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

The CDC has released updated information on the Salmonella outbreak linked to ground turkey processed by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas. A total of 136 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg were reported from 34 states with illness onset dates between February 27 and September 13, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (4), Connecticut (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (16), Indiana (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (1), Michigan (12), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (2), Missouri (7), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), North Carolina (4), Ohio (12), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (8), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (18), Utah (1), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (4).

Among persons for whom information was available, illnesses began on or after February 27, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from less than 1 year to 90 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. Fifty-five percent were male. Among the 94 ill persons with available information, 37 (39%) were hospitalized. One death was reported.

Evidence Implicating Cargill Ground Turkey

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that ground turkey was the likely source of this outbreak.

Among the 94 ill persons with available information, 51 (54%) reported consuming ground turkey. This proportion was significantly higher than results from a survey of healthy persons in which 11% of persons interviewed reported consuming ground turkey in the 7 days before they were interviewed. Product information (such as date and location of purchase of ground turkey) was collected from ill persons and was used by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies to further the investigation.

Cultures of five ground turkey samples purchased from five retail locations between March 7 and June 27, 2011, yielded Salmonella Heidelberg with the outbreak strain. PFGE patterns from these Salmonella bacteria were added to the PulseNet database between April 11 and July 12, approximately a month after each sample was collected. Preliminary information indicated that all of these products originated from a common food-production establishment (Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas). These products were obtained as part of routine sampling in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)  and were not linked to illnesses. In addition, a sample of leftover, unlabeled frozen ground turkey was collected by public health officials from the home of an ill person infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in Ohio. Culture of the ground turkey sample yielded the outbreak strain on July 29, 2011.

In addition to the outbreak strain, with the “initial” PGFE pattern, a Salmonella Heidelberg with a second closely related PFGE pattern was identified in the contaminated leftover product. Since February 27, 2011, a total of 27 ill persons have been reported to PulseNet with this closely related PGFE pattern. Among the 13 such patients who have been interviewed, 12 (92%) reported consumption of ground turkey in the week before their illness began. The closely related PGFE pattern was also found in a retail sample of ground turkey taken as part of NARMS surveillance. This retail sample originated from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation establishment in Springdale, Arkansas. Based on these findings, the 27 ill persons with this second closely related PFGE pattern of Salmonella Heidelberg were included in the total count of outbreak cases.

Drug Resistant Strain of Salmonella Heidelberg

This was a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. As of September 12, 2011, investigators collected antibiotic resistance information on isolates from 12 samples of ground turkey collected at retail and from 23 ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. The isolates from the ground turkey samples were resistant to antibiotics including ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin. The sensitivity testing results indicated that isolates from humans were also resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, and some were resistant to streptomycin and gentamicin. All human isolates were sensitive to several common antibiotics used in clinical practice such as ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Antimicrobial resistance may increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

Cargill Ground Turkey Recall

On August 3, 2011, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Springdale, Arkansas, establishment, recalled approximately 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may have been contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. The products subject to recall were all comprised of ground turkey meat and had the establishment number "P-963" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

On September 11, 2011, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation recalled another 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products after product samples at the plant tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg based on sample results from an intensive in-plant investigation performed by FSIS. On September 27, 2011 FSIS reported that one positive sample was confirmed to have the outbreak strain and the isolate was multidrug resistant.

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From April 1 to November 4, 2011, a total of 157 Salmonella Heidelberg illnesses linked to kosher "broiled" chicken livers processed by Schreiber Processing Corporation of New York were reported in New York (93 cases - 56 of the cases in NYC) and New Jersey (64 cases). Among persons for whom information is available in New York and New Jersey, illnesses began on or after March 13, 2011. Ill persons range in age from <1 to 97 years with a median age of 10 years. Fifty-two percent are female. Among the 125 ill persons with available information, 21 (17%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Cases in Maryland and Pennsylvania have also been reported, but the CDC still has to analyze data on these cases before they are included in the CDC count. We expect Salmonella Heidelberg cases from additional states will also be part of this outbreak.

Evidence Implicating Chicken Livers as the Outbreak Source

Epidemiologic and microbiological evidence has linked this Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak to eating “kosher broiled chicken livers” from Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company), and chopped chicken liver prepared from this product:

Epidemiological Evidence: Among 30 ill persons for whom information is available, 22 (73%) reported consuming chicken liver products in the week before their illness began.

Microbiological Evidence: Laboratory testing conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Laboratory Division identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in samples of “kosher broiled chicken livers” and chopped liver products obtained from retail stores.

Recall Information

On November 8, 2011, Schreiber Processing Corporation, of Maspeth, New York, announced a recall of an undetermined amount of “kosher broiled chicken liver” products. These “kosher broiled chicken livers” are sold at retail stores and may be used as an ingredient in other prepared foods. These products appear to be ready-to-eat, but are in fact partially cooked, and therefore need to be fully cooked before eating.  Consumers may have incorrectly thought the use of the word “broiled” in the label meant the chicken liver was ready-to-eat; however, these chicken livers must be fully cooked before eating.

The products subject to recall include:

• 10 lb. boxes with two, 5 lb. bags of “Meal Mart Broiled Chicken Liver; Made for Further Thermal Processing”
• 10 lb. boxes of loose packed “Chicken Liver Broiled”

Each bag or box bears the establishment number “P-787″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was distributed to retail stores and institutional users in Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Contact our Salmonella lawyers for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.

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As the E. coli outbreak in the St. Louis area continues to grow, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) is partnering with the CDC and FDA to find the food source. This is what MDHSS has reported to date:

1. Number of people sickened in the outbreak: There are 26 confirmed and 25 suspected. Testing continues.
2. Schnucks salad bar connection: To date, investigators have discovered that 85% of patients (17 of 20) who reported shopping at Schnuck's stores also reported obtaining food from the salad bar.
3. Foods that have been tested or are now being tested: Initially the focus was on lettuce, strawberries and Caesar salad dressing from Schnucks salad bars in the St. Louis area, but additional food samples from 5 Schnucks stores are now being tested, including Bistro Salad Dressing, broccoli florets, deviled eggs, diced hard boiled eggs, honey Dijon dressing, Italian dressing, pineapple chunks, red wine vinaigrette, shredded carrots, shredded radishes, shredded zucchini, sliced red onions, and the following packaged salads that included salad bar ingredients:  Bistro Chopped Salad, Fresco House Salad, Fried Chicken Salad, Garden Salad, Italian Salad, and Turkey Cobb Salad.
4. Negative E. coli tests: The Missouri State Lab has tested 17 food samples taken from individuals' homes and local Schnuck's salad bars, all of which were found not to contain E. coli or shiga toxin, its harmful byproduct. These samples included two strawberries retrieved from sick individuals' homes.  The remaining samples consist of lettuce, strawberries, and Caesar dressing taken from several Schnuck's stores in the region. 
5. Case study and call center: The CDC will conduct a case control study to compare what the people who became ill ate with what was consumed by individuals that did not become ill.  This will enhance efforts to identify food(s) which may be the source of the E. coli.  The CDC is setting up a call center to contact residents in neighborhoods where patients have been identified using random digit dialing.
6. Investigation of distribution chain: Yesterday, inspectors from the FDA arrived in St. Louis to assist in the inspection of facilities that may have been part of the distribution chain.

Our E. coli lawyers have been contacted by victims of this outbreak and their families and are investigating a lawsuit against Schnucks for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

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North Carolina's E. coli outbreak, which has sickened at least 25 people in seven counties, appears to be associated with attendance at the NC State Fair in Raleigh. State Epidemiologist Megan Davies says Fair attendance is the only identified common link.

Davies is now surveying Fair attendees In order to identify specific activities at the Fair which may have been the source of illness. Her investigators need to interview people who attended the Fair but did not get sick and they will be calling some participants randomly to ask even more questions.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., also is conducting an investigation for the purposes of an NC State Fair lawsuit. Whether children or adults contracted the potentially deadly bacteria from a common food source or from an animal exhibit, victims should be able to pursue fair claims for medical bills, lost time at work, pain and suffering and future harms that could follow them because of their infection.

At least eight children are considered case patients in this outbreak and four of those children were hospitalized for kidney failure or other symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a life-threatening complication of E. coli O157:H7 infection that most often affects children under 5 but can even strike healthy adults of any age.

NC State Fair E. coli Investigation 

The N.C. Division of Public Health reports that it is now investigating 25 cases related to the E. coli outbreak.  Eight cases are confirmed E. coli cases; 17 cases are still being investigated.  The latest numbers and counties involved: 

• Wake - 12 
• Sampson - 7 
• Cleveland - 1 
• Durham - 1 
• Johnston - 1 
• Orange - 1 
• Wilson – 2  

Escherichia coli are bacteria found in the feces of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Some types of E. coli bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7 can cause illness in people who consume water or food that has come in contact with the bacteria or who come in contact with infected animals. If people touch contaminated material, they can transfer the bacteria from their hands to their mouths, or to others.

Free consultations with an E. coli Lawyer

PritzkerOlsen is one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the complex area of foodborne illness litigation, collecting tens of millions of dollars for victims. Our lawyers currently represent E. coli and HUS survivors in outbreaks confirmed by public health officials and we are now accepting cases from the 2011 NC State Fair. You pay nothing until your case is won, which is part of the professional standard that is common in personal injury law. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or send your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

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Listeria death lawsuits stemming from the Jensen Farm cantaloupe outbreak were informed by new findings this week, including a Food and Drug Administration report of unsanitary conditions in Jensen's melon-washing and packing facility.

The company had purchased a potato washing machine and installed it this summer to handle the 2011 cantaloupe harvest. FDA inspectors found it to be dirty and very hard to keep clean. The inspection also found standing water on the facility's floor -- which was also poorly designed for cleaning. The conditions -- coupled with questionable melon-cooling techniques that led to condensation on the rinds -- were breeding grounds for Listeria that has been linked to 25 deaths, one miscarriage and 123 illnesses in 26 states. See more on the FDA cantaloupe report.

FDA officials told reporters the agency had never inspected Jensen Farms cantaloupe operation in 20 years of operation. The officials said they have learned that a private inspection led to high marks for Jensen shortly before the outbreak started.

USA Today reported that Primus Labs of Santa Maria, California, gave the Jensen Farms packing house a "superior" rating just six days before the outbreak started. The private inspector noted that the newly installed equipment used water that was not treated with anti-microbial solution, but he didn't score them down for it. A food safety expert told USA Today that the lack of anti-microbial agents, such as chlorine, posed another risk.

National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, who represents victims in the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak, said the latest findings will be key to the Listeria litigation. Meanwhile, the outbreak is not over and PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is continuing to accept new cases at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and a lawyer will call you. Consultations are free. If the firm agrees to take your case, you pay nothing until your claim is won.

As the facts become known, it's clear that the nation's deadliest outbreak of foodborne disease in the past 25 years was preventable. In addition to representing victims, our firm has been actively working for many years to help keep deadly pathogens out of the food supply and to hold those who are irresponsible accountable for their actions.

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 The cantaloupe Listeria outbreak is the deadliest outbreak of foodborne illness in the U.S. in more than a decade, according to federal officials who say more people are likely to be stricken by the Listeria infection that has already killed 13 people and sickened 59 others in 18 states.

 According to the most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), onest of illness for the first of the 72 confirmed cases linked to the outbreak began on or after July 31, 2011.

The state totals for illness are as follows: California (1), Colorado (15), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Kansas (5), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (10), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (8), Texas (14), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1).

Deaths reported by state are as follows: Colorado (2), Kansas (1), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (4), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (2).

The outbreak has been linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe melons grown on Jensen Farms, Holly, Colo., which began a voluntary recall of its melons on September 14, 2011.

The CDC recommends that people at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, do not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms. Other consumers who want to reduce their risk of Listeria infection should not eat Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, the CDC says.

Listeriosis is a serious, sometimes fatal infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.Antibiotics given promptly can cure the illness and prevent infection of a fetus. However, even with prompt treatment, some Listeria infections result in death.

Symptoms of listeriosis can take as long as 70 day to appear after contaminated food is ingested. They include fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In more severe cases, there can also be headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, according to the CDC.

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State, local and federal health officials are collaborating on an investigation of the Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak linked to ground turkey that has sickened 111 people in 31 states.
The outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics, which may increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

Investigators are using DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria to identify ill people who may be part of this outbreak. Between February 27 and August 9, 2011, 111 cases of Salmonella Heidelberg from the outbreak strain have been reported and one person has died.

Most people infected with Salmonella bacteria develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. In some cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In this outbreak, a large percentage of people have been hospitalized, 37% (27 people). This may be because the Salmonella Heidelberg strain involved in this outbreak is resistant to antibiotics. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

In response to this outbreak, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas, has recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey products thought to be contaminated with Salmonella Heidelberg. Investigators are concerned that some consumers may have the tainted product in their home freezers. The products subject to ground turkey recall all bear the establishment number "P-963" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

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An  E. coli filbert recall that was extended to Canada by the same wholesaler who recalled the hazelnuts in the U.S. has been expanded by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as officials continue to investigate a pair of cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that match the outbreak strain in the United States.

The E. coli filbert outbreak has sickened at least seven Americans, three in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin and one in Michigan. Three of the seven were hospitalized and no one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a life-threatening condition that strikes up to 15 percent of people who become infected with E. coli O157:H7.

Canada's two cases are under investigation by the Public Health Agency of Canada to see if victims at in-shell filberts that are part of the recall. The recalled nuts sold by D. DeFranco and Sons of Los Angeles, California, were distributed in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and may have been distributed nationally.

As in the U.S., the recall in Canada involves bulk in-shell filberts and mixed nuts containing filberts that were repackaged by stores or sold in bulk bins. It also involves Cello-bagged Sunripe brand hazelnuts and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts with sell-by date of 6-30-11. The bulk nuts would have been purchased at stores beginning in mid-November. DeFranco's shipments of the filberts in question ended December 22.

E. coli traceback investigations are in progress to determine where in the food chain these filberts were contaminated by E. coli O157:H7, a human pathogen that is banned in the U.S. from ground beef. Hamburger is the most common carrier of the bacteria, but it also attaches to leafy green vegetables, other fresh produce, raw milk, cider, and other food. Oregon dominates U.S. filbert production and it is important in that state for growers to harvest the crop of nuts from the ground before the autumn rainy season. Experts speculate that the hazelnuts involved in the current outbreak came in contact with E. coli on the ground. The pathogenic microbe is expelled into the environment from cattle feces and the feces of other animals.

Families who have questions about a filbert E. coli lawsuit should contact an attorney for an explanation of how E. coli litigation works. Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) has collected millions of dollars for victims of E. coli and has been representing victims around the country for many years. Our firm is one of the very few attorney groups in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and our lawyers are actively involved in efforts to clean up the U.S. food supply.

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Nearly 100 people in Illinois, Missouri and 14 other states have been sickened with Salmonella linked to Tiny Greens Organic Farm’s Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts. Approximately half of the illnesses occurred in Illinois, where many of the ill individuals ate sandwiches containing alfalfa sprouts at various Jimmy John’s. 

According to the latest CDC update on this alfalfa sprouts Salmonella outbreak associated with Jimmy Johns, 94 people have been reported from 16 states and the District of Columbia with onsets of Samonella poisoning from November 1 through December 27. The outbreak strain is Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-. The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: California (1), Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (51), Indiana (9), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (17), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). About 24 percent of outbreak victims has been hospitalized.

Jimmy John’s restaurants have voluntarily suspended serving alfalfa sprouts at their Illinois franchise locations and the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to eat Tiny Greens Organic Farm’s Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts.

Law firm PrtizkerOlsen, P.A., is investigating this outbreak and has been in touch with victims. A claims center for members of the public can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. 

If you contracted Salmonellosis after eating at Jimmy Johns, you may have a claim for money damages against Jimmy Johns, Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois, and others.. A full analysis of your case and further investigation is necessary to determine the parties that you have a right to sue and how much your case is worth.

Our law firm is considered a national leader in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have successfully represented victims of Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks linked to alfalfa sprouts. A 2009 outbreak of Salmonella linked to contaminated alfalfa sprouts was one of the major U.S. outbreaks that compelled Congress this year to pass landmark food safety modernization legislation that will soon be signed by President Obama. Our law firm actively supported the push for stronger laws and individual clients of ours who lost loved ones to the spread of pathogens in our food were important voices in calling for change.

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FDA has preliminarily linked the Jimmy John's Salmonella outbreak in Illinois to alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Ill. "Preliminary results of the investigation of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens’ Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets,'' the agency said in a press release.

At least 89 people, including 50 in Illinois, have been sickened in the 15-state outbreak since November 1. The sprouts were distributed in 4-ounce. and 5-pound. containers to various customers, including farmers’ markets, restaurants and groceries, in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and possibly other Midwestern states. Missouri and Indiana are the two other leading states for Salmonellosis in this outbreak.

The FDA said that nearly all Illinois victims ate Jimmy John's sandwiches containing sprouts. Jimmy John’s has stopped serving sprouts on its sandwiches at all Illinois locations.

 

Consumers who think they may have become ill from eating contaminated sprouts should consult their health care providers. For families with legal questions about a potential Jimmy John's lawsuit or claims for financial compensation can call a Salmonella lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete 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, recovering millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning.

 

Since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli. In the current Jimmy John's Salmonella outbreak, case patients range in age from 1 to 75 years, with a median age of 28. Sixty-eight percent of patients are female. Among persons with available information, 23 percent reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, but Salmonella infections are capable of leading to severe illness and can be fatal, especially in cases involving young children, older adults and others with weakened immune systems.

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Jimmy John's is based in Illinois but the Salmonella sprouts investigation that began there now extends well beyond Illinois' borders. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have reported a total of 89 individuals with a matching strain of Salmonella type I 4,(5), 12:i:-. To date, only Jimmy John's restaurants in Illinois have been reported as associated with this outbreak.

Jimmy John's has confirmed the Salmonella outbreak investigation and pulled sprouts from menus in Illinois. The illnesses began November 1 and the onset of the most recent case was December 21. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said preliminary results of the investigation indicate a link to eating alfalfa sprouts at a national sandwich chain. Illinois, Missouri and Indiana are the leading states.

This multi-state outbreak of Salmonella associated with sprouts at Jimmy John's is also under investigation by law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., and a claims center for members of the public can be contacted at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or via the contact form on the side of this Web page. A Jimmy John's lawsuit likely will result, but liability could extend to the producer of any contaminated sprouts. 

According to the CDC, since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli.

The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: Illinois (5), Missouri (14) Indiana (9) Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1),  Massachusetts (1),  New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). The Food and Drug Administration is helping CDC track the source of the outbreak using genetic fingerprint testing of food samples.

CDC says case-patients range in age from 1 to 75 years, with a median age of 28. Sixty-eight percent of patients are female. Among persons with available information, 23% reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

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Consumers should not eat Sally Jackson cheese due to a risk of E. coli 0157:H7, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"All Sally Jackson cheeses on the market should be avoided because the products were processed under conditions that create a significant risk of contamination, and because Sally Jackson cheeses have been identified as one possible source of several cases of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 infections,'' FDA said Friday in a press release.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has opened a cheese E. coli claims center for members of the public who have been sickened after eating artisanal raw milk cheese, including any style of Sally Jackson cheese. A cheese E. coli lawsuit already has been filed by PritzkerOlsen on behalf of an Arizona family sickened by E. coli 0157:H7 in raw milk cheese sold and sampled at Costco in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. We are representing 7 people sickened in that outbreak, including a woman who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and almost died.

Cheese E. coli victims may call the firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this web page.  An attorney will contact you for a free consultation and answer any legal questions about a 
Sally Jackson cheese lawsuit.

Cheese products from the Oroville, Wash., company were distributed nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii, to restaurants, distributors, and retail stores. An investigation by the FDA and its Washington and Oregon health partners found that the cheese was processed under conditions that created high risks of contamination and is one possible source of illness in the ongoing investigation.

Sally Jackson brand cheeses are made from raw cow, goat, and sheep milk.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.

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Sally Jackson cheese E. coli concerns have prompted nationwide recall of all Sally Jackson cheese and the FDA has released a tentative list of 17 states where this potentially tainted cheese made from raw milk was distributed to restaurants or retail stores. At least eight people have been sickened in this outbreak currently associated with artisanal cheese from the Sally Jackson creamery in Oroville, Washington

E. coli 0157:H7 recall of Sally Jackson cheese: 

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington 

The FDA stressed that this may not be a complete list and that numerous re-sellers of Sally Jackson brand cheese can be found on the internet. The recalled cheeses were sold 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.

In Minnesota, public health officials told reporter Mike Hughlett of the Star Tribune that two people in late September and early November were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after eating artisanal cheese. A Minnesota Department of Health spokesman said one of the case patients was hospitalized for a day and was infected with E. coli strains that genetically matched the outbreak. But so far, investigators have not been able to pinpoint the brand of cheese they ate, the newspaper reported.

E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represent cheese E. coli 0157:H7 patients from an earlier outbreak and they are actively investigating the situation involving Sally Jackson cheese. To contact an attorney for information about a potential Sally Jackson cheese lawsuit, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen investigators are prepared to examine the condition under which these recalled cheeses were made. An FDA document obtained by the law firm says the products were processed under conditions that create a significant risk of contamination of the unpasteurized raw milk and finished cheese. According to the FDA Inspectional Observation report, there were "problems related to the sanitation of the facility, its employees, equipment, and utensils as well as problems with facility construction and maintenance.'' A final compliance report is pending and will be obtained by the law firm.

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There could be one more federal update on the Bravo Farms Cheese E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 38 people in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nevada, but this is what we know so far.

• Opened and unopened packages of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese sold and sampled at Costco stores have tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7 -- a rare strain that has not been seen before by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Bravo Farms of Traver, California, expanded its recall November 23 to include all cheeses after tests also found the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in cheese samples.
• Since mid-October, the number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (19), CA (3), CO (11), NM (3) and NV (2). There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths.  Patients range in age from 1 to 85 years and the median age is 16 years.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing various  victims of this cheese E. coli outbreak and has established a claims center for members of the public to receive free case consultations for litigation purposes. The number to call is 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web site.

Pritzker Olsen has filed a lawsuit through its local counsel in Arizona on behalf of a family of four who contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after consuming Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese at the Costco store located in Glendale, Arizona, on October 15, 2010. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Bravo Farms Cheese, LLC and Costco Wholesale Corporation.

The Costco and Bravo Farms lawsuit alleges that the family suffered gastroenteritis, including severe cramping and diarrhea, from the Gouda cheese, which investigators have linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 33 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

The cheese E. coli lawsuit seeks compensation for the family for medical expenses, travel expenses, wage loss, pain, suffering, emotional distress and other damages.

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The Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nevada cheese E. coli outbreak investigation will continue this week as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to identify potential sources of contamination at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory.

Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese sold and sampled at Costco in the five-state outbreak region has been confirmed as the likely cause of the outbreak, which has sickened at least 38 people, including 19 in Arizona and 11 in Colorado.  There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing 7 people sickened in the Costco and Bravo Farms E. coli and HUS personal injury and is continuing to accept new cases at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. Already our firm has filed an E. coli lawsuit through its local counsel on behalf of a family of four who contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after consuming Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese at the Costco store located in Glendale, Arizona, on October 15. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Bravo Farms Cheese, LLC, a California limited liability corporation, and Costco Wholesale Corporation, a Washington corporation. 

 The Costco and Bravo Farms lawsuit seeks compensation for the family for medical expenses, travel expenses, wage loss, pain, suffering, emotional distress and other damages. Pritzker Olsen is a national E. coli, HUS and listeriosis law firm and our attorneys have won millions for E. coli, HUS and listeria victims. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said the strain of  E. coli 0157:H7 causing the outbreak has never been detected before in the CDC's PulseNet database that tracks the spread of enteric diseases in the United States..

According to the most recent CDC update on the investigation, the FDA is continuing to work with its state partners to investigate Bravo Farms in Traver, California, and to identify potential sources of contamination.  Additional investigative activities are ongoing and include:

• Conducting surveillance for additional illnesses that could be related to the outbreak.
• Gathering and testing food products that are suspected as possible sources of infection to see if they are contaminated with bacteria.
• Following epidemiologic leads gathered from interviews with patients, food purchase information, or from patterns of processing, production and/or distribution of suspected products.
• Investigating where in the distribution chain the point of contamination could have occurred.
• Costco is cooperating and assisting with this ongoing investigation.

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New Mexico's role in the Costco Gouda cheese E. coli outbreak has yielded a positive lab finding important to the investigation. A New Mexico newspaper reported that state experts found a genetic match between an intact sample of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese sold at Costco and the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7.

Previously, state and federal officials had only matched the Costco outbreak strain of E. coli to previously opened packages of the cheese taken from case patients' homes. In New Mexico and four other states, there are at least 37 confirmed illnesses in a cheese E. coli outbreak that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked to Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda sold and sampled at Costco from October 5 through Nov. 1. Of the 37 known cases, 19 were in Arizona, 10 in Colorado, 3 in California, 3 in New Mexico and two in Nevada. Cases in New Mexico include a 41-year-old man, a 7-year-old girl from Bernalillo County and a 4-year-old boy from Valencia County who are all recovering. 

"Collaboration with the Dairy Division of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture led to the collection of the intact samples of cheese that definitively linked a specific brand to human cases," Dr. C. Mack Sewell, state epidemiologist for the Department of Health, told the Alamogordo Daily News.

A Costco cheese E. coli lawsuit is one way for victims of this outbreak to receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other harms. Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is in touch with victims and continuing to accept cases at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

 Our firm is a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we represent victims of food poisoning in practically every major outbreak. PritzkerOlsen also is actively involved in efforts to prevent the entry of potentially deadly pathogens like E. coli 0157:H7 into the U.S. food supply.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a link between the Costco Cheese E. coli outbreak and Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese made from raw milk. The latest CDC update on the Costco Gouda Cheese E. coli outbreak issues a warning to consumers and physicians in Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada and New Mexico.

Costco customers from these states who have any of this cheese should not eat it and health care professionals should be aware of this outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 when treating people with bloody diarrhea and other symptoms of E. coli infection. To date, 37 persons infected with this rare strain of E.coli O157:H7 have been confirmed, the CDC said. The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (19), CA (3), CO (10), NM (3) and NV (2). Dates of illness onset range from October 16, 2010 through October 27, 2010. Patients range in age from 1 to 85 years and the median age is 16 years. There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths.

Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese was one of  several cheeses offered for sampling and sale at the “cheese road show” that was held at Costco Warehouses between October 5 and November 1 in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.  This cheese (Costco Item 40654) is manufactured by Bravo Farms of Traver California.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has been in contact with victims of this outbreak and is continuing to accept cases from families and individuals affected by it. The firm has established a Costco cheese E. coli claims center where people can receive advice and free case consultations from an E. coli lawyer by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page or calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

PritzkerOlsen is a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation, involved in practically every major outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 and other outbreaks of food poisoning. The firm is actively involved in efforts to elminate dangerous pathogens from the U.S. food supply and  has collected millions of dollars for victims.

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The Colorado Costco cheese E. coli outbreak has expanded and investigators have identified a second type of cheese sold at Costco that sampled positive for E. coli 0157:H7. The Colorado Department of Health and Environment announced the recall of Mauri Gorgonzola cheese with sell-by dates of January 13, 2011, and January 14, 2011. E. coli 0157:H7 was found in an unopened package tested at the state health department’s laboratory.  

The gorgonzola  was tested as part of the public health investigation into  the Costco gouda cheese E. coli outbreak that has resulted in 10 confirmed illnesses in Colorado, 15 in Arizona, 3 in southern California, 3 in New Mexico and 2 in Nevada. However, the DNA fingerprint of the gorgonzola cheese does not match the outbreak strain of E. coli associated with Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese. Colorado officials say the two incidents appear to be separate and to date no illnesses associated with the gorgonzola cheese have been identified.

Still, consumers are cautioned not to eat Mauri Gorgonzola cheese that was sold only at Costco stores in Colorado.  The recalled 1-pound wedges of cheese can be identified by the following information contained on a white sticker on the package: “DISTRIBUTED BY DPI Specialty Foods Tualatin, OR, ITALY 34449” with sell by dates of “01/13/11” or “01/14/11.” The Costco item number is 34449. 

In regard to the Colorado E. coli outbreak that has been preliminarily linked to Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese, investigation continues by state and federal agencies. The outbreak strain of E. coli has been detetected in two samples of open cheese taken from the homes of separate case patients. Initially there were eight confirmed illnesses in Colorado, but an update provided this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 10 state residents are recognized victims. Of the 33 total victims in 5 states, 15 were hospitalized and one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

A claims center for families and individuals affected by the outbreak has been established by law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., in advance of a cheese lawsuit against Bravo Farms and Costco. To contact an E. coli lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or  complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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Bravo Farms Cheeses LLC is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine where in the process of making Dutch Style raw milk Gouda cheese the product became contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.

Bravo Farms Co-owner Bill Boersma told the Visalia Times-Delta newspaper that the creamery gets its raw milk from a Tulare County dairy, which is not being identified. The milk is not pasteurized, but does undergo a fermentation process to protect it and make it safe for consumption, Boersma told the newspaper. The cheese is aged 60 days and Boersma says the company is not sure at which point it became tainted. He noted that other Bravo Farms cheeses have not been affected. 

Costco has published a recall notice, saying lot codes less than 0233 are affected. The E. coli cheese was sold primarily in 1.5 pound packages but also in 8-ounce pieces in some California retail stores. 

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E. coli attorneys at Pritzker Olsen law firm are investigating the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese (Costco item number 40654) sold or tasted at Costco stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

The firm also is attempting to verify if the Bravo Farms Gouda cheese associated with the outbreak was a raw dairy product and whether Costco and Bravo Farms followed company food safety policies.

“The investigation of this outbreak may take time. We are calling on Costco and Bravo Farms to pay the medical bills of the E. coli victims immediately,” said food poisoning attorney Fred Pritzker. “These victims and their families deserve this much while they are waiting for further compensation from the companies for lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages.”

The Bravo Farms and Costco E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 25 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): AZ (11), CA (1), CO (8), NM (3), and NV (2). Nine victims were hospitalized, and one may have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.

E. coli symptoms include severe and often bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps. Children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are most at risk for further complications such as E. coli HUS. Hospital bills, other medical expenses and lost wages for E. coli victims can be a financial hardship for families.

Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or through his website, www.pritzkerlaw.com. Mr. Pritzker represents E. coli victims nationwide. He has won millions for food poisoning victims and has appeared on national and local news programs to discuss foodborne illness lawsuits and food safety. He is listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

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E. coli 0157:H7 has been found in an opened package of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese purchased at Costco by a victim in the five-state Costco Gouda Cheese E. coli outbreak.

Additional testing is ongoing to confirm the result while state and federal health investigators look for additional illnesses that could be related to this outbreak, which so far has sickened 25 people in Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada and New Mexico. 

This update on the Costco cheese E. coli outbreak was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is investigating where in the distribution chain the point of contamination could have occurred. So far,  there is a preliminary link with one of several cheeses offered for sampling and sale at the Costco “cheese road show” that was held between October 5 and November 1 in the five states where people are sick. "This cheese is Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese (Costco Item 40654), manufactured by Bravo Farms of Traver, California,'' the CDC said.

Members of the public who have experienced symptoms of E. coli infection, including bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramps, should see a doctor and the results of any positive stool culture will be communicated with health officials. A gouda cheese E. coli outbreak claims center has been established at law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., to provide representation in a Bravo Farms cheese lawsuit. To contact the claims center for a free case consultation from an E. coli lawyer, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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A Colorado Costco cheese E. coli outbreak has sickened eight individuals in the state while federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat Bravo Farms Dutch-style Gouda cheese. Costco sold and offered the cheese as free samples for in-store tastings during a cheese road show from October 5 to November 1.

Besides Colorado, the Costco cheese E. coli outbreak has sickened 11 in Arizona, 1 in California, 3 in New Mexico and 2 in Nevada. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that nine of these Gouda cheese E. coli outbreak victims were hospitalized, including one possible case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). 

In Colorado, people n the following counties have become ill: Douglas (4), Arapahoe (3) and Boulder (1)

CDC is collaborating with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the other states in tracking this outbreak, which involves a rare strain of E. coli 0157:H7. Dates of illness onset range from October 16 through October 24, but illnesses that started after October 24 may be confirmed at later dates. The CDC said patients in this outbreak have ranged in age from 2 to 81 years and the median age is 14 years.

Preliminary laboratory testing conducted on an opened package of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese purchased at Costco from a case patient’s home has indicated the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Additional laboratory testing is currently ongoing to confirm this result, including tests by Costco.

According to Bravo Farm's Web site, the California company's cheeses are made from fresh raw milk from its family's farm. Unpasteurized milk presents a human health risk for E. coli infection and other pathogens.

The E. coli attorneys at Pritzker Olsen, a national food safety law firm, are investigating this Colorado Costco cheese E. coli outbreak and attorney Fred Pritzker has contacted epidemiologists and other food safety experts as part of the firm’s investigation. The firm has established a claims center for members of the public and free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Meanwhile, Colorado and Tri-County health officials are urging individuals experiencing signs or symptoms of E.coli infection to immediately contact their health care provider. Health care providers also should immediately report any suspected infection to state or local public health authorities. The Tri-County Health Department, which serves Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, has the highest number of cases in this outbreak and has been heavily involved in the investigation with the state, FDA and CDC.

“I’m very proud of Tri-County staff, who played a major role in linking illnesses with the cheese served and sold at Costco,” said Dr. Richard L. Vogt, executive director of Tri-County Health Department. 

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The president of Sangar Fresh Cut Produce in San Antonio, Texas, says state health officials have erred by linking his company's products with a Celery Listeriosis outbreak. Five people in Texas have died of Listeria poisoning this year, including three in Bexar County.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said in a news release this week that 10 cases of Listeria have been investigated and "six of the 10 cases have been linked to chopped celery from the Sangar plant.''

The state health department ordered Sangar to stop processing food and recall all products shipped form the plant since January. According to a story in the San Antonio Express newspaper, Sangar President Kenneth Sanquist Jr. is refuting the state's findings.

“The state's claim that some of our produce now fails to meet health standards directly contradicts independent testing that was conducted on the same products,” the statement from Sanquist said. “This independent testing shows our produce to be absolutely safe, and we are aggressively fighting the state's erroneous findings.”

Texas originally asked the company to close voluntarily, but it refused, state health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams told USA Today. At that point, Texas health officials ordered the closure of the Sangar plant and recall. The outbreak tracked by Texas officials began in January. By May, two people had died but no cause was identified. According to the state's investigation, all of the illnesses were in people who had serious underlying health problems. 

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The Sangar celery Listeria outbreak in Texas has killed five individuals and called national attention to a human pathogen that isn't as well known as E. coli or Salmonella. Food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has compiled a fact sheet on the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and Listeriosis, its related disease. The outbreak has been associated with Sangar chopped celery distributed since January to restaurants and institutional entities, such as hospitals and schools..

Sangar Celery Litigation and Listeria Backgrounder

In the United States, an estimated 2,500 persons become seriously ill with Listeriosis each year. Of these, 500 die.  

Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.  The bacterium has been found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats and vegetables, including chopped celery at Sangar Fresh Cut Produce in San Antonio, Texas. If cutting surfaces are contaminated with Listeria, vegetables prepared on those surfaces likely will be tainted.

Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking. That's what makes ready-to-eat foods such as diced vegetables dangerous if they are  consumed without any further safety preparation steps.

Listeria has the ability to grow at temperatures as low as 3°C, a trait that permits multiplication of the pathogen in refrigerated foods.

Confirmed outbreaks of Listeriosis are rare. The vast majority of cases are sporadic, making epidemiological links to food very difficult.

Most healthy persons probably show no symptoms beyond mild flu-like conditions. The "complications" are the usual clinical expressions of the disease.

The disease affects primarily persons of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors can also rarely be affected.

Complications: When Listeria meningitis occurs, the overall mortality may be as high as 70%; from septicemia 50%, from perinatal/neonatal infections greater than 80%. 

Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get Listeriosis. About one-third of Listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy. Babies can be born with the disease, but an infection during pregnancy also can result in premature delivery or stillbirth.

Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.

The biggest recent outbreak of Listeriosis happened in Canada in 2008. Twenty-three people died in 57 confirmed cases. Canadian health officials linked the outbreak to deli meats produced in the Maple Leaf Foods plant in North York, Ontario, a neighorhood of Toronto.

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Five Texas celery Listeria deaths have been linked to contamination found at the Sangar Fresh Cut Produce plant in San Antonio as part of an investigation that dates to the very beginning of 2010. Listeria attorneys from PritzkerOlsen, P.A., have been monitoring this food poisoning outbreak since May, when Texas health officials first announced that two of seven people who contracted the same strain of listeriosis died.

At that time, the cause wasn't known. But this week the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed a link to Listeria bacteria found in chopped celery from the Sangar plant. The state ordered a recall of all products shipped from Sangar Fresh Cut Produce since January. The illnesses occurred in Bexar, Travis and Hidalgo counties.

In preparation for a potential celery Listeria lawsuit, PritzkerOlsen is accepting cases from families affected by this outbreak, including survivors of those who have died. Ten cases were investigated and six have been confirmed through DNA fingerprinting as having been caused by contaminated chopped celery from Sangar, officials have said. Certain victims were in fragile health with serious underlying conditions, but that has no bearing on the importance of their legal case because all who suffered did so at the hands of a company that sold adulterated food and should be held accountable.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys have won millions for the families of listeriosis victims, including $6,000,000 for wrongful death claims filed by three families. Contact Attorney Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our listeriosis lawsuits, at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete 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 and Mr. Pritzker is a recognized leader in this area of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.

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Egg Recall highlights as presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now part of the public record as victims press a Salmonella egg class action lawsuit against Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa.

The Salmonella Enteritidis investigation update from CDC notes that 1,608 illnesses likely were caused by contaminated eggs from the two producers. The previous CDC update, dated September 9, counted 1,519 illnesses associated with the egg outbreak.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is representing victims of the outbreak and has filed an egg lawsuit in Minnesota on behalf of a woman from Mantorville, Minnesota, who became infected with Salmonella bacteria in an outbreak at Mi Rancho restaurant. The firm continues to accept cases from victims across the country at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

According to the CDC, health investigators in 11 states have detected the outbreak strain of Salmonella in 29 restaurant or event outbreaks, including the Mi Rancho outbreak. And for the first time, CDC has released details of how the investigation unfolded.   What follows are some key developments leading up to the egg recalls in mid-August by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. More than 550 million eggs were recalled by the two companies.

• May 24: Minnesota implicates stuffed chili peppers made with shell eggs as cause of Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. Eggs traced to Hillandale Farms
• June 27 - Mid July: California reports six clusters of Salmonella Enteritidis associated with a bakery or breakfast restaurants.
• July 29: California identifies Wright County Egg as common supplier in the six clusters. 
• August 6: Colorado associates Salmonella restaurant outbreak with eggs from Wright County Egg.
• August 6: FDA focuses on three distinct outbreaks in Colorado, Minnesota and California for traceback investigations to find source of illnesses.
• August 12: FDA begins investigation at Wright County Egg in Galt, Iowa.
• August 13-20: Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms recall a total of 550 million eggs.

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Egg lawsuit stemming from the multi-state Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak will consider the history of health and safety violations at the plants involved in producing more than half a billion eggs that may be contaminated.

 Washington Post today published a story about  repeated health and safety violations by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. Other media outlets have written similar stories.

According to the Post story, the company has withstood a string of reprimands, penalties and complaints about its performance in several states.

Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker said that if the news accounts are true, the owners of Wright County Egg "join a rogue's gallery of pernicious operators that endanger the public.''

Pritzker proposes new laws that impose meaningful sanctions -- such as criminal prosecution and loss of licensure for repeat violators of food safety laws. As founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., he is involved in virtually every foodborne illness outbreak in the United States as a representative for victims.

According to the Washington Post,  an example of problems at Wright County Egg occurred as recently as June. The owners agreed to pay a $34,675 fine stemming from allegations of animal cruelty against hens in its 5 million-bird Maine facility.

An animal rights group used a hidden camera to document hens suffocating in garbage cans, twirled by their necks , kicked into manure pits to drown and hanging by their feet over conveyor belts, the story said.

The federal investigation into the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that has sickened hundreds if not thousands of Americans is continuing. More than half a billion eggs have been recalled by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, also of Iowa. The Post story said Wright County Egg and Hillandale share suppliers of young chickens and feed, 

For families affected by this outbreak, PritzkerOlsen is providing free egg lawsuit case consultations at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) If you prefer to contact the firm online, please complete the form on the side of this Web page.

PritzkerOlsen is a leading food safety law firm that is actively involved in efforts to keep potentially lethal pathogens out of the public food supply. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of people injured or killed as a result of adulterated food, including eggs contaminated with Salmonella.

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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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Texas Salmonella egg outbreak is under investigation and the Texas Department of State Health Services is advising consumers to heed the Salmonella egg recall from Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa.

Since mid-May in Texas, there have been more than 150 Salmonella Enteritidis infections in more than 40 counties throughout the state. The health department said in a press release: "Investigation is ongoing to determine if Wright County Egg products are linked to the illnesses.''

Wright County Egg company issued a recall on eggs from its facility in Galt, Iowa, on August 13 and then expanded the recall three days later to include 380 million eggs, or 32 million egg cartons. Wright County eggs are shipped to Texas by way of one or more intermediary distributors, the health department said.

Click here for a list of Wright County Egg brand names and other recall information.

Evidence of an association between Wright County Egg and this foodborne diarrheal illness has emerged from restaurant Salmonella outbreaks and clusters of Salmonella case among people who have attended the same social events. Sometimes raw or undercooked eggs are involved as ingredients in salad dressing or meringue.

Nationally, nearly 2,000 Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses are being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA and state health agencies to determine how many were caused by contaminated eggs from Iowa. 

So far, no deaths have been reported. Most health adults survive Salmonella infections with no treatment, but they can be potentially lethal for young children, older adults and others with weakened or under-developed immune systems.

Minnesota, Colorado, California, Nevada, Wisconsin and Illinois are among other possible Salmonella egg hot spots.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is conducting its own investigation of the egg Salmonella outbreak and is in contact with victims. A Salmonella lawyer at the firm will provide you with a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or you may complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

PritzkerOlsen  is a leading food safety law firm involved in virtually every foodborne illness outbreak in the United States. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of people injured or killed as a result of adulterated food, including eggs contaminated with Salmonella. 

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Nevada Salmonella Egg concerns have peaked because the state has seen a spike in Salmonella Enteritidis cases and Wright County Egg lists Nevada as a distribution point for eggs recalled because of possible contamination.

The Southern Nevada Health District has identified a very sizable increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis cases of a specific type in the community. The health district has not pinned down the cause, but it has reported 30 cases of this type since January 2010, which is four times more than normally reported.

The health district said it is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to investigate the nationwide increase in Salmonella Enteritidis. With help from CDC and FDA, health investigators from Minnesota, California and Colorado have all associated clusters and spikes of these infections to shell eggs produced by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa.

Nevada consumers who have fallen ill after consuming egg products should seek immediate care from a physician and request a stool culture be taken. For answers to legal questions about a Nevada Salmonella egg lawsuit, call law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web site.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning. Minnesota, where we are based, is one of the first states to tie the increase in Salmonella Enteritidis to the Iowa egg mega-producer. 

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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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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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The Valley Meat E. coli recall announced by USDA covers 1 million pounds of frozen patties and bulk ground beef, including hamburger sold under the following brand names: Valley Meat Co., Bigger Valley Burger, Supremas Beef Patties, Hearst, The Butcher's Cut, Valley Meat Co. Certified Black Angus Beef Burgers and Smashburger.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the recall was prompted by possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. In connection with the recall, FSIS announced a cluster of  seven matching E. coli O157:H7 infections in California. The outbreak continues to be investigated and officials urge consumers in California, Texas, Arizona and Oregon to check freezer stocks for the tainted products.

All packages recalled by Valley Meat Company of Modesto, Calif., bear the Establishment number EST 8268 inside the USDA mark of inspection. The suspect ground beef was produced between October 2, 2009, and January 12, 2010, but the first illnesses were detected months later.

Click here to see the complete Valley Meat E. coli recall list. Many of the products in this Valley Meat E. coli recall are individually quick frozen patties, known in the industry as IQF pattties.

E. coli lawyer Fred Prtizker has called on Valley Meat to pay all medical expenses, lost wages and travel costs of the victims of this outbreak. His firm, Pritzker Olsen, is conducting its own investigation. Pritzker said that while other legal issues, including compensation for pain and suffering, are pending, the families deserve the peace of knowing these immediate costs are covered. 

Pritzker also stated that he believes food service providers should do more to ensure that meat suppliers are following state-of-the-art techniques to keep deadly pathogens out of the food supply.

“It is really up to food service providers to demand that the meat they provide to customers is produced under the safest possible conditions,” Pritzker said. “Food service providers have the market power to change dangerous practices.”

Pritzker Olsen is a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and has years of experience winning ground beef E. coli lawsuits. Over the years the firm has collected millions for its clients and lawyers for the firm are actively involved in efforts to eliminate potentially deadly pathogens from our food supply.

Free case consultations in the Valley Meat E. coli outbreak can be obtained by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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 A Taco Bell Salmonella outbreak involving two rare types of the bacterium has sickened 155 people in more than a smattering of states including Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) didn't identify the restaurant chain by name, but Oregon's senior epidemiologist, William Keene, confirmed the chain as Taco Bell. Keene told the Oregonian newspaper that the outbreak didn't involve all Taco Bells and that there's no reason to stop eating at the chain.

Keene said investigators strongly suspect that contaminated lettuce and or tomatoes caused the outbreak, but no one could pin it down. Officially by the CDC's count, there were at least 75 cases of Salmonella Hartford and at least 80 cases of Salmonella Baildon. More than 50 people were hospitalized, but no one died.

Both Taco Bell Salmonella outbreaks peaked in June and no longer are considered active, but the discussion of liability has just begun.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen is conducting is own investigation of the Taco Bell Salmonella outbreak and is in communication with families impacted by it. To contact a Salmonella lawyer at the firm for a possible Taco Bell lawsuit consultation, call 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 direct experience representing people sickened by food poisoning at Taco Bell. Over the years we have collected millions for our clients and our firm is actively involved in efforts to keep potentially deadly pathogens out of our food supply.

Both the Hartford and Baildon outbreaks sickened people in 15 states, but there was no common Taco Bell location for the two different types of Salmonella.

Leading states for Salmonella Hartford infections were Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Leading states for Salmonella Baildon infections were Wisconsin and Illinois.

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A Colorado woman confirmed to be part of the Rocky Mountain Natural Meats buffalo E. coli outbreak has retained law firm Pritzker Olsen to represent her in a lawsuit against the company. 

The 53-year-old woman from Lakewood, Colorado, was hospitalized with an infection of E. coli O157:H7 that state health officials have matched to the outbreak strain of E. coli using DNA fingerprint analysis.

She consumed buffalo meat produced by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colorado, before the company announced a recall July 2 of 66,000 pounds of bison products that it said may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has said publicly that the cluster of matching E. coli illnesses in Colorado is associated with the recalled buffalo products. One additional confirmed outbreak case is in New York.

Pritzker Olsen law firm represents individuals and families nationwide in cases involving foodborne illness. The firm is involved in virtually every major foodborne illness outbreak and has obtained some of the largest verdicts and settlements in foodborne illness cases.

The firm is conducting its own investigation of the Colorado bison E. coli outbreak and is accepting additional cases. To contact attorney Fred Pritzker for a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete the online contact form on the side of this Web page. 

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 More evidence of a multi-state Marie Callender's Salmonella outbreak has been uncovered by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The agency reported finding Salmonella Chester in a previously unopened Marie Callender's frozen meal from the home of a case patient. That patient is one of at least two people sickened in Minnesota as part of the outbreak. The bacteria is being tested to see if it matches the outbreak strain.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is closely following the research and conducting its own investigation. If you or a loved one has suffered diarrhea and stomach cramps after eating a Marie Callender's frozen meal, contact a physician immediately and ask for a stool culture to be taken.

For answers to legal questions about possible compensation, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the online contact form on the right side of this Web page. We are seeking direct contact with victims of this outbreak -- which is likely to grow beyond its current status of 30 illnesses in 15 states.

Our firm is a national leader in foodborne illness litigation and we are involved on the side of victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness, recovering millions for survivors of food poisoning.

Marie Callender's Recall Information

ConAgra Foods, which has operations in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has announced a nationwide recall of Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice single-serve frozen entrees. All packages, regardless of date, are covered by the recall. The company said the Marie Callender's recall was announced in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation of the Salmonella Chester outbreak.

Marie Callender's Salmonella Chester Investigation

 According to the CDC, the number of ill people identified in each state with this strain is as follows: CA (4), CO (2), GA (6), IL (1), KY (1), MA (2), MN (2), MO (1), NC (1), OK (1), OR (2), SC (2), TN (1), UT (1), and VA (3).

Case patients range in age from less than 1 to 88 with a median age of 37. Among 15 victims with available information, six were hospitalized. Illnesses began between April 5 and May 29, but could still be occurring.

Food history interviews were conducted with 14 ill and 21 well persons. Among the ill, 86 percent reported eating a frozen meal and 100 percent who reported eating a frozen meal said it was a Marie Callender's frozen meal. "Preliminary analysis of this study suggests eating a Marie Callender’s frozen meal as a possible source of illness.''

This map show the number of known cases per state. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing surveillance to identify new cases and identify the contaminated product or products that are causing illness.

A ConAgra spokeswoman told CIDRAP News that many meal components, including chicken, are pre-cooked during the manufacturing process. But others are not, including vegetables. Consumers are reminded by this outbreak to thoroughly cook all frozen meals purchased in grocery stores.

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E. coli O157:H7 was declared an adulterant in ground beef in 1994, but USDA has failed to put six additional strains of shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in the same category. 

Members of the food safety community, including law firm Pritzker Olsen, have been calling for the expanded ruling so that producers of meat are required to test for the potentially deadly pathogens to help protect our food supply.

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An outbreak of Campylobacter associated with raw milk from Forest Grove Dairy has spread to Indiana and Illinois for a total of 17 confirmed cases. Additional unconfirmed illnesses are considered to be part of the outbreak, which began in Michigan.

Pam Pontones, an Indiana state epidemiologist, said all the sick people drank unpasteurized milk from Indiana's Forest Grove Dairy provided by Family Farm Cooperative of Vandalia, Michigan. She said no other common factor has been identified and investigators are asking any buyers of Forest Grove raw milk to submit the product for free laboratory testing. (Call 317-233-7360)

The Indiana State Department of Health announced in a press release that three outbreak cases are confirmed in Indiana. Meanwhile, the Kalamazoo Gazette newspaper is reporting that Michigan now has 13 confirmed cases and Illinois has one.

All three states have joined forces with the Food and Drug Administration in alerting consumers to this raw milk Campylobacter risk. Their joint investigation into the outbreak should address why Family Farm Cooperative and Forest Grove Dairy engaged in shipping raw milk across state lines.

Forest Grove Dairy received an FDA Warning Letter in 2007 for allegedly distributing unpasteurized milk in interstate commerce. 

Since 1987, the FDA has required all milk packaged for human consumption to be pasteurized before being delivered for introduction into interstate commerce. Pasteurization, a process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time, kills bacteria responsible for diseases, such asE. coli HUS, listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis. 

If consumers of raw milk are experiencing diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain or fever,  they should contact their health care provider immediately. For answers to legal questions, victims of this outbreak may call national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To reach a lawyer online, complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and has represented victims of raw milk outbreaks, including those who became hospitalized and seriously ill. Over the years we have collected million for victims of food poisoning and have become recognized by news organizations as outbreak experts.

With Campylobacter, other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts one week.  In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes Guilliain-Barre syndrome,  a serious life-threatening infection. 

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The number of illnesses associated with the Lombard Subway Shigella outbreak is approaching 100 two weeks after the restaurant at 1009 E. Roosevelt Road closed its doors at the urging of the DuPage County Health Department.

A spokesman for the health department told Nation's Restaurant News that 11 people have been hospitalized in the outbreak, which started in late February.

A Subway shigellosis lawsuit filed by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen alleges that the food poisoning outbreak was caused by improper hand washing and food handling. Investigation has determined that certain food workers at the restaurant tested positive for Shigella.

Pritzker Olsen has been contacted by more than 50 victims in the Illinois Subway Shigella outbreak and is preparing additional lawsuits. To contact a Shigella litigation attorney at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our law firm has direct and immediate experience representing victims in Subway food poisoning litigation. We currently represent 16 people who were sickened by Norovirus bacteria after the Subway restaurant in Roseville, Minnesota, catered sandwiches for a workplace luncheon on November 26, 2007. Eighteen of 25 co-workers fell sick after the lunch with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and other symptoms and the number of illnesses grew to 21.

The Minnesota Department of Health conducted an investigation along with officials from Ramsey County Environmental Health. Stool samples confirmed there was Norovirus infection and investigators determined through interviews of nine Subway employees that two were sick with gastrointestinal illness during the time period investigated.

In both the Lombard Subway outbreak and the Roseville Subway outbreak, the most plausible source of contamination was ill foodworkers.  Contact Pritzker Olsen law firm for more information.

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 A new report showing the high cost of foodborne illness in the United States could help solidify support for major reform in food safety law currently on the table in Washington.

On average, food poisoning costs $1,850 per case nationwide, or $152 billion annually.

"We cannot afford to waste billions of dollars fighting preventable diseases after it is too late,'' said Erik Olson, Olson, director of food and consumer product safety with the Pew Health Group. 

The Produce Safety Project, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts at Georgetown University, published the report. It was written by Robert L. Scharff, a former FDA economist who is now an assistant professor in the Department of Consumer Sciences at The Ohio State University.

Scharff said in a press release: "This study puts the problem of foodborne illness in its proper perspective and should help facilitate reasonable action designed to mitigate this problem."

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 76 million new cases of food-related illness result in 5,000 deaths and 325,000 hospitalizations each year. 

The report, available online, uses an FDA cost-estimate approach: health-related costs are the sum of medical costs (physician services, pharmaceuticals, and hospital costs) and losses to quality of life (lost life expectancy, pain and suffering, and functional disability).

The ten states with the highest costs per case are: Hawaii, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, the District of Columbia, Mississippi, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. 

The report said produce is linked to the largest number of outbreaks involving FDA-regulated foods. For example, E. coli O157:H7 cases in produce accounted for 39 percent of outbreaks and 54 percent of illnesses. Using CDC data, the report estimates that foodborne illness costs related to produce alone are almost $39 billion per year in the U.S. 

The study broke out estimated health-related costs and lost productivity of chronic, or long-term effects of certain foodborne illnesses. For instance, HUS E. coli, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, is estimated to cost our society $627 million per year.

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More food companies may be recalling their products under a continuing investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies into the Daniele salami Salmonella outbreak.

The FDA has announced in a press release that microbiological testing of ingredients manufactured by a supplier to Daniele has found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in crushed red pepper.

The name of the supplier is Wholesome Spice of Brooklyn, New York.

"Wholesome Spice sells spices directly to commercial customers, who may have incorporated them into their own products,'' FDA said in a press release. "FDA is currently working with Wholesome Spice to identify the customers who received the recalled product and determine if further recalls are necessary.''

The probe stems from an outbreak of Salmonella linked to salami and salame products made by Daniele International Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed at least 238 illnesses in 44 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 60 hospitalizations. The outbreak started last July, but salami wasn't implicated until January. No one has died.

Red and black pepper are possible root causes of the outbreak, officials have said. 

"The FDA is actively investigating the supply chains of both black and red pepper used in the manufacturing of the recalled meat products. The Agency has collected and is analyzing 153 composite pepper samples, which represent more than 4,000 individual samples.''

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims of the outbreak and is continuing to accept cases. We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected tens of millions for victims of food poisoning.

To talk to a Salmonella attorney about your case, free consultations are available by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).  If you would rather complete the contact form on the side of this Web page, a lawyer will call you.  

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In the Daniele pepper salami Salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 200 people in 40 states, the largest numbers of cases are found in California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah and New Jersey.

The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo is as follows: AL (2), AZ (5), CA (30), CO (3), CT (4), DE (2), FL (2), GA (3), IA (1), ID (2), IL (11), IN (3), KS (3), LA (1), MA (12), MD (1), ME (1), MI (1), MN (4), MO (1), NC (9), ND (1), NE (1), NH (1), NJ (7), NY (15), OH (9), OK (1), OR (8), PA (3), RI (2), SC (1), SD (3), TN (4), TX (7), UT (7), VA (1), WA (14), WV (1), and WY (2). Because this is a commonly occurring strain, public health investigators may determine that some of the illnesses are not part of this outbreak.

Here is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) map of the outbreak.

People with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Infants, elderly persons and those with weakened immunes systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is recommending that when a patient seeks medical attention, it is important for physicians to order laboratory tests to detect the pathogens. The test results are important, though not vital, in helping victims collect compensation for their injuries, lost time and medical expenses.

If you have questions regarding your legal rights to compensation related to this nationwide outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our contact form on the side of this web page.

Our firm is a leader in foodborne illness litigation and our founder and president, Fred Pritzker, has called on Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island, to immediately pay the medical bills and other direct costs of victims of this outbreak, which could have been prevented.

Prevention of food poisoning is an important part of our mission at Pritzker Olsen. We actively support initiatives to strengthen food safety and our clients have given important testimony in Congress to help pass reforms that are long overdue. Fred is a sought-after speaker by food industry executives who work in the area of food safety.

The CDC has said other food products besides pepper salami and salame sold by Daniele could have contributed to this outbreak. We are closely monitoring the investigation and have heard from several individuals around the country who have been affected by this outbreak.

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Two public health labs have confirmed that pepper salami produced by a Rhode Island company, Daniele Inc., is the cause of a national outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo that has sickened at least 189 people in 40 states.

The confirmations were achieved through DNA fingerprinting by health workers at the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Washington State Department of Public Health.

In Iowa, the molecular subtyping matched the outbreak strain of Salmonella to Salmonella that infected a patient in that state. The sample came from Daniele salami the person had saved in the freezer.

The Iowa sample was from a sliced salami variety pack -- the same as that purchased by at least 13 other ill persons.

The breakthrough was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which continues to say that it is possible another food item caused illnesses in the outbreak, which started last July and was first detected in Oregon and Washington. 

Daniele has stopped production of its salami and salame products and will now irradiate the pepper it uses on the product to kill germs. Some scientists believe pepper was the vehicle for the Salmonella in this case.

The Pascoag, Rhode Island, company recalled 1.23 million pounds of pepper salami, including variety packs containing pepper salami / salame less than 24 hours after the CDC announced the outbreak late last week. Click here to view a complete list of items under recall, including products under the Boar's Head and Dietz & Watson brand.

States hardest hit by the outbreak include California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois and Oregon. But 32 other states have confirmed cases and it is a certainty that some cases have not yet been reported to public health officials. The outbreak was active through the first week of January, at a minimum.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a national food safety law firm with leading experience; involved as an advocate for victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness.

This outbreak could have been prevented and Daniele Inc. should immediately pay medical costs, lost wages and other associated expenses of individuals sickened by its products. If you have questions about compensation, contact us. We have collected tens of millions for food poisoning victims, including Salmonella patients who have suffered long-term health consequences from their infections.

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The public health investigation into a 7-month-old Salmonella outbreak is widening and could possibly implicate other contaminated food products in addition to salami.

"It is possible that more than one food product may be causing illnesses,'' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Monday in its latest update on the outbreak.

The CDC report said preliminary analysis of a recent study of the outbreak has suggested salami as a possible source of illness. Ill persons (51 percent) were significantly more likely than well persons (15 percent) to report eating salami.

Additionally, 11 ill persons purchased the same type of sliced salami variety pack at different grocery store locations before becoming ill. These data suggest this product may be the source of some of these illnesses, the CDC said. This sliced salami variety pack was recently recalled by Daniele Inc. as part of a 1.23 million-pound recall of products containing pepper salami.

The Daniele salami Salmonella recall came less than 24 hours after the CDC announced the outbreak. According to the latest tally, 187 people in 39 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo. Of 133 victims who provided information, 37 were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

More testing is in the works to look for possible confirmation of the outbreak strain of Salmonella in ingredients at Daniele and in other food products. Private laboratory tests found Salmonella in a retail sample of a Daniele salami product , but the Salmonella didn't match the outbreak strains.

Some scientists believe pepper is the source of the outbreak and there has been a media report saying that Daniele is starting to irradiate the pepper it receives before adding it to meat products. For now, salami product at Daniele of Pascoag, Rhode Island, is on hold. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in this outbreak, contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or completing our contact form on the side of this Web page. We are a national food safety law firm and one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.

Pritzker Olsen has collected millions for victims of food poisoning and we are involved as an advocate for victims in practically every major outbreak.  

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UPDATE March 12, 2010 -- National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen continues to monitor the state and federal investigation into a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak that has sickened 249 people in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The probable cause of the outbreak is peppered salami manufactured by Daniele Inc. of Pascoag, Rhode Island. There is a strong association with black and red pepper used to make the salami.

Anyone affected by this outbreak may call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) for answers to questions about your legal rights to Salmonella compensation. A lawyer will provide a free case consultation and you also can contact the firm by completing the form on the side of the Web page.

Salmonella infection is a serious and sometimes life-threatening matter for young children, older adults and anyone who has a weakened immune system. Salmonellosis is commonly overcome by healthy adults, but should not be taken lightly because it can have long-lasting medical consequences, including Reiter's Syndrome.

Extent of outbreak: The number of illnesses currently considered to be part of this outbreak is 249. Of 187 victims who provided information, 49 have been hospitalized (26%). No one has died. It started in early July 2009 and has spread to 44 states and Washington, D.C.. California, New York, Maine, Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, South Dakota, Utah and North Carolina are leading states.

Investigating Agencies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the outbreak. It is working with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration, and many state health agencies.

Cause of outbreak: State health laboratories in Iowa and Washington have used DNA fingerprinting to match the outbreak strain of Salmonella to two separate salami samples made by Daniele. In the Iowa case, the patient had kept some salami in the freezer. It came from the same type of Daniele sliced salami variety pack that  had been purchased by 12 other ill persons. RI Department of Health has found the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo in an open container of black pepper at Daniele's plant. The USDA found Salmonella in a previously unopened sample of salame panino with mozzarella that did not contain black pepper, prompting a recall of these products on February 16. The company believes crushed red pepper is the contaminant in the latest grouping. Testing has confirmed Salmonella in red and black pepper used by the company.

Salami Recall: Less than 24 hours after CDC announced the outbreak, Daniele Inc. announced the recall of 1.24 million pounds of peppered salami products, including variety packs containing peppered salami or salame. Brands involved in the recall include Daniele, Dietz & Watson, Boar's Head and Black Bear of the Black Forest. Recall has been expanded three times to include 17,235 pounds of hot sopressata calabres salami, 115,000 pounds of salame panino with mozzarella and more salami for a total of 1.4 million pounds. Look for USDA Establishment numbers EST 459, EST 54 or EST 9992. See the Food Safety Lawyer for a complete Salmonella salami recall listing.

Where the Salami was sold: FSIS has published a list of retailers nationwide that have handled salami covered under this Class I High Health Risk recall. The list includes large chains including Costco, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Kroger, Ralph's and Sam's Club. Click here (and scroll down) to see the complete, updated store listing. FDA is warning consumers some product still may be on store shelves and in home freezers or refrigerators.

Salmonella Senftenberg:  A different serotype of Salmonella has been found in food samples from retail and a patient household. Eight people have been infected by the same strain of Senftenberg since July 1.  Two of the six consumed a recalled salami product a week before falling ill. These are related by not included in the overall outbreak count.

Advice to Patients: People with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Infants, elderly persons and those with weakened immunes systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness. When a patient seeks medical attention, it is important for physicians to order laboratory tests to detect the pathogens.

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 Applebee's was one of at least five restaurant chains affected by the December 24th recall of 248,000 pounds of steak and other beef products potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a spokeswoman for Applebee's told Nation's Restaurant News. 

“As a customer of NSP (National Steak and Poultry) we took immediate action when learning of this recall,'' Applebee's spokeswoman Nancy Mays said.

The trade publication also is quoting an official from Darden restaurants saying that the Olive Garden chain was similarly a customer affected by the National Steak and Poultry E. coli recall. 

California-based Applebee's has more than 2000 locations nationwide, but National Steak and Poultry omitted Applebee's and Olive Garden in its official announcement of the potential contamination. The problem at the company's Owasso, Oklahoma, plant has been tied by state and federal health investigators to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 21 people in 16 states, including nine patients hospitalized and one stricken with life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

The CDC has said in interviews that E. coli cases have been confirmed in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

The recall announcement on December 24th said the steak E. coli recall primarily affected only three restaurant chains: Moe's Southwest Grill, Carino's Italian and KRM restaurants, parent of 54th Street Grill and Bar restaurants. That lack of complete disclosure was not corrected by USDA, even though it was an announcement that the agency issued.

Neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the USDA has clarified which restaurants received meat recalled for potential contamination in this outbreak. The USDA has said quietly that it is prohibited from publishing such lists when it comes to restaurants. Meanwhile, it is a matter of urgency for the agency to name retail grocery chains when there is a similarly high-risk, pathogen-related recall related to meat destined for home consumption.

The confusion and lack of transparency has angered the food safety community, including lawyer Fred Pritzker, whose firm in Minneapolis was the first food safety organization in the country to announce that health investigators were probing an E. coli outbreak associated with mechanically tenderized steak sold at restaurants.

Pritzker said the information blackout amounts to a gag order on USDA and must be lifted to infuse greater transparency into the supply chain that we all rely on for our nutrition. “People have a right to know if the steak they ate at a restaurant was potentially laced with bacteria that could make them seriously ill or even kill them,”  he said.

If you or a loved one has information on this outbreak or questions about restaurant liability for E. coli illnesses, contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our free consultation form on the side of this Web page.

We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions for our clients. We have been in touch with one of the victims of this outbreak and are accepting new cases. This outbreak could have been prevented and our firm actively supports a variety of efforts to wipe out food poisoning through scientific innovation, best practices and stronger government regulation.

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Contrary to an earlier announcement by USDA that said an E. coli steak recall included distribution to restaurants "nationwide,'' the meat processor involved in the recall said Monday that the recall is limited to beef products sold primarily to the Moe’s, Carino’s Italian Grill, and KRM restaurants in six states.

The supplier -- National Steak and Poultry -- said the six states (Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington) are the same states were the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has determined there is an outbreak of E. coli infections associated with contaminated steaks that were blade tenderized prior to further processing. The agency has not said how many people have been sickened, but the outbreak is considered active and under investigation.

If you or a loved one has symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection, contact a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions about this outbreak, contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact and information form on the side of this web page. AnE. coli lawyer with experience in this highly technical area of law will provide you with a free case consultation. If we agree to take your case, you will owe us nothing until you win compensation. 

Our national food safety law firm was the first organization to publicly announce that health officials were investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli related to mechanically tenderized steak. National Steak and Poultry now says Moe's, Carino's and KRM restaurants were the primary recipients of 248,000 pounds of steaks recalled for possible E. coli contamination.

Under federal law that was created in 1999, non-intact beef that is mechanically tenderized is “adulterated” if it is contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  This means that someone who contracts an E. coli infection from a non-intact steak product can sue the manufacturer of that steak product and the restaurant where it was served. The  victim does not have to prove negligence on anyone’s part to recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages under strict liability laws.

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Consumers are still being warned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to check their freezers for ground beef stamped with "EST 492'' inside the USDA mark of inspection.

If the products were purchased on or after September 15, 2009, and they have production date codes of 091409, 091509 or 091609 they are likely part of the Halloween recall of 545,699 pounds of ground beef and related products associated with the Fairbank Farms ground beef E. coli outbreak, which has killed 2 people and hospitalized 17 others. Five of the victims have developed life-threatening E. coli HUS. 

According to the final CDC update on the outbreak, two samples from opened packages of ground beef recovered from a patient's homes were tested by the Massachusetts and Connecticut Departments of Health and yielded E. coli O157:H7 isolates that matched the patient isolates by DNA analysis.

The cluster includes 26 persons from 8 states infected with matching strains of E. coli O157:H7. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Connecticut (6), Massachusetts (8), Maryland (1), Maine (4), New Hampshire (4), New York (1), and Vermont (1). Of these, the genetic associations of 24 human isolates and both of the product isolates have been confirmed by an advanced secondary DNA test; secondary tests are pending on others. 

Even though the CDC may not publish any additional updates on the outbreak, it is not over. The health agency said the number of cases could increase. The volume of ground beef recalled for the potential of E. coli O157:H7 contamination is very large and many consumers could still become ill if they are unaware of the threat.

The last person confirmed as a victim in the outbreak had an onset of illness on November 6.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact national food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free), or complete our online contact and information form on the side of this web page. We have been in contact with other victims of this outbreak and an E coli attorney at our firm will provide you with a free case consultation.

We are one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that a total of 28 people in 12 states have been sickened by the same strains of E. coli O157:H7 in a ground beef outbreak associated with hamburger meat from Fairbank Farms in Ashville, N.Y.

A cluster of the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses are in the East as previously reported, but Minnesota, South Dakota and California each have confirmed cases -- suggesting a much wider outbreak.

One person in New York and another in New Hampshire have died as a result of the outbreak, according to news reports by USA Today and the Associated Press. The USDA responded to the problem by announcing the recall of a half-million pounds of ground beef made in mid-September by Fairbank Farms.

Grocery chains in eight eastern states initially received the product, including Trader Joes, Shaw's, BJ's Wholesale, ACME, and Giant. By now, any of the recalled meat that was not consumed is in consumers' freezers, where the E. coli organisms do not perish. Consumers should look for packages marked with USDA establishment number EST 492 inside the mark of inspection. Most sell-by dates on the recalled ground beef are September 19-28.

The CDC said investigators found E. coli O157:H7 in an open container of ground beef that was in a patient's home. In advanced, secondary DNA testing so far, E. coli  in the hamburger matched seven of the human isolates. Previously, all 28 human isolates matched each other in DNA fingerprint analysis.

 The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows:  California (1), Connecticut (4), Massachusetts (8), Maryland (1), Maine (2), Minnesota (1), New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (2), and Vermont (1).

USA Today reported that 16 of the patients have been hospitalized, including two with hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is accepting cases from this outbreak. We represent victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness in the United States. As one of the few law firms practicing extensively in the area of food poisoning, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims and survivors of E. coli and other pathogens transmitted in contaminated food.

These outbreaks are preventable and the principals of Pritzker Olsen work to diminish the problem by calling for tougher food safety laws and vastly more inspections of our meatpacking facilities and other food plants. Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen each spent time this year giving seminars at national food industry conventions on the importance of investing in prevention of E. coli O157:H7, in particular. 

Anyone with E. coli symptoms who has eaten ground beef should immediately contact a physician. If you have legal questions about this outbreak, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact and information form. We will provide a free case consultation and if we agree to accept your case, you owe us nothing until you win.

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