not be consumed by children, the elderly, pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems.

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