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

Alberstons grocery company was one of the retailers that stocked Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms which have been associated with the multi-state Listeria outbreak that has stricken more than 120 people in 26 states.

Albertsons, which operates 450 stores in nine states throughout the Northwest and West Coast, is a division of Minneapolis-based SUPERVALU. In response to the Jensen Farms recall on September 14, Albertsons pulled all cantaloupe grown in Colorado from its store shelves. Since that time, the cantaloupe at its stores is from other growing regions that are not subject to this recall. However, the incubation period for listeriosis can take up to 70 days, so it’s possible that customers may have purchased and eaten tainted melons before the recall was announced but will not show signs of illness until mid-November.

State and federal health officials urge anyone who believes they have become ill from eating a contaminated melon to seek medical advice. Those with legal questions regarding this outbreak should contact the Listeria experts at PritzkerOlsen P.A., a nationally recognized food safety law firm practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.

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The cantaloupe Listeria outbreak has sickened more people in Colorado than any other state. At least 32 people have contracted listeriosis since the outbreak began in August, five of them have died.

Just three counties account for half of all the listeriosis cases confirmed as part of this outbreak. Arapahoe, Denver and El Paso counties have a total of 16 victims, six in Arapahoe and five each in Denver and El Paso counties.

The outbreak, which has stricken 109 people in 24 states according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupes grown on Jensen Farms in southeastern Colo.

The tainted melons were shipped to 24 states from July 29- September 10. Although Jensen Farms issued a recall on September 14, the CDC expected the number of illnesses to increase due to the long incubation period that is possible with listerioisis. In some instances, it take more than two months after ingesting the bacteria before the onset of symptoms occurs.

Listeriosis is a serious sometimes life threatening infection that is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.The disease primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. 

Symptoms include: fever, muscle aches, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you think you have listeriosis, see a doctor immediately. If you have legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak, contact the food safety experts at the law firm of PritzkerOlsen P.A. 

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After the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak took on the grim mantle of “deadliest U.S. foodborne illness outbreak in more than a decade” this week, a Costco official told the New York Times that cantaloupe growers and shippers need better food safety practices.

“I don’t think the cantaloupe industry can continue on doing the very same thing and expecting a different result,” Craig Wilson, head of food safety for Costco, a Seattle-based warehouse retailer, told the New York Times. “It’s time for companies to get more aggressive. If they know this is going to happen, let’s step up and not let it happen.”

Costco would consider setting standards for how melons are grown, cleaned and handled, and requiring suppliers to demonstrate that melons are pathogen-free, he said in the story. He said the cantaloupe industry needs to be responsible for creating better food safety practices.

Stephen F. Patricio, a melon shipper and the chairman of the trade group California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, agreed saying sales of  California-grown cantaloupe have fallen even though melons from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo. are the source of the outbreak.

California cantaloupes have never been the source of a foodborne illness outbreak, the trade group’s website claims. Still, Patricio says in the story, California growers suffer every time lax practices by other growers cause an outbreak. “The entire melon category needs to look at the best practices and research that’s been done by the California industry and others to best analyze their own risks,” Patricio told the New York Times. “Or we’re all going to continue to suffer.”

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The cantaloupe listeriosis outbreak has widened its reach into Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, according to reports from state health departments.

Nebraska health officials reported on September 23, that a man in his eighties from western Nebraska was the state’s first fatality of the outbreak which began in mid-August. “Analysis shows that the strains of Listeria that are being investigated in Colorado match the one identified with this individual,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health in a press release. Including this death Nebraska now has six confirmed cases of listeriosis associated with this outbreak.

New Mexico health officials are reporting 10 cases of listeriosis confirmed as part of the outbreak, four of whom have died. Three additional cases are under investigation, one of those people has died.

In Texas, a third person from Dallas County was diagnosed with listeriosis linked to the outbreak, according to a KERA television report.

Colorado cases confirmed as part of the outbreak increased from 14 to 15 this week, according to the Denver Post. Two people from Colorado have died.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday that tainted cantaloupes were shipped to more states than originally thought. States that received shipments of potentially tainted cantaloupe from July 29 through September 10, 2011 include: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Sources:
http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/Sept/listeria2.htm

http://www.health.state.nm.us/

http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2011/09222011a.htm
 

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Two elderly Mesa County residents have been stricken with listeriosis, one of them has died, another remains hospitalized. 

Neither of the cases has been linked to the multi-state cantaloupe listeria outbreak. Since mid-August, the outbreak has sickened 55 people in 14 states, eight of whom have died, according to a September 21 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Earlier this month, health officials identified Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colo., as the likely source of the outbreak. On September 14, Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of its Rocky Ford cantaloupe because of  potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis. 

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.

If you have legal questions about and illness, hospitalization or death associated with this outbreak, contact a listeria attorney at PritzkerOlsen for a free consultation.

Source: http://health.mesacounty.us/comm/news/2011/2011-09-22-1.pdf

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A Colorado woman may be the second person in that state to die from the cantaloupe listeriosis outbreak that now stretches from West Virginia to California.

The victim was a 48-year-old mother of three who died Tuesday, September 20 at Parker Adventist Hospital about three weeks after she became ill, according to a story on TheDenverChannel.com

"It went from … her having cardiac arrest at the hospital to being in a coma," the victim’s daughter said in the story. "I just definitely wouldn't want to see anybody else have to go through this."

State health officials say testing will be needed to confirm if the death is part of the outbreak that includes 35 confirmed cases and 4 deaths in 10 states according to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)

The outbreak has been linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., which has issued a recall for cantaloupe shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011, because it potentially may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis.

The number of infected persons confirmed in each state so far is as follows: California (1), Colorado (12), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (4), New Mexico (5), Oklahoma (6), Texas (3), and West Virginia (1).

If you need legal advice about an illness, hospitalization or death related to this outbreak, contact the expert listeria lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. for a free consultation.

News source: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/education/29244172/detail.html

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A Wyoming listeriosis case is likely part of the Rocky Ford cantaloupe outbreak that includes 53 confirmed or possible cases and as many as seven deaths in a dozen states, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

“After reviewing this case, we believe it is likely part of the current listeria outbreak,” Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health said in a statement.

The listeriosis case is a Laramie County man who had exposure to cantaloupe prior to his illnesses, public health officials said. The outbreak has been linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupes from Jensen Farms in Colorado.

“We are recommending that Wyoming residents not eat “Rocky Ford” cantaloupe shipped from this farm. A recall is underway of this product, but consumers may already have them in their homes,” Murphy said in the statement.

The FDA is also warning consumers not to eat Rocky Ford cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms which is voluntarily recalling the Rocky Ford cantaloupe it shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011, because it potentially may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis.

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.

Symptoms 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. Pregnant women typically experience only mild, flu-like symptoms. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

The cantaloupes are packed in cartons labeled: Frontera Produce, www.fronteraproduce.com or with Frontera Produce, Rocky Ford Cantaloupes. Both cartons also include: Grown and packed by Jensen Farms Granada, CO and Shipped by Frontera Produce LTD, Edinburg, Texas.

“We realize it may be tough for consumers to determine if a particular cantaloupe in their home is potentially affected,” Murphy said. “We suggest people should not take any chances because listeriosis can be serious and life-threatening for some. If you’re not sure it is safe, don’t eat it.”

Listeria attorneys at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a nationally recognized leader in food safety law, can answer legal questions about illnesses that are part of this outbreak. Contact them for a free consultation. They are experts in listeriosis and have won dozens of cases an millions of dollars for their clients.

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The Nebraska Canataloupe Listeria Outbreak may be to blame for two individuals in Douglas County coming down with symptoms of Listeriosis, adding to one confirmed outbreak case in the state previously reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Listeria attorney Fred Pritzker has won numerous settlements, including more than $6 million for clients in a Listeria food poisoning case that involved the wrongful deaths of an elderly man and unborn babies. He has a national practice and is available for a free consultation regarding a cantaloupe lawsuit. 

Nebraska is one of seven states identified by the CDC as part of the outbreak that began August 15. It neighbors Colorado, home of Jensen Farms near the Rocky Ford cantaloupe region in the southern portion of the state. The CDC has linked the multi-state Listeria outbreak to "sweet Rocky Fords'' from Jensen and state health officials have conflirmed the link with laboratory testing.

Nebraska.TV reported that Safeway stores across the state have pulled Jensen Farms cantaloupes as part of a recall announced by the FDA. Even after the recall, health officials are warning consumers to be aware that listeriosis symptoms can develop more than a week after a person eats contaminated cantaloupe. Symptoms include flu-like fever and muscle aches, uppset stomach or diarrhea, stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or convulsions. Pregnant women are at high risk and may only experience mild flu-like symptoms.

 Consumers who experience these Listeria symptoms should immediately see a doctor. For legal help, call Pritzker and his Listeria law team at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit contact information online.

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Our attorneys are investigating a cantaloupe outbreak linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown in Colorado. People in at least seven states have contracted Listeria infections after eating Rocky Ford cantaloupe.

Prompted by the outbreak, Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado, has recalled cantaloupes shipped between July 29th, 2011 and September 10th 2011, and distributed to the following states: IL, WY, TN, UT, TX, CO, MN, KS, NM, NC, MO, NE, OK, AZ, NJ, NY, PA. 

The recalled cantaloupes have a green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA- Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords. Our attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding a cantaloupe lawsuit.

We are a national food safety law firm. The cantaloupe outbreak has now sickened 22 people in seven states. Two people, one in New Mexico, one in Colorado have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The confirmed cases are as follows: Colorado (12), Indiana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (4), Oklahoma (1), Texas (2), and West Virginia (1). 

The cantaloupe was sold at retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Whole Foods Market, Safeway and others. Safeway has pulled the melons from its 118 supermarkets in Colorado. Whole Foods Market has removed the cantaloupes from all 27 in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Utah.

Illnesses associated with this outbreak began on or after August 15, 2011. The victims range in age from 38 to 96 years, but most are women over 60.

Listeriosis is 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. 

A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you have an illness associated with this outbreak, contact PritzkerOlsen, P.A., for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit contact information online.

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The Colorado state health department expects test results later this week that may help identify the specific source of the cantaloupe linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak affecting Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Indiana. (Updated September 14, 2011.)

That's the word from  Rick Ritter, director of Otero County Health Department in the Rocky Ford region of Colorado -- the recently harvested cantaloupe area linked to the outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the FDA and state epidemiologists.

But for now, officials are still uncertain which cantaloupe fields are the source of the outbreak strain of Listeria, Ritter told the Pueblo Chieftan newspaper. Ritter has heard from cantaloupe growers who think the link is false or unfair, but he says the conclusion is based on science.

"The state health department is trying to protect the people who could get sick and possibly die,'' he told the Chieftan.

So far there has been one Listeria death in Colorado and three more in New Mexico. Meanwhile, New Mexico public health officials have issued a voluntary recall notice to produce retailers, requesting that any cantaloupe grown in the Rocky Ford region be temporarily pulled.

The CDC, too, is advising consumers nationwide not to eat Rocky Ford cantaloupe.

A Rocky Ford cantaloupe lawsuit could result from this outbreak and Listeria lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., have established a claim center for those who have lost loved ones or been hospitalized themselves. Many of the victims are elderly because the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes is most likely to affect people in the advanced age group. Pregnant women and their babies also are at exceptional risk. Lawsuit consultations are available at no charge by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information online to the firm.

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Our attorneys are investigating a Listeria outbreak in several states linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown in Colorado. Contact our law firm for a free consultation.

A national cantaloupe recall has not been ordered by government officials or undertaken by producers, but grocery stores in Colorado are voluntarily pulling Rocky Ford melons from their shelves in response to a listeriosis outbreak associated with the fruit, according to a story in the Denver Post.

King Soopers, Safeway and Whole Foods are removing the melons from their stores. King Soopers and City Market stores are removing Rocky Ford melons from 142 stores, and Safeway is removing the melons from its 138 stores in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and New Mexico, according to the story. Wholes Foods is removing the cantaloupes from its shelves.

The cantaloupe recall informally undertaken by the grocery stores is in response to a listeriosis outbreak associated with eating cantaloupes from the Rocky Ford growing region in Colorado.

Albuquerque, where three people died, has issued its own recall: (Updated September 14, 2011.)

Based on a Department of Health advisory, the City of Albuquerque, Environmental Health Department, Consumer Health Protection Division is issuing a voluntary recall notice to local produce retailers, requesting that cantaloupe grownin the Rocky Ford growing area of southern Colorado be temporarily pulled from store shelves.  This action is being taken as a precaution pending findings of an FDA investigation into several cases of illness and at least 3 deaths.  Preliminary indications suggest that several cases of food-borne Listeriosishave been linked to consumption of cantaloupe.

Citizens are advised to refrain from purchasing or handling cantaloupe grown in the Rocky Ford growing area.  If cantaloupe has already been purchased, citizens should not eat the product; thorough hand-washing and sanitation of food preparation areas is advised if the product has already been handled.

Listeriosis is a bacterial infection associated with certain food products.  Symptoms can range from mild gastro-intestinal  upset to severe symptoms including meningitis and death.  Onset is typically within 48 hours for gastro-intestinal symptoms; meningitis could take up 2-6 weeks to develop.

If you contracted listeriosis associated with this outbreak and need legal advice, contact the Listeria experts at PritzkerOlsen, P.A  toll free at 1(888)377-8900.

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A cantaloupe outbreak of listeriosis that began in Colorado is spreading through the southwest. Sixteen people have confirmed cases of listeriosis after eating Rocky Ford cantaloupe. There is one confirmed death and 3 additional suspected deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that illnesses from the outbreak include: Colorado (11), Texas (2), Nebraska (1), Indiana (1) and Oklahoma (1).  Testing is still pending in other states including New Mexico, where three people died and six others were sickened by listeriosis after eating cantaloupe. (Updated September 14, 2011.)

Our attorneys represent victims of Listeria food poisoning nationwide. Contact them for a free consultation.

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.

Symptoms 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. Pregnant women typically experience only mild, flu-like symptoms. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

The cantaloupe outbreak of listeriosis began on or after August 15, 2011. The victims range in age from 38 to 96, but most have been women over the age of 60. All of them required hospitalization.
Illnesses that occurred after August 26, 2011, might not be reported yet due to the lag between the time a person becomes ill and the time the illness is reported. Furthermore, there may be others who ate the tainted melon who are not showing symptoms yet. In some cases, the incubation period for listeriosis can be as long as 70 days, but symptoms usually appear within a month.

There has not been a nationwide cantaloupe recall, but Albuquerque has recalled all cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown in Colorado.

Listeria attorneys at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., have launched an investigation into this cantaloupe outbreak. For a free consultation regarding a cantaloupe lawsuit,  submit our free consultation form or call them toll free at 1(888)377-8900.

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A type of cantaloupe called Rocky Ford cantaloupes of Colorado are the likely source of a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed. There has been one confirmed death and 15 confirmed Listeria illnesses in Colorado (11), Texas (2), Nebraska (1) and Oklahoma (1).

In its first report on the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak, the CDC said other states could also be involved and tests are pending.  New Mexico, for instance, has reported three Listeria deaths in people who recently ate fresh cantaloupe. Six other New Mexico cantaloupe Listeria cases are suspected.

Cantaloupes that belonged to a Listeria case patient in Colorado and others gathered from grocery stores have tested positive for the bacteria and a traceback investigation shows they were harvested in the Rocky Ford region, the CDC reported. Investigators still are trying to pinpoint the cause. Grown in southeast Colorado, the fruit was harvested in August and September and widely distributed in the United States and could be available at various grocery stores nationwide.

"Preliminary results strongly suggest that illnesses are linked to consumption of cantaloupes,'' the CDC said. But no recall has been announced.

CDC now advises persons throughout the mainland United States and at high risk for listeriosis, including older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, to not eat cantaloupes marketed as coming from the Rocky Ford region of Colorado.

• All illnesses started on or after August 15, 2011.
• The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows:  Colorado (11), Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (2).
• Listeriosis illnesses in New Mexico and several other states are currently being investigated.
• Ages range from 38 to 96 years, with a median age of 84 years old.
• Most ill persons are over 60 years old or have health conditions that weaken the immune system. Seventy-three percent of ill persons are female.
• All 15 confirmed case patients were hospitalized.
• Laboratory testing by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirms Listeria monocytogenes bacteria on cantaloupe harvested in the Rocky Ford Region.
• FDA is working closely with CDC, the firms involved, and state public health authorities to determine the exact source of contamination.
• No recall yet. Specific growers and distributors have not been named.

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The average American eats more than eight pounds of cantaloupe each year, where does it come from? From mid summer through late fall, over 90 percent of cantaloupes sold in the U.S. come from the central California growing region, according to the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board (CCAB).

This board, formed in 1988, represents most of the hundreds of cantaloupe growers and shippers in central California and prides itself in saying that there has never been a foodborne illness outbreak associated with California cantaloupes.

Most cantaloupes bear a sticker identifying their country of origin. Total U.S. imports of cantaloupes were valued at $117.3 million in 2004, according to the Agricultural Issues Center at the University of California, Davis. The three largest importers of cantaloupe are: Guatemala, 41.1 percent; Costa Rica, 32.3 percent and Mexico 4.1 percent.

At one time, Mexico was the largest supplier of cantaloupes to the United States. But after a series of Salmonella outbreaks were traced back to a Mexican source, imports plummeted from 27.9 percent in 2000 to 4.1 percent in 2004.

After a major outbreak in 2002, U.S. and Canadian governments began requiring Mexican exporters to certify that their cantaloupes are produced under proper conditions before they can be shipped to North American markets.

California cantaloupes are grown using the standardized principles of “Good Agricultural Practices” and are subject to mandatory inspections, according to CCAB. Most are packed directly from the field into shipping boxes to reduce handling and lesson the likelihood of exposure to pathogens,

A cantaloupe Listeria outbreak in Colorado, Nebraska and Texas which began last month has killed one person and sickened at least 11 others. Federal, state and local health investigators have not identified the source of the melons.
 

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Multi-state Listeria outbreaks in the United States have killed at least 44 people since 1998, including one Listeria death in the current cantaloupe Listeria outbreak in Colorado, Texas and Nebraska.

From 1998 through 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported eight multi-state outbreaks of listeriosis, usually from the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, according to  the CDC's  Foodborne Outbreak Online Database. A review of those records by national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., shows that the outbreaks caused 244 case-confirmed illnesses in that time. Another nine confirmed Listeria illnesses along the front range in Colorado can now be added to that total, along with at least three more cases from the same outbreak in Texas and Nebraska.

Cantaloupe has been identified as the likely cause of the current multi-state Listeria outbreak, but officials have not yet pinpointed where the contaminated fruit originated. Consequently, there is no recall to report. The federal records reviewed by the Listeria legal team at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys show the following foods were agents in past multi-state outbreaks of the disease: sliced turkey, Mexican-style soft cheese, sprouts, meat pate and hot dogs.

The hot dog outbreak in October 1998  was the biggest of the multi-state Listeria outbreaks. A total of 101 people were sickened and 21 died -- a testament to the lethal force of Listeria monocytogenes infections The CDC linked that outbreak to hot dogs, but never identified the specific origin.

That is the case currently in the cantaloupes outbreak in the Colorado counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld. Pritzker Olsen founder and president Fred Pritzker is investigating and has urged public health officials to make their findings transparent as quickly as possible for the benefit of consumers. 

Many of the large Listeria outbreaks chronicled by the CDC are extremely familiar to Pritzker as a lawyer for victims on the front lines. In one of the outbreaks related to sliced turkey in which numerous people died, Pritzker represented families in successful Listeria lawsuits against the manufacturers. One settlement was for $6 million and Fred has represented other Listeria victims in other multi-million dollar cases.

It is important for victims and their families to understand their legal rights and remedies. A good Listeria lawyer will have the experience needed to know who is responsible for the harm done to you and how best to proceed with a lawsuit. For a free case consultation call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information and a lawyer will call you.

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The multi-state cantaloupe Listeria outbreak  in Colorado, Texas and Nebraska comes on the heels of a compelling action by Del Monte Fresh Produce that is still reverberating in food safety circles and could potentially have a chilling effect on the government’s Listeria investigation.

Del Monte Fresh Produce is a major seller of cantaloupe in the United States. Earlier this year the company issued a major recall of cantaloupes harvested from a single farm in Guatemala after federal health officials associated the fruit with an outbreak of Salmonella Panama that sickened 20 people in 10 states. Oregon’s state health department was central to the investigation.

The outbreak ended in June and months went by without any news. But very recently, Del Monte filed a notice to sue the Oregon public health unit and its chief epidemiologist. The company put Oregon on notice that the state agency’s “conduct and misleading allegations’’ linked Del Monte cantaloupes to the Salmonella outbreak “despite the lack of sufficient factual basis.''

The company also has taken legal against against the FDA in an effort to lift an FDA rule restricting the importation of  fresh cantaloupes into the United States.

Listeria lawyer Fred Pritzker and other national experts in the area of foodborne illness litigation are now wondering if the legal steps taken by Del Monte will make public health officials overly cautious about linking individual producers and distributors to outbreaks. Any unnecessary hesitation would be harmful to consumers who need as much information as quickly possible to protect their families against dangerous pathogenic bacteria in the food supply.

“We are watching closely,’’ Pritzker said. “The system depends on fearless transparency.’’

Pritzker has begun to investigate the situation on his own for the sake of consumers. He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or via contact information online. Pritzker is founder and president of Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. He is a leading national Listeria lawyer who has won several important decisions and millions of dollars in settlements against major food producers for negligence in food safety. 

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Over the last four decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has never had a documented listeriosis outbreak linked to cantaloupe, until now. The cantaloupe listeriosis outbreak which began in Colorado and has spread to Texas and Nebraska, may be the first of its kind.

Researchers who reviewed all 28 cantaloupe-associated outbreaks that were reported to the CDC between 1973 and 2003 found that four pathogens were responsible for all of them: Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. Coli and Norovirus, according to a 2005 study published by researchers at the CDC and the University of Georgia. The same is true for eight of the nine cantaloupe-associated outbreaks since 2003. Only the current outbreak is related to Listeria.

“Compared with most other foodborne pathogens, listeriosis is rare and very dangerous. In the United States, an estimated 1,600 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year. Of these, 260 die,” said Fred Pritzker, a nationally recognized Listeria lawyer.

Listeriosis is a rare, potentially fatal infection caused by the foodborne pathogen Listeria. At particulcar risk are the elderly, the immunocompromised and pregnant women, who are 20 times more likely to get listeriosis than other healthy adults.

The foods most often cited as potential risks are: uncooked meats or vegetables, smoked fish, hot dogs, deli meats, meat spreads, pates and unpasteurized soft cheeses. 

Onset of symptoms for the more mild form of listeriosis usually begin within a day after eating contaminated food. But the incubation period for the more serious form of the disease is generally much longer - up to 90 days after exposure

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions. These symptoms can be followed by septicemia (blood poisoning) or meningitis, both of which can be fatal. For pregnant women, listeriosis can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or the birth of a baby with serious illness.

The Listeria experts at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. have been involved in every major Listeria outbreak in the country. If you have legal questions about a listeriosis illness, contact them toll-free at (888-377-8900).

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Now additional work must be done with assistance from federal agencies to trace where the contaminated melon is coming from. "The information should be released as quickly as humanly possible to protect others from contracting this dangerous disease,'' said Pritzker, founder and president of Pritzker Olsen Attorneys.

"The system must put consumers first,'' Pritzker said in a news release.

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A cantaloupe Listeria outbreak like the one now spreading through Colorado, Nebraska and Texas, is uncommon but not surprising, according to foodborne illness expert Fred Pritzker.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria found in soil and water. Listeriosis outbreaks often involve ready-to eat meats, deli meats, hot dogs, unpasteurized soft cheeses, and smoked seafood. However, fresh, uncooked produce can also be a source.

“The pathogen has been detected in a number of fresh market produce items including cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, celery and radishes among others. Moreover, cantaloupes have repeatedly been implicated in outbreaks involving Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Norovirus,” said Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen P.A.

The cantaloupe listeriosis outbreak currently includes nine confirmed cases in Colorado, two in Texas and one in Nebraska. State, federal and local public health investigators are working to investigate the specific source of the outbreak, according to a press release issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The law firm of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., which has been involved in every major Listeria outbreak in the United States, is also investigating the outbreak. If you need legal advice regarding this Listeria outbreak, contact the law firm of Pritzker Olsen, P.A. for a free consultation or call toll-free at (888)-377-8900.

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Colorado’s Listeria outbreak is likely being caused by cantaloupe and the outbreak now potentially includes two cases in Texas and one in Nebraska, according to Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment.

While Colorado public health officials have reported 13 confirmed cases of listeriosis, just nine of those are definitely linked to the multi-state outbreak, officials are saying. The remaining four cases either have lab results pending or are not linked. Two people have died and one of those Listeria deaths is linked to the outbreak.  

Confirmed Listeria cases in Colorado are in the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld. The people range in age from 30s to 90s. The average age is 84.  The majority are female. 

All nine of Colorado’s case patients consumed cantaloupe, the state agency said in a press release. A specific source of the contaminated product has not yet been identified. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is coordinating the multistate investigation, which includes three state health departments, the FDA and the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service.

“While the investigation into the source of the Listeria outbreak is continuing, it is prudent for people who are at high risk for Listeria infection to avoid consumption of cantaloupe,” said Dr. Chris Urbina, chief medical officer of the Colorado health department.

Those at highest risk are pregnant women, young children, people over 60 and anyone with a compromised immune system.

Listeria lawyer Fred Pritzer, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P. A., has extensive experience representing outbreak victims and has filed numerous Listeria lawsuits, once winning a $6,000,000 settlement on a very difficult case. For a free consultation with a listeriosis attorney, please contact Fred at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete this free case consultation form.

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Most kinds of bacteria grow rapidly between temperatures of 40 and 140 degrees F, some doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. But Listeria, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infection, thrives in cold temperatures.

Listeria, which can be killed by pasteurization and cooking, is most often present in uncooked meats, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk and foods made from unpasteurized milk. Processed foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and ready-to-eat deli meats may become contaminated at the plant after cooking and before packaging.

Pregnant women, young children and people who have weak immune systems are at highest risk of contracting listeriosis. While a Listeria infection may cause only a mild illness in a pregnant woman, consequences for the baby may include, miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or a potentially fatal infection after birth, according the Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms of infection can begin as early as a few days or take as long as two months after consuming contaminated food. They include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If the infection spreads to your nervous system, signs and symptoms may include: headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Each year, 1,600 people become seriously ill and 415 die from listeriosis, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of cases are sporadic, making epidemiological links to food very difficult.

In Colorado, an outbreak of Listeria has killed two people and sent at least seven others to the hospital. Colorado health officials are investigating to find the cause of these illnesses. Most of the patients are women in their 30s to 90s.

National food safety experts at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are also investigating the Colorado listeriosis outbreak. If you have legal questions regarding a possible claim caused by this dangerous foodborne illness, contact our listeriosis attorneys for a free consultation.  

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Four-ounce packages with a SELL BY Date and Code of DEC 15 2011 01961B are being voluntarily recalled due to the potential for contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a human pathogen that can grow at refrigerator temperatures and can cause death and serious illness. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Most at risk for infection are young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. 

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Colorado state health officials are working to determine the source of a listeriosis outbreak along the Front Range that has killed two people and hospitalized seven others. Most of the patients are women in their 30s to 90s who live in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson or Weld counties, according to the health department. 

Eating food contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal infection. Each year, 1,600 people become seriously ill from listeriosis. Of these, 260 die according the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those at highest risk include older adults, pregnant women and people with immune compromising conditions. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion and convulsions. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Foods of particular concern include :

• Hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, other deli meats (e.g., bologna), or fermented or dry sausages unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165 F, or until steaming hot just before serving.
• Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna and mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked" or "jerky."
• Unpasteurized soft cheese such as feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, brie, Camembert, blue-veined or panela (queso panela). 

National food safety experts at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are investigating the Colorado listeriosis outbreak. Our firm is one of the very few in the country with extensive experience in foodborne illness litigation and we have won millions of dollars for past Listeria outbreak victims. If you have legal questions regarding compensation for harms brought by an infection in this outbreak, contact our listeriosis attorneys online or call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Case consultations with a lawyer are free.

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Children's Hospital Colorado says it very well: Listeria infection is rare, but when it does occur it most frequently affects pregnant women in their last trimester, the fetus, newborns, and kids and adults whose immunity is weakened by diseases such as cancer or HIV. People who have had various types of transplants are also more at risk for listeriosis.

A person can ingest Listeria monocytogenes bacteria by eating certain foods, such as ready-to-eat deli meats and cold cuts, soft-ripened cheese, raw milk, undercooked chicken, uncooked hot dogs, shellfish, and coleslaw made from contaminated cabbage. In Colorado right now, state health officials are searching for the cause of an outbreak that has resulted in two Listeria deaths. Seven others have been hospitalized and the majority are older female adults.

Listeria infections may create symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, and poor feeding. But pregnant women who develop listeriosis may experience only mild flu-like symptoms, although they are at risk for premature delivery, miscarriage, and stillbirth.  

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Health officials in Colorado are investigating an outbreak of Listeria infections (listeriosis) that sickened nine and killed two people during August, according to a report by Denver television station KMGH 7News.

Epidemiologists are trying to determine the source of the outbreak that has caused a 500 percent increase in confirmed Listeria cases in the last month.

Symptoms of Listeriosis usually include diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms followed by a fever and muscle aches. Sometimes, they can also include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). Pregnant women can face serious complications.

Health officials are expected to issue a press release later today.

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

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