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

 The March 5 deadline for companies to begin testing for six additional strains of E.coli, the “Big Six,” has been extended 90 days to give meatpackers time to make sure their testing methods work, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced February 8.

The agency’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will now begin routine sampling of E. coli serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145 on June 4. That brings to seven the total number of banned E.coli strains. The strain, 0157.H7, was banned in 1994.

FSIS will initially sample raw beef trimmings and other raw ground beef product components. If the serogroups are found in meat test samples, those products will be prohibited from entering commerce. 

The USDA estimates that the ban on the additional six strains will reduce by 110,000 the number of foodborne illnesses reported in the U.S. each year.

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Take one artist, one designer and seven Cambridge University biology undergraduates and what do you get? Purple poop.

Actually, what you get is E. chromi, an engineered strain of E. coli that secretes color in the presence of pollutants. Bacteria, such as E. coli, are sensitive to environmental pollutants. By equipping them with a pigment-producing device that switches on in the presence of various toxins, the team of scientists and artists created a way to use bacteria as an inexpensive, user-friendly biosensor.

These colorful bacterial colonies have a rainbow of potential applications as biosensors including a cheap, disposable biosensor for arsenic and probiotic drink that would alert patients to possible ailments by coloring their poop. A purple output may indicate the presence of a Salmonella infection, for example.

E. chromi won MIT's International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition in 2009, was a finalist for the 2011 Index Awards, and a winner of the 2011 World Technology Awards. Although it may sound unusual, it isn’t the only example of a bacterial biosensor. Recently, scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) attached a fluorescent protein to some E.coli and synchronized the colony to blink on and off in unison like a flashing neon sign. When the blinking colony detected low levels of arsenic, it slowed its rate of flashing.

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An investigation of the Michigan E. coli outbreak linked to The Ambassador restaurant in the Upper Peninsula town of Houghton is still ongoing, a health department spokeswoman confirmed this morning.

At least seven people who ate at the restaurant in late December have confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning, four of them have been hospitalized, according to the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

Health officials have determined that the likely source of the outbreak was an ill food-handler at the restaurant and are urging anyone who who became ill with bloody diarrhea in late December or early January to contact the health department.

E.coli is a bacteria that can cause serious sometimes fatal infections if ingested. Symptoms of an E.coli infection include severe abdominal cramping and diarrhea that progressively Young children, the elderly, or those who are immunocompromised are most at risk. In about 8 percent of cases, patients can develop Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a condition that causes kidney failure and requires hospitalization for treatment which includes dialysis and transfusions.

If you have legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak, contact the foodborne illness attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for free consultation. A toll free number is also available: 1(888) 377-8900.
 

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More than a quarter of a million Americans are sickened by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most common STEC strain is E. coli O157:H7, the strain at the heart of the outbreak linked to The Ambassador restaurant in Houghton, Michigan that has sickened seven people.

Between 5 and 10 percent of those diagnosed with an STEC infection, develop a potentially life threatening complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS usually effects children under 10, but it can also effect adolescents and adults. People with HUS require hospitalization because their kidneys can fail. HUS usually runs its course within 15 days, but it can lead to serious long-term illness including:

Kidney Failure 

HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children. Impaired urine production during HUS can lead to long-term health consequences including chronic kidney impairment.

Neurological Damage 

During the acute stage of HUS, patients can experience seizures, stroke or coma. These can cause long-lasting or permanent neurological damage.

Diabetes 

During the acute phase of HUS, patients can develop diabetes, which can persist over the long term.

Gastro-intestinal problems

HUS patints are at risk of developing gall stones, irritable bowel syndrome, or experiencing a narrowing of the small intestine or colon.

 If you have legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak, contact  the attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.

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The Ambassador E. coli restaurant outbreak in Houghton, Michigan, may include more than the seven case patients already confirmed. Health officials in the Upper Peninsula are urging any families to report illnesses suffered by customers of the restaurant since December.

The reason others may have been infected is that the outbreak has been traced to an ill food worker who spread E. coli O157:H7 bacteria to diners. So far, authorities know of four people who were hospitalized with the outbreak strain of E. coli after eating at The Ambassador around Christmas time.

E. coli-infected people need to be isolated from school or work because they can shed the organism in their stool even when they are not showing symptoms of illness. Specific guidelines regarding return to work or school may vary depending on individual parameters; consultations with the local or state health department are recommended.

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The Ambassador restaurant in Houghton, Michigan, is the likely source of an Upper Peninsula E. coli outbreak that sickened at least seven people, including four who were hospitalized.

Medical Director Terry Frankovich said in a press release that the outbreak is under investigation by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. "The health department has determined that the likely source of the outbreak was an ill food-handler at the restaurant,'' Dr. Frankovich said.

Three of the initial cases were local and two were non-local -- one from Dickinson County and one from Wisconsin. Two other case patients were discovered later. The medical director said there is no on-going health risk at the restaurant, which remains open.

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A Minnesota high school science class received an inadvertent lesson in microbiology and pathology when 29 of 117 students in five class periods were sickened with E. coli O103:H2 traced to deer they shot, field-dressed, butchered, marinated and consumed as part of a class project.

The outbreak happened in the fall of 2010 after teachers oversaw a student  hunt for six whitetails. A seventh deer was gathered from the scene of a roadside accident and cleaned to make kabobs, like the others. The bamboo skewers were marinated in five-gallon buckets before being grilled.

The episode was studied by scientists at the Minnesota Department of Health and a paper was published in the latest edition of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

None of the 29 case patients in the outbreak suffered hemolytic uremic sydrome (HUS), a complication of toxic E. coli infection that shuts down a person's kidneys and can lead to stroke, heart attack, neurological damage and other severe illness.

Interviews with students in the class showed that hand-washing after handling raw venison was a factor in preventing E. coli transmission. Some mistakes that led to illness included using the same plate for handling raw and cooked venison and undercooking the meat.

The researchers did not identify the high school by name or location. The kids who got sick started to show symptoms a little more than two days after they prepared and ate the venison. If your child was sickened in the Minnesota high school deer E. coli outbreak of 2010, you may contact a food illness lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) Our firm currently represents E. coli victims from other outbreaks and we are one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Our offices are located in Minneapolis.

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Cafeteria billing information enabled a rapid investigation of an E. coli outbreak at a large company in Frankfurt, Germany, during last year's broader E. coli O104:H4 outbreak that killed 50 people and infected more than 4,000 others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on the so-called "satellite outbreak'' in the January 2012 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The investigation found fenugreek sprouts to be the cause of the illnesses at the company. The origin of the sprouts was traced back to the same supplier of sprout seeds as was common to the rest of the outbreak.

"Using data sources independent of individual memory is quite useful,'' the authors wrote in a synopsis of the investigation.

The multi-country sprouts E. coli outbreak in Europe last spring was the largest outbreak ever described worldwide in terms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of toxic E. coli infection that shuts down a person's kidneys and often leads to other severe illnesses, including stroke, invasion of the central nervous system and heart attack.

The company that was studied in the investigation operated two cafeteria sites that were both served with salad bar items from the same central kitchen. Using the employee billing card system, salad bar purchases were highly associated with illness. The study focused on 60 case patients who were either hospitalized with bloody diarrhea or HUS or who self-reported onset of bloody diarrhea from May 8 through May 23. Only three of the case patients remained unexposed to salad bar items according to the payment system data.

 Beginning May 23, the cafeterias were closed for 1 week, and salad sales were suspended for a longer period. There were no additional cases.

The CDC report noted that sprout consumption throughout Frankfurt couldn't be studied effectively without billing data because of the intense media attention on the sprout hypothesis once it had been announced. "Also, it was thought that too much time had passed to successfully recall actually selected salad bar items consumed a few weeks previous,'' the report said.

This wasn't the first time that data sources were used in an investigation of an outbreak of foodborne illness. Credit card information and retail loyalty cards have been used in other investigations in Denmark, Iceland, Canada and the United States.

Participants in the Frankfurt, Germany, investigation included the Robert Koch Institute of Berlin and Wernigerode and Frankfurt's own Health Protection Authority.

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A benefit to raise money to cover medical expenses for two-year-old Hunter Tallent, who contracted and E. coli infection after attending the North Carolina State Fair, is being held this weekend.

The event called Hunter's Angels, will take place from Saturday at 10 a.m. through noon Sunday at Cole Creek Arena in Casar, according to WBTV.

The benefit will include a trail ride, auction, BBQ and New Year's Eve Party. A band and DJ are to be announced and will begin playing around dark. Trail rides start at 10 a.m. and go until 1 p.m. daily. BBQ is served at 1:30 p.m. and the auction starts at 3 p.m. Costs range from $10 per person for BBQ to $25 for a trail ride and food. 

Tallent is one of 11 people who contracted E. coli poisoning after attending the NC State Fair in Raleigh. The state traced the outbreak back to a livestock barn at the fairgrounds.
This is the the second time in recent years where an animal exhibit led to an outbreak at the North Carolina State Fair. In 2004, scores of people became infected from E. coli bacteria after attending an NC State Fair petting zoo.
 

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Months after 3-year-old Avala Pierce was hospitalized with an infection of E. coli O157:H7 tied to the summer 2011 outbreak at Cowans Gap State Park in Pennsylvania, the toddler is continuing to suffer ongoing seizures, has mobility issues as a result of a stroke and is now at risk for long-term kidney problems for the rest of her life.

Community members have rallied behind her, raising more than $1,400 to assist her family's financial strain. Her case is a reminder of how high the stakes are for child victims of E. coli poisoning. Children under 5 are in the age group most likely to suffer a potentially deadly complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). 

Avala's mother provided an update on her condition in an interview with Public Opinion, the local newspaper in Chambersberg, Pennsylvania. Her daughter was one of at least 14 people who fell ill with E. coli O157:H7 infection after a visit to the state park that included swimming. Health officials closed the beach for the remainder of the season as they searched unsuccessfully for the exact cause.

Avala spent many weeks at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center battling HUS kidney failure and other critical illnesses. She needed kidney dialysis for an additional month after she left the hospital.

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An E.coli outbreak that was initially thought to be concentrated in the St. Louis area, includes 60 victims from states including two people from Minnesota.

The outbreak began in early October with reports of E. coli illnesses associated with eating food from salad bars at various Schnucks grocery stores in the St. Louis area. A team of state and federal health officials, traced the source of the contamination to a single lot of Romaine lettuce grown on a California farm.

The E. coli 0157:H7 strain at the heart of this outbreak caused severe illness and many patients required hospitalization, including one of the Minnesota patients, according to a story in the Star Tribune.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea. In severe cases,  hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries can also develop. Some infections can have long-term effects.

By state, the number of those sickened by the outbreak are as follows: Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1).  

Those with legal questions regarding a hospitalization or illness associated with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness experts at the law firm of PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation. 

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Leafy greens, such as the Romaine lettuce likely responsible for a 10-state E. coli outbreak that sickened 60 people over the last two months, are the most common source of foodborne illnesses.

 Between 1990 and 2006, lettuce and leafy greens have been linked to 363 food poisoning outbreaks, more than any other non-meat food according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nutrition watchdog group.

The 10-state outbreak was initially thought to have stricken 37 salad bar customers at Schnucks grocery stores in the St. Louis area. However, further testing linked the E. coli 0157:H7 strain to a single lot of Romaine lettuce grown on a California farm and 60 illnesses in 10 states.

Other recent outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce include a 2010  E. coli O145 outbreak involving fresh romaine lettuce from Freshway Foods, Sidney, Ohio that sickened 26 people from five states. That outbreak was the first time that strain was identified as the source of a foodborne illness outbreak in the U.S. And, in 2008, Washington State Health Department linked commercial, bagged romaine lettuce as the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Pierce and Thurston counties. 

Romaine isn't the only leafy green that has been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. Iceberg, mesculan and spinach have all caused outbreaks. Most notably, the 2006 Dole brand bagged baby spinach outbreak which was one of the largest E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks ever linked to leafy green vegetables in the United States. More than 200 people in 26 states were sickened and three died before the spread of infectious disease ended. 

PritzkerOlsen is a national leader in food safety law. Contact our foodborne illness attorneys for a free consultation if you have legal questions about and illness or hospitalization associated with the recent outbreak.

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Yesterday, the CDC reported that an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has sickened 60 people in 10 states, including Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1).  This was a large and virulent outbreak--30 people were hospitalized and 2 of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the leading causes of kidney failure in the United States.

The outbreak started in early October of this year with reports of E. coli illnesses associated with eating food from salad bars at various Schnucks locations in the St. Louis, MO area. Although it is no secret that Schnucks grocery stores were linked to the outbreak, the CDC referred to Schnucks as "grocery store Chain A" in its outbreak report. Last night Schnucks said the chain is "grocery store Chain A" so why didn't the CDC just use the chain's name? Why the air of mystery?

Even more disturbing is that the CDC did not name the grower or the distributor because that information was not in the news:

The FDA and several state agencies conducted traceback investigations for romaine lettuce to try to identify the source of contamination. Traceback investigations focused on ill persons who had eaten at salad bars at several locations of grocery store Chain A and ill persons at university campuses in Minnesota (1 ill person) and Missouri (2 ill persons). Traceback analysis determined that a single common lot of romaine lettuce harvested from Farm A was used to supply the grocery store Chain A locations as well as the university campus in Minnesota during the time of the illnesses. This lot was also provided to a distributor that supplied lettuce to the university campus in Missouri, but records were not sufficient to determine if this lot was sent to this university campus. Preliminary findings of investigation at Farm A did not identify the source of the contamination. (CDC Nov. 7 Report)

Consumers should be told the names of Farm A and the distributor. Providing this type of information serves as a deterrent to companies by making it a bad public relations move to be sloppy about food safety.

CDC, update your report and name Schnucks, the grower and the distributor.

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The CDC reports that 60 people from 10 states have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 linked to Romaine lettuce. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1). Contact our lawyers for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against Schnucks and others.

Those sickened fell ill between October 10, 2011 and November 4, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from 1 to 94 years, with a median age of 29 years old.  Among the 45 ill persons with available information, 30 (67%) were hospitalized, and 2 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported.

Lettuce E. coli Outbreak Investigation

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health agencies indicate that romaine lettuce sold primarily at several locations of a single grocery store chain, Schnucks was the likely source of illnesses in this outbreak. Contamination likely occurred before the product reached grocery store locations.

During October 10 to November 4, 2011, public health officials in several states and CDC conducted an epidemiologic study by comparing foods eaten by 22 ill and 82 well persons, including 45 well persons who shopped at Schnucks during the week of October 17, 2011.

Analysis of this study indicates that eating Romaine lettuce was associated with illness. Ill persons (85%) were significantly more likely than well persons (46%) to report eating romaine lettuce in the week before illness. Ill persons (86%) were also significantly more likely than well persons (55%) to report shopping at a Schnucks grocery store location. Among ill and well persons who shopped at Schnucks, ill persons (89%) were significantly more likely than well persons (9%) to report eating a salad from the salad bar at Schnucks. Several different types of lettuce were offered on the salad bar at Schnucks.

Of 18 ill persons who reported the type of lettuce eaten, 94% reported eating romaine lettuce. No other type of lettuce or other item offered on the salad bar was reported to be eaten by more than 55% of ill persons.

Ill persons reported purchasing salads from salad bars at Schnucks between October 5 and October 24, 2011. A total of 9 Schnucks locations were identified where more than one ill person reported purchasing a salad from the salad bar in the week before becoming ill. This included 2 separate locations where 4 ill persons reported purchasing a salad at each location. For locations where more than one ill person reported purchasing a salad from the salad bar and the date of purchase was known, dates of purchase were all within 4 days of other ill persons purchasing a salad at that same location.

Romaine lettuce served on salad bars at all Schnucks locations had come from a single lettuce processing facility via a single distributor. This indicates that contamination of Romaine lettuce likely occurred before the product reached Schnucks grocery store locations.

The FDA and several state agencies conducted traceback investigations for Romaine lettuce to try to identify the source of contamination. Traceback investigations focused on ill persons who had eaten at salad bars at several Schnucks locations, and ill persons at university campuses in Minnesota (1 ill person) and Missouri (2 ill persons). Traceback analysis determined that a single common lot of Romaine lettuce harvested from Farm A was used to supply the Scnucks locations as well as the university campus in Minnesota during the time of the illnesses. This lot was also provided to a distributor that supplied lettuce to the university campus in Missouri, but records were not sufficient to determine if this lot was sent to this university campus. Preliminary findings of investigation at Farm A did not identify the source of the contamination. Farm A was no longer in production during the time of the investigation.

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When the USDA announced that it wanted to protect American consumers by banning six more serotypes of E. coli, food safety advocates cheered. After all who wouldn’t be happy with an effort to keep dangerous pathogens out of the food supply?

A handful of groups, including the American Meat Institute and the governments of Australia and New Zealand, as it turns out.

In September, the USDA announced that the E. coli serogroups O26, O103, O45, O111, O121 and O145 would be prohibited from entering commerce beginning March 5, 2012. The Big Six, as they are sometimes called, have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the serotypes responsible for the greatest numbers of non-O157 shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States.

"Consumers deserve a modernized food safety system that focuses on prevention and protects them and their families from emerging threats. As non-O157 STEC bacteria have emerged and evolved, so too must our regulatory policies to protect the public health and ensure the safety of our food supply," Agriculture Under Secretary Elisabeth Hagen stated.

The USDA invited public comment, and, on Thursday, got one from the American Meat Institute’s Executive Vice President James H. Hodges who says current testing is good enough.

“USDA is proposing a solution in search of a problem,” Hodges said in a statement.

The Food Safety Inspection Service’s Draft Risk Profile includes comments from scientific experts that highlight knowledge gaps about the BIg Six such as “We found no consensus in the scientific community about precisely which features, or virulence factors, make an STEC harmful to humans.” The new policy also lacks a cost estimate for implementation, Hodges stated. “Given the many questions surrounding both its potential effectiveness and its costs, implementation should be delayed until a more thorough analysis is conducted and more is known.”

What is already known is that each of the Big Six have caused severe, sometimes life-threatening illness in people all over the country such as the May 2010 E. coli O145 outbreak linked to Freshway Foods Romaine lettuce, that sickened people in Michigan, Ohio, New York and Tennessee, three of whom contracted hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure and death. What more needs to be known?

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Twenty three drinking water systems in Missouri have chronically failed to complete testing required by the state to ensure safe water supply, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).

The 23 systems, listed below, have all had at least three major monitoring violations in a 12-month period. Lack of testing does not necessarily mean the water is unsafe, but is a crucial part of maintaining a safe water supply.

“MDNR requires all public water systems to test for bacteria at least once a month to verify these systems are providing safe drinking water to the public. The vast majority of community and non-community public water systems in Missouri complies with all monitoring requirements and meets all drinking water standards. Chronic violators are the exception rather than the rule. This current list of 23 systems represents less than one percent of the approximately 2,800 public drinking water systems in Missouri,” MDNR said in a press release.

Testing is the first step in identifying and correcting a problem. Water samples that test positive for total coliform bacteria are re-tested for E. coli bacteria, which can cause severe illness. If E. coli is confirmed in the sample, MDNR requires public water systems to issue an immediate boil water advisory to its customers, or, in the case of a non-community system, to provide them with an alternative water source, such as bottled water.

To view more details on the violators listed, visit the department's website.

County -- Public Drinking Water System
• Barry -- Jenkins Kwik Stop.
• Benton -- Hidden Valley Mobile Home Park, Last Chance Restaurant and Lounge, Sun Valley Subdivision, TT Campground.
• Camden -- Nantucket Bay.
• Dallas -- Fraternal Order of Eagles 4010.
• Greene -- Expressway Stop.
• Hickory -- Shadow Lake Golf Course.
• Jefferson -- Walker Hill Mobile Home Park.
• Maries -- Moreland’s Catfish Patch and Steak House.
• Miller -- Camp Bagnell Campground.
• Montgomery -- Danville Sinclair.
• Morgan Mallard Bay.
• Pettis -- Budget Host Super 7 Motel.
• Polk -- Valley View Acres.
• St. Louis -- Whispering Oaks Health Care.
• Stone -- Cedar Haven Resort, Cross Roads Store.
• Taney -- East Fork Subdivision, GDM Investment Project, Savannah Place Third Addition.
• Webster -- Eagle Stop.
 

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An article by Elizabeth Weise for USA Today posed the question, “Who should pay to make ground beef safe from E. coli?" The article discusses two products, an E. coli vaccine and probiotics, that have made it possible to almost eliminate E. coli in ground beef.  Even though consumers are willing to pay extra for safer beef, ranchers are not eager to pay for the products because they have to be used months or years before the cows can be sold, according to the article:

It's hard to figure out who should pay for steps that would take place months and possibly years before the grill starts sizzling. The people who'd have to pay for them aren't the ones who would reap the direct benefits.

Researchers at Harvard University estimate that American beef consumers are willing to pay 1 cent to 2 cents a pound to reduce the risk of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. "Common sense plus our paper and many others suggest consumers will pay more for safer food," says James Hammitt, who co-wrote a paper on consumer willingness to pay for food safety in the September edition of the journal Risk Analysis.

These interventions aren't perfect, but they're very good, says Guy Loneragan, a professor of food safety at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. "The question is no longer, 'Can we get the technologies?' We've got them, or they're soon to arrive. The question is 'How do we implement?' "

The vaccine is a Pfizer product. According to Pfizer:

Escherichia Coli Bacterial Extract vaccine with SRP technology has been shown to reduce the number of cattle testing positive for the bacteria by 85 percent. And those animals still testing positive show a 98 percent reduction in concentration of E. coli O157.

Pfizer acquired global rights to the vaccine from Epitopix LLC after Epitopix was given a conditional license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell its vaccine in 2009.

Probiotics for cattle have been around longer than the vaccine. A number of companies sell probiotic products that can be mixed with feed to maintain intestinal health and aid digestion. These products first hit the market in 2002. Here is an excerpt from an article in beefmagazine.com dated October 1, 2002:

A new feed ingredient that contains probiotics or “good bacteria” can reduce the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 in live cattle by as much as 50%, according to researchers at Texas Tech University.

Feet have been dragging long enough. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agriculture departments need to work together to get this done immediately. We have had clients who suffered renal failure, had colostomies and had central nervous system damage, all because they ate beef contaminated with E. coli. To have a solution to this problem and not implement it is unacceptable.

Nancy Donley, the founder of STOP Foodborne Illness, told USA Today:

Consumers are happy to pay for additional safety, Donley says. "We need to do something at the source" before cattle go to slaughter, she says. "This is something we've been crying for for ages."

To read the USA Today article in full, click here.

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The E. coli O157:H7 strain discovered in environmental samples taken from Cozy Vale Creamery matches the strain that has sickened three people, including 2 children, according to a Washington State Department of Agriculture official.

On November 23, the Tenino, Washington-based diary issued a recall of raw milk products after routine tests by the agriculture department found E.coli O157:H7 in the milking parlor and processing areas of the dairy.

During the last three months, three Cozy Vale customers have contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections, but E. coli was never discovered in routine testing of the milk. 

Symptoms of E.coli poisoning include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody and vomiting. Some infections are mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening. Children are among those who are especially at risk. In some cases, they can develop a potentially life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which causes kidney failure.

The recalled raw milk products include raw whole milk, raw skim milk and raw cream with “best if used by” dates up to and including December 6. The milk and cream were sold in pint, quart, half-gallon and gallon containers were sold at the on-farm store at 7018 Churchill Road, and at the following locations:

Marlene’s Market, 2951 S. 38th St., Tacoma, WA
Marlene’s Market, 2565 S. Gateway Center Pl., Federal Way, WA
Mt. Community Co-op, 105 Carter St., Eatonville WA
Olympia Food Co-op, 3111, Pacific Ave., Olympia, WA
Olympia Food Co-op, 921 Rogers, Olympia, WA
Olympia Local Foods, 2442 Mottman Rd S.W., Turnwater, WA
Yelm Co-op, 404 1st St., Yelm, WA

Contact our law firm for a free consultation.

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Victims of the St. Louis E. coli outbreak could face health problems later in life including hypertension, cardiovascular disease and renal impairment or failure. Those are the long-term health risks all victims of E. coli poisoning face, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers discovered a correlation between the severity of the initial illness and the likelihood of health complications later in life. For example, compared with those who were mildly ill, those with severe cases were 1.3 times more likely to develop hypertension, 3.4 times more likely to develop renal impairment, and 2.1 times more likely to have a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.

“Our findings underline the need for following up individual cases of food or water poisoning by E. coli O157:H7 to prevent or reduce silent progressive vascular injury,” the study authors noted.“These long term consequences emphasize the importance of ensuring safe food and water supply as a cornerstone of public health.”

In St. Louis, 36 people had confirmed cases of E.coli poisoning associated with the outbreak. Symptoms of an E.coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody and vomiting.

Some infections are mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening. Between 5 percent and 10 percent of patients can develop a potentially life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Clues that a person is developing HUS include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC) People with HUS should be hospitalized because their kidneys can fail. Most people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent damage or die. E. coli patients can also develop a complication called TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) which damages damages blood vessles, causing tiny blood clost sto form throughout the body.

Anyone with legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak can contact the foodborne illness experts at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.

Source: http://group.bmj.com/group/media/19%20November%202010%20-%20E%20coli%20infection%20linked%20to%20long%20term%20health%20problems.pdf

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Cozy Vale Creamery of Tenino, Wash. is recalling raw milk products because of possible E. coli contamination.

The recall was issued after the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
discovered E.coli in the milking parlor and processing areas on environmental swabs taken from the dairy. Since August, three Cozy Vale customers have contracted E. coli infections.

The recall includes raw whole milk, raw skim milk and raw cream with “best if used by” dates up to and including December 6. The recalled milk products sold in pint, quart, half-gallon and gallon containers were sold at the on-farm store at 7018 Churchill Road, Tenino, WA and at the following locations:

Marlene’s Market, 2951 S. 38th St., Tacoma, WA

Marlene’s Market, 2565 S. Gateway Center Pl., Federal Way, WA

Mt. Community Co-op, 105 Carter St., Eatonville WA

Olympia Food Co-op, 3111, Pacific Ave., Olympia, WA

Olympia Food Co-op, 921 Rogers, Olympia, WA

Olympia Local Foods, 2442 Mottman Rd S.W., Turnwater, WA

Yelm Co-op, 404 1st St., Yelm WA

Although the state of Washington permits the sale of raw milk, WSDA warns consumers that there are serious potential health risks associated with it.

The E.coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen can answer legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this recall. Contact them for a free consultation by calling 1 (888) 377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or by submitting information online here. 

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The American Academy of Microbiology has put together an FAQ about E.coli to increase public awareness of the common, and sometimes deadly bacteria. Below is a summary.

What is E.coli?
Escherichia coli, or E.coli, is a single celled bacterium that lives in the gastrointestinal tracts of most animals, including humans. There are a variety of E.coli strains, some are good, others are not. The good strains aid digestion and protect us from harmful microbes. But if they move out of the gut and into the bloodstream they can be as harmful as the bad strains that cause disease and disrupt body function.

How does E.coli make us sick?
Some strains produce toxins that disrupt normal cellular function. Diarrhea, one of the main symptoms of an E. coli infection, happens when when the E. coli cause cells in the intestine to absorb less water, or release water into the intestine. In some cases E. coli can damage small vessel cells that line the intestines resulting in bloody diarrhea.

How does our food become contaminated with E.coli?
It all starts with poop. The source of E. coli in almost all food and water contamination events can be traced back to exposure to fecal matter at some point in the food chain; whether it is on the farm, at the processing plant, in transportation, during retail, at the restaurant, or even during preparation in our homes.

Most manure is devoid of harmful E. coli, but a small percentage of cattle carry pathogenic E. coli in their gut. These harmful E. coli are then shed in the cattle’s manure and, if applied to crops without first being composted, can be a source of contamination.

Wildlife may also contaminate food. Deer, birds, and pests native to agricultural areas can deposit feces that may contain pathogenic E. coli on plants.

Manure can cause contamination problems in food even when not used as fertilizer. Raw milk can be contaminated during the milking process. Or, when cattle are slaughtered, E. coli from their feces can occasionally make its way onto beef.

Contamination of food can also come through water. Spraying contaminated water on plants to irrigate, wash, or chill them can contaminate foods.

Food is not the only way we can ingest E. coli. Pathogenic E. coli contamination can be a problem in recreational water. If not properly cleaned and chlorinated, E. coli can survive in swimming pools and other recreational water sources.

What’s being done to prevent contamination of our food?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspects meat, poultry and egg producers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests all other food and has best practices guidelines for farmers.
Some risks are considered so substantial that federal and state laws prohibit certain practices. for example, in most states unpasteurized (raw) milk is prohibited or can only be purchased directly from a farmer. milk that enters into the commercial pipeline must be pasteurized, a process by which milk is sufficiently heated to kill pathogens, like E. coli that may be present. Other processed foods and beverages (like juices) can also be pasteurized to reduce health risk

Source: The American Academy of Microbiology 

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Over the last four weeks, three dozen people have been sickened by the St. Louis E. coli outbreak. Health officials leading the investigation believe that the infection rate has peaked, but say they still have not been able to determine the source. 

Interviews with patients established a link to salad bars at Schnucks grocery stores, but E. coli contamination was never found in any Schuncks store location. The investigation, which now includes suppliers and distributors to Schnucks stores, has included testing on 55 food samples.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now the lead agency for the investigation.

The E. coli strain at the heart of this outbreak caused severe illness and many patients required hospitalization. Although there are now 36 confirmed cases, it's likely many more people who weren't tested also became ill, according to the CDC.

 E. coli poisoning symptoms include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea and in severe cases,  hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries.

The E. coli experts at the national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen P.A. can answer legal questions about an illnesses or hospitalizations associated with this outbreak. Contact them for a free consultation.
 

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Bargain shoppers beware, while grabbing some great deals at the mall, you may also be picking up some E.coli or other bacteria that can make you sick, according to a Fox News.com story.

Wherever there are a lot of people, there are a lot of germs. According to the story, there are eight places where bacterial levels are especially high:

1. Restroom sinks: E. coli and other bacteria lurk on the faucet, handles and soap dispensers because people touch those surfaces right after using the toilet. To protect yourself, wash your hands thoroughly by lathering with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinse well.
2. Food court tables: Even if tables have just been wiped down, it doesn ’t mean they’re clean. If the rags are dirty, they’re spreading germs, not removing them. To protect yourself, carry disinfecting wipes that conatin alcohol and wipe the table before you sit down.
3. Escalator handrails: "In our testing, we have found food, E. coli, urine, mucus, feces, and blood on escalator handrails," says Charles Gerba, in the story. To protect yourself, avoid touching handrails altogether, or use hand sanitizer afterward.
4.  ATM keypads: these touchpads harbor viruses and bacetris incluing E. coli, especially the “enter” button. To protect yourself: "Knuckle" ATM buttons to avoid getting germs on your fingertips and be sure to wash your hands or use sanitizer afterward.
5. Toy stores: can actually be germier than play areas, carousels, and other kid-friendly zones, Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center, in the story. "Kids lick toys, roll them on their heads, and rub them on their faces, and all that leaves a plethora of germs on the toys," he says. The goods their parents don’t buy end up back on the shelves, where your kid finds them. To protect yourself, wipe down any toy that isn’t in a sealed box or package with soap and water, alcohol, or vinegar before giving it to your child.
6. Fitting rooms:  It’s actually the clothes, not the room. Skin cells and perspiration feed bacterial growth. To protect yourself, wear full-coverage underwear when trying on clothes, especially pants, bathing suits, and any other garment that touches your backside.
7. Gadget shops: There’s no way for stores to clean every item after someone picks it up and looks at it. To protect yourself, wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe before you handle it. And use hand sanitizer when you’re done.
8. Makeup samples: 
Heading to the makeup counter? A 2005 study found that between 67 and 100% of makeup-counter testers were contaminated with bacteria, including staph, strep, and E. coli. To protect yourself, avoid using public makeup samples to apply cosmetics to your lips, eyes, or face. Ask for a single-use unit instead. If that’s not available, use a tissue to wipe off the sample and then apply the product to the back of your hand.

News source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/21/8-germiest-places-in-mall/?test=faces#ixzz1eRgXRnGy 

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Production at Organic Pastures, California’s largest producer of raw milk, was halted last week after an E.coli outbreak that sickened five children was linked to the dairy’s raw milk. While owner Mark McAfee maintains his milk is healthful and risk-free, this is not the first time the dairy has had trouble with food safety issues.

Over the last 15 months, the Fresno County Department of Health has inspected Organic Pastures 10 times. Of those, four were routine inspections where “significant violations” were found that required mandatory re-inspection. Some of these violations were for unsanitary conditions, such as a broken toilet, lack of hot water for hand washing in the bathroom sink, manure on barn walls and exit ramps and under barn mats, all of which were cited in a report from August 24, 2010. Other reports site the lack of a concrete pad at a docking station and beneath a mobile barn.

• On September 12, 2008, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CFDA) issued a recall for raw cream manufactured at the dairy after tests showed it was contaminated with Campylobacter.
• On September 7, 2007, the CFDA issued a recall for raw cream manufactured at the dairy after Listeria monocytogenes bacteria turned up on a routine inspection.
• On September 21, 2006, the CFDA issued a recall after four children contracted E. coli infections after consuming raw milk products from the dairy.

Campylobacter, Listeria and E. coli are all dangerous pathogens that can cause serious sometimes fatal infections. With all foodborne illnesses, children are among those most a risk for serious complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can lead to kidney failure.

A press release on the Organic Pastures website states:

“It is a common goal of Organic Pastures and the California Department of Public Health to
rapidly investigate any linkage between these cases and raw milk. Each month CDFA tests
all Organic Pastures’ products for pathogens, in addition Organic Pastures uses a third party for pathogen testing multiple times per week. All these tests have been negative. It
has been reported to us by the California Department of Public Health that as of today all
products collected from the ill patients have been negative for E. Coli 0157:H7.”

A review of all CFDA inspections does support the claim that the dairy is inspected each month. Four of the 10 inspections during the last 15 months were mandatory re-inspections. Had they not been required, the dairy would have had six inspections during a 15 month period.

In a USA Today story, McAfee says that because California has no test evidence that shows children drank contaminated milk, he finds the case "highly suspicious." But as Steve Lyle, of the CFDA countered in the story that "milk is perishable, so the product consumed by the children was not available for testing" by the time they got sick "and that's typically to be expected."

Anyone experiencing abdominal cramping or bloody diarrhea after consuming raw milk products should seek immediate medical attention. Anyone with questions regarding an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak should contact the national food safety law firm PritzkerOslen P.A. for a free consultation.

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The St. Louis E. coli outbreak has now sickened 33 people, but its source has still not been determined, according to the latest information from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Epidemiological evidence linked the outbreak to Schnucks salad bars, but a specific food item has not been determined. No evidence of E. coli contamination was found at Schuncks stores, so the investigation was widened to include suppliers and distributors to Schnucks. So far, 55 food samples have been tested, but none has tested positive for the E. coli strain responsible for the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are continuing the search for the sourcee.

The E. coli strain at the heart of the outbreak is resistant to antibiotics. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea. Complications of E. coli poisoning include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries.

Anyone with legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak should contact the E. coli experts at the national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
 

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Mark McAfee, the owner of Organic Pastures in Kerman, Calif., says the raw milk his dairy produces has never been a health threat and is not the source of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened five children, according to a story in the Fresno Bee.

On Tuesday, the California Department of Food and Agricultural issued a recall and quarantine of Organic Pastures raw dairy products, after health officials discovered that five children who contracted E. coli infections had all consumed raw milk from Organic Pastures before becoming ill.

The sale of raw milk, or milk that has not been pasteurized, is legal in some states including California. With its products in 400 stores and a customer base of about 75,000 people, Organic Pastures is California’s largest producer of raw milk and raw milk products.

On Wednesday, McAfee appealed the recall and quarantine saying he is sure his dairy products are not the source of the outbreak and that there is no risk in consuming them. “There is no current threat and there has not been a threat," McAfee told the Fresno Bee. Instead, he said, the source may have been raw milk products from another dairy. McAfee’s appeal was denied. E. coli has not been detected in laboratory testing conducted thus far on of samples from Organic Pastures.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea. Children are among those most at risk and can in some cases, including this outbreak, develop a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can lead to kidney failure.

Health officials urge anyone who developed symptoms after consuming raw milk to seek medical attention. Those with legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak should contact the E. coli team at the food safety law firm PritzkerOslen for a free consultation. 

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All five victims of the Organic Pastures raw milk E. coli O157:H7 outbreak are children, three of whom required hospitalization for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure.

Enthusiasts believe raw milk- milk from cows, sheep or goats that has not been pasteurized, contains healthful microorganisms that pasteurized milk does not. While there is no scientific evidence to support that claim, there is ample evidence that pasteurization kills dangerous pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, that pose serious health risks, especially to children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Despite its risks, the sale of raw milk is legal in some states. Raw milk and raw milk products caused 93 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness between 1998 and 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.) Those outbreaks sickened 1,837 people, 195 of whom required hospitalization, two of whom died. 

“One of the troubling issues about the sale of raw milk is that consumers are not adequately warned about the risks,” said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen P.A., a national leader in food safety law. “I represent people sickened by raw milk due to contamination with Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli O157:H7 and other dangerous pathogens. Raw milk can cause kidney failure, paralysis and death. I know because I have stood by the bedsides of people who innocently drank raw milk and ended up hooked up to life support fighting for their lives.”

Earlier this week, a recall and quarantine of raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures of Fresno County, California was announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford.

Under the recall, all Organic Pastures raw dairy products with the exception of cheese aged a minimum of 60 days are to be pulled immediately from retail shelves and consumers are strongly urged not to eat or drink any of the products. Until further notice, Organic Pastures may not produce raw milk products for the retail market. The order also affects Organic Pastures raw butter, raw cream, raw colostrum, and a raw product labeled “Qephor.”

Symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe abdominal cramping and watery or bloody diarrhea. Officials urge anyone experiencing these symptoms after consuming the products under reacll to seek medical attention. Anyone with legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness experts at PritzkerOlsen for a free consultation.
 

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This week, as New Jersey state senators ponder proposed legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk, California food safety officials are recalling and quarantining Organic Pastures raw milk products after five children who drank raw milk from the dairy contracted E. coli infections. Three of the children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of E. coli infections that can damage the kidneys and central nervous system and cause kidney failure, seizures, coma, and stroke.

Raw milk is milk that hasn’t been pasteurized. Proponents say drinking it can aid digestion, boost the immune system and ease the symptoms of allergies and asthma. There is no scientific evidence to back these claims. There is, however, a mountain of evidence that consuming raw milk can be dangerous and that pasteurization saves lives.

Raw milk is responsible for one of the deadliest outbreaks of foodborne illness in U.S. history, the 1911 streptococcus outbreak that killed 48 people and sickened more than 2,000,according to Preventative Medicine and Hygiene, by Milton Joseph Rosenau.

Raw milk products account for the bulk of all dairy product-associated outbreaks of foodborne illness reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the 36-year period between 1973 and 2009, a whopping 82 percent were caused by raw milk or cheese made from raw milk. Raw milk and raw milk products caused 93 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness between 1998 and 2009, according to the CDC. Those outbreaks sickened 1,837 people, 195 of whom required hospitalization, two of whom died.

“It is important to note that a substantial proportion of the raw milk-associated disease burden falls on children; among the 93 raw dairy product outbreaks from 1998 to 2009, 79% involved at least one person less than 20 years old.”

Most illnesses associated with the consumption of raw milk are caused by E. coli: O157, Campylobacter, or Salmonella, all of which can create serious, sometimes fatal infections. For all foodborne illnesses, children are among those considered most at risk.

The United States has been aware of the dangers of raw milk since the turn of the last century when the diseases it spread included: tuberculosis, typhoid fever, diptheria, scarlet fever, septic sore throat, malta fever and foot and mouth disease, according to Preventative Medicine and Hygiene. Between 1907 and 1911, raw milk caused five outbreaks that sickened more than 4000 people in the Boston area alone, according to Rosenau’s research. In Washington, during the same time period, 10 percent of all typhoid fever cases were traced to raw milk.

Those outbreaks were the impetus for improving the safety of milk through pasteurization. Pasteurization began in the 1920s and was widespread by 1950, according to the CDC:

“It led to dramatic reductions in the number of people getting sick from diseases that had previously been transmitted commonly by milk. Most public health professionals and health care providers consider pasteurization to be one of public health’s most effective food safety interventions ever!”

Many medical and scientific organizations recommend that consumers drink only pasteurized milk. They include: the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, and others. 

Sources: Preventative Medicine and Hygiene, by Milton Joseph Rosenau.

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Raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures of Fresno County, California are the subject of a recall and quarantine order announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford.

Under the recall, all Organic Pastures raw dairy products with the exception of cheese aged a minimum of 60 days are to be pulled immediately from retail shelves and consumers are strongly urged to dispose of any products remaining in their refrigerators. Until further notice, Organic Pastures may not produce raw milk products for the retail market. The order also affects Organic Pastures raw butter, raw cream, raw colostrum, and a raw product labeled “Qephor.”

The quarantine order came following a notification from the California Department of Public Health of a cluster of five children who were infected, from August through October, with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. These children are residents of Contra Costa, Kings, Sacramento, and San Diego counties. Interviews with the families indicate that the only common reported food exposure is unpasteurized (raw) milk from Organic Pastures dairy. Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that may lead to kidney failure. There have been no deaths.

Evidence Implicating Organic Pastures

While laboratory samples of Organic Pastures raw milk have not detected E. coli 0157:H7 contamination, epidemiologic data collected by the California Department of Public Health link the illnesses with Organic Pastures raw milk. Surveys indicate that only about three percent of the public report drinking raw milk in any given week so finding 100% of these children drank raw milk and the absence of other common foods or animal exposures indicates the Organic Pastures raw milk is the likely source of their infection.This is epidemiological evidence that can be used in a lawsuit against Organic Pastures to recover medical expenses, lost income and compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact Attorney Fred Pritzker and his E. coli litigation team for a free consultation.

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The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), CDC and FDA continue their investigation of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in the St. Louis region that has been linked by epidemiological evidence to Schnucks salad bars. DHSS and the FDA are investigating the processing facilities of companies that supplied Schnucks with salad bar ingredients. The CDC is doing additional epidemiological studies.

Additional laboratory analysis is being done on E. coli isolates to determine who was sickened in the outbreak. Of the 51 people tested, 32 have confirmed cases of infection from the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. 

One of the specimens collected November 2, 2011 tested positive for the strain of E. coli observed in the outbreak, including the specific “fingerprint” analysis.  However, that individual is considered a “secondary case” – one caused by exposure to an individual with the illness, not by exposure to the source of the illness.  If the secondary case was caused by exposure to an E. coli victim who ate from a Schnucks salad bar, the person with the secondary case may have a claim against Schnucks and others. Contact Fred Pritzker for a free consultation.

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The NC State Fair E. coli investigation has implicated the Kelley Building, a place where livestock exhibits were held, as the source of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 27 people.

The announcement Thursday by NC state epidemiologist Megan Davies said the state has concluded its epidemiologic investigation and will no longer be posting daily case counts related to the outbreak. Eleven people are confirmed outbreak victims and 16 others are linked to the outbreak pending further microbiological testing. At least one of the 11 confirmed victims suffered life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is continuing to accept cases from this outbreak for a NC State Fair lawsuit. This would be the second time in recent NC Fair history where an animal exhibit led to an outbreak. In 2004, scores of people became infected from E. coli bacteria after attending an NC State Fair petting zoo.

For the current outbreak, here's a list of where the victims live, by county:

• Wake - 13 
• Sampson - 6 
• Cleveland - 1 
• Durham - 1 
• Johnston - 1 
• Lenoir - 1 
• Orange - 2 
• Wilson – 2

If you or a loved one have been sickened in this outbreak, contact an E. coli attorney at PritzkerOlsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) for a free case consultation. Our law firm recently won a settlement for a North Carolina family who lost a child to an E. coli infection linked to a goat.

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In Arizona today, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to reject a proposal by the county’s board of health that would have required food trucks to provide hand sanitizer and food festivals to provide a hand-washing station for every five portable toilets, according to a story in the Arizona Daily Star.

The supervisors, who previously rejected proposals from the health board to require hand sanitizer for all portable toilets and to post hand-washing reminders in restrooms, said the impact of such a measure on festivals large and small wasn't clear.

What is clear is that festivals and foodborne illness outbreaks go hand in hand. Health officials in North Carolina have been scrambling for weeks to pinpoint the source of an E coli outbreak associated with the Nortth Carolina State Fair that has sickened 12 people, seven of whom are children who required hospitalization after developing a severe complication of an E. coli infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. Children with HUS are generally hospitalized for weeks or months and many require future kidney transplants.

The North Carolina outbreak is tragic, but not unusual.

• In August, three people contracted E coli infections after attending a county fair in Michigan.
• In July, one child died after visiting a petting zoo at a county fair in Indiana.
• In August 2010, a toddler developed HUS after visiting a Wisconsin petting zoo.
• In August 2010, three children contracted E coli infections at a regional fair in Michigan.
• In July 2010, a four-year old developed HUS after visiting a county fair in Indiana.
• In 2008, eight people contracted E. coli at an Indiana county fair.

The list goes on. While handwashing may not be able to prevent all cases of foodborne illness, it can prevent some, which is why the Pima County board of health wanted to make sure that people attending events in Pima County could wash their hands. "It doesn't mean they will, but if they can't, they won't," health board member Brad Brumm told the supervisors.

The supervisors were not swayed by statistics on fairs and foodborne illness or by Brumm and other health board members. People who want to wash, will have the common sense to carry their own hand sanitizer, Supervisor Ann Day said. Some festival organizers and food-truck operators agreed, saying the county doesn't need to legislate hand-washing, according to the story.

"Hand sanitizer isn't communism, it's common sense," Brumm said. But his comments fell on deaf ears. And dirty hands.

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After two weeks of investigation, North Carolina health officials have been unable to pinpoint the specific source of the E. coli outbreak associated with the North Carolina State Fair.

State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told WRAL.com that he and other investigators are “perplexed” by the outbreak that includes 12 confirmed cases and 16 possible cases, according to the latest update from the N.C. Division of Public Health.

Troxler said safety is a priority at the fair, particularly after a 2004 E. coli outbreak linked to a petting zoo at the fair sickened 108 people. After that outbreak, a state law was passed requiring sanitation stations throughout the fair. In addition, Troxler said, all animals competing at the fair are inspected by a state vet, a private vet certifies the health of all petting zoo animals and the food vendors are all inspected at least once.

Investigators are awaiting results from some lab tests that may shed light on the outbreak. They have also established a case study control group of nearly 1,000 fairgoers who didn’t get sick.

The confirmed and suspected cases are from eight counties: Wake(13), Sampson( 6), Cleveland (1), Durham (2), Johnston (1), Lenoir, (1), Orange (2) and Wilson (2), according to the N.C. Division of Public Health.

Several of these cases are children who developed a severe complication of an E. coli infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. Children with HUS are generally hospitalized for weeks or months and many require future kidney transplants.

The E.coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen P.A. are experts in this field. To contact them for a free consultation click here or call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).
 

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Six inmates at the Arapahoe County jail have been diagnosed with E. coli poisoning, prompting an investigation by the Colorado and Tri-County Health Departments. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson told reporters that the jail had six confirmed cases on Friday and 14 inmates have come down with symptoms of E. coli, which can include severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, mild fever, nausea and vomiting.

One inmate had to be treated at the hospital for dehydration, which if severe enough can cause high blood pressure and other complications. All of the inmates sickened lived in Pod 3.

The source of the outbreak is not yet known. Contact our E. coli lawyers for a free consultation.

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Health officials are still searching for the source of the St. Louis E. coli outbreak that has sickened 30 people.

So far, 55 food samples including ingredients from area salad bars and from victims homes have been tested and none has tested positive for E. coli. There are no other specimens at the state lab believed to be connected to the outbreak on which testing is still pending.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The CDC has set up a case study by contacting individuals in neighborhoods where patients have been identified.  The FDA is inspecting facilities of suppliers and distributors to area grocery stores.

Public health officials urge consumers to wash all produce thoroughly with water before eating, cook meat thoroughly, and wash their hands after using the restroom. They also urge anyone experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea or nausea, to seek medical attention.

Anyone with legal question about an illness associaed with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness experts at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
 

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The St. Louis area E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been linked to Schnucks because a statistically high number of the outbreak victims ate food purchased at a Schnucks salad bar prior to illness. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is leading a team of local, federal, and state public health experts in investigating the cause of the E. coli outbreak.  The investigation involves laboratory analysis, environmental sampling and interviews of reported cases.  This information is then combined to determine the possible cause(s) of the outbreak.

DHSS added two new cases based on lab results from specimens submitted to the State Public Health Laboratory last week.  The two cases have the same E. coli O157:H7 fingerprint as that observed in the outbreak.  One of the specimens is from a person in Boone County.  That case is being added to the count because the individual reported spending time in St. Louis during the timeframe established by the investigative team for the outbreak.  Investigators continue to work with public health officials to determine whether three other specimens previously submitted from Boone County are connected to the outbreak.

As indicated above, DHSS has tested 55 food samples in its search for the source of the outbreak. All of the samples have come back negative so far. This does not mean the E. coli victims do not have legal rights against Schnucks.

A few days ago, the FDA, working with DHSS, began to inspect facilities of distributors and/or producers located outside of Missouri.  If the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 is found at a distributor's plant facility, both Schnucks and the distributor may be held liable for the illnesses suffered by the E. coli vicitms.

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Over the last three months, three E. coli outbreaks in Michigan have all been caused by E. coli 0157:NM, a rare strain of the pathogen.

Last week, Michigan health officials announced that three Maple Rapids residents had contracted E.coli infections. Two of them were children who required hospitalization for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious, potentially fatal complication of E. coli poisoning.

A source of this outbreak has not yet been determined. However, during the past three months, there were two other outbreaks of E. coli 0157:NM:

One prior E. coli O157:NM outbreak was linked to ground beef processed and distributed by McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC, of North Branch, Mich. A total of five confirmed E. coli cases and four probable cases were reported in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac counties. Illness onset dates range from July 18-30. Those sickened ranged in age from 15-88.

The other prior E. coli O157:NM outbreak involved three people who ate beef at the Clinton County Fair and were sickened by E. coli 0157:NM. The beef was supplied by McNees, according to a story in the Michigan Morning Sun.

Prior to the McNees outbreak, E. coli 0157:NM had not been seen in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health's Bureau of Laboratories.

E. coli poisoning can have serious complications, including HUS, which most often affects children under the age of 10. It is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads anemia, blood clots, and damage to blood vessel walls. Complications of HUS are severe and can include kidney damage, seizures, coma, stroke and damage to the central nervous system.

Contact our E. coli lawyers for a free consultation regarding legal help for victims of these outbreaks and their families.

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There are 25 confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning in the St. Louis outbreak associated with area salad bars, but other cases are under investigation including one in St. Clair County, Illinois.

State and local health officials in Illinois are awaiting results from laboratory testing on a case of shiga toxin producing E. coli to determine if it is linked to those in the St. Louis outbreak. St Clair county is one of a handful of Illinois counties that are part of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Missouri health officials have been working with the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the source and scope of the outbreak that began the first week of October.

Most of those who became ill reported eating food from a Schnucks salad bar, but because none of the samples taken from Schnucks locations has been positive for E. coli, the investigation has broadened to include, distributors and suppliers to grocery stores in the St. Louis area.

Health officials urge anyone who became ill after eating food from a salad bar in the St. Louis area to seek medical attention. Anyone with legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak should contact the foodborne illness attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation. 

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Investigators continue to look for the source of the E. coli outbreak in St. Louis, MO that has been associated with eating food from Schnucks salad bars in the St. Louis area.

The CDC has set up a case study by contacting individuals in neighborhoods where patients have been identified.  The case control study will enable investigators to compare data from participants with those who have become sick. 

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has been working in consultation with the FDA and enlisted additional assistance when it became known that products were obtained from distributors and/or producers located outside of Missouri.  The FDA will assist in the inspection of facilities that may have been part of the distribution chain.    

The State Lab has performed tests on 55 food samples. 17 of them came back negative (no E. coli contamination). 38 of the food samples were received Tuesday night.  Preliminary tests on these 38 samples were negative for E. coli.  Further testing is being done to confirm these results.

Even with these negative food sample results, there is still sufficient epidemiological evidence for some victims of this E. coli O157 outbreak to file lawsuits for medical expenses, lost wages, compensation for pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

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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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As the St. Louis E. coli outbreak linked to Schnucks and other retailers continues to grow, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting 3 confirmed and 2 suspected cases of E. coli infection, two of which required hospitalization. The first case was reported on October 26. All 5 of the people sickened required medical treatment, and two of them had to be hospitalized.

To date, the epidemiological investigation has not found a common link between the 5 people. E. coli outbreaks are generally caused by contaminated food; however, E. coli can also be transmitted by water and direct contact with contaminated animal and human feces. Because there are so many possible vehicles of transmission, it can be difficult to determine the initial cause of an outbreak.

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The N.C. Division of Public Health is now investigating 30 cases (up from 27 yesterday) related to the North Carolina State Fair E. coli outbreak. Twelve cases are confirmed E. coli cases; 18 cases are still being investigated.

The latest numbers and counties involved include:

Wake - 13
Sampson - 7
Cleveland - 1
Durham - 3
Johnston - 1
Lenoir - 1
Orange - 2
Wilson – 2

The North Carolina State Fair ran from October 13 to the 23rd. The incubation period for E. coli can be as long as 10 days, so there will probably be few if any new cases of E. coli.

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is responsible for the operation of the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh.  Contact our attorneys for information regarding whom E. coli victims can sue for compensation.

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Missouri health officials are enlisting the help of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the search for the source of the St. Louis E. coli outbreak expands to include suppliers and distributors from outside the state.

In an update about the investigation released yesterday, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said that inspections of several Schnuck's stores and warehouses have all turned up clean. The investigation is now expanding to include distributors and/or producers located outside of Missouri which will require the resources of the FDA.

Laboratory testing to identify the specific strain and "genetic fingerprint" of the E. coli involved is underway. So far, 26 samples have been completed and they all match. This suggests that all 26 people are part of the outbreak and that only one specific organism is involved, DHSS said in the statement.

Food samples have also been submitted for laboratory testing to determine whether E. coli is present. So far, 17 samples have been submitted, and all have come back negative for E. coli.  These samples included two strawberries retrieved from sick individuals' homes, DHSS statement said. The remaining samples consist of lettuce, strawberries, and Caesar dressing taken from several Schnuck's stores in the region.

“Those products that were in question were not created by Schnucks,” Schnucks spokeswoman Lori Willis told the Morris Daily Herald. “There’s got to be a supplier involved in some way.”

Public health officials continue to urge anyone in the St. Louis area experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea or nausea, to seek medical attention.

Those with legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak should contact PritzkerOlsen P.A., one of the nation’s leading food safety law firms for a free consultation. A toll free number is also available 1(888) 377-8900.
 

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National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is investigating the E. coli outbreak associated with the North Carolina State Fair that has sickened 27 people and hospitalized four children and one adult. Three children remain in intensive care, fighting kidney failure and other symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E. coli poisoning that can develop in young children.

“Despite the frequency and severity of these kinds of cases, event operators and participants often fail to take precautions necessary to prevent serious illness,” said Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a national leader in food safety law. “The safety and well-being of children who attend these events should be a top priority. The tragedy of this outbreak is magnified by the ease with which it could have been prevented.”

There are nine confirmed E. coli cases and another 18 under investigation, according to the latest information from the North Carolina Division of Public Health. The latest numbers and counties involved:

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

All of the E. coli victims reported attending the State Fair before becoming ill. Public health investigators are still trying to determine the exact source of the outbreak. 

Victims of E. coli poisoning may require hospitalization, suffer from long lasting or permanent medical conditions, lose wages or their jobs. Recovering expenses while recovering from a foodborne illness requires the expertise of an experienced food safety lawyer like the attorneys at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. If you have legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak, contact them for a free consultation.

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A Missouri E. coli outbreak has been linked to Schnucks salad bars in the St. Louis area. The epidemiological evidence gathered to date is sufficient to form the basis of a lawsuit against Schnucks for E. coli poisoning and its complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), but for food safety purposes, it would be advantageous to determine what food product was the initial source of the contamination. 

Through interviews with over two dozen victims, officials from the St . Louis County Health Department have learned that most of them ate something from a Schnucks salad bar. However, cross contamination issues will pose a challenge in determining which ingredient was the initial food source of the outbreak. What can happen is that a food product contaminated with E. coli bacteria can come into contact with a different food product, resulting in contamination of that product. For example, someone may inadvertently drop a piece of lettuce, in a bin of another kind of produce, or someone may use the same tongs for two different kinds of produce. This means one victim of this outbreak could have been sickened by one product from a Schnucks salad bar and another person could have been sickened by a different product.  Because the illnesses were spread out over the St. Louis area in several counties, even with cross contamination issues, there should be enough evidence to determine the statistically likely food product that was the initial cause of the outbreak. Time will tell.

Schnucks said in a statement yesterday that while it has not been identified as the source of the outbreak, it has removed “all items in question from salad bars across the company including Logli and Hilander stores in Rockford, Ill.” The company also stated that as of October 31, no tests taken from Schnucks stores have come back positive for E. coli. This is not surprising because the incubation period for E. coli is several days, and salad bar ingredients are perishable.

St. Louis residents experiencing symptoms of E. coli poisoning should seek medical help immediately.Those with legal questions about and illness or hospitalization associated with this St. Louis E. coli outbreak should contact the experienced team of foodborne illness lawyers at PritzkerOslen P.A.  Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit our free consultation form and a lawyer will call.

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An "overwhelming majority" of people who have tested positive for E. coli ate unspecified items from salad bars at various Schnucks locations, the St. Louis County Department of Health said through a spokesman.

That leaves more work to do for investigators in terms of finding the specific source of the St. Louis E. coli outbreak, but so far the scientific study of an outbreak that has sickened at least a couple of dozen people has landed at Schnucks. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has talked to four people who said they were diagnosed with E. coli infections and had eaten produce from salad bars at Schnucks in High Ridge, Ladue, downtown St. Louis and Ballwin.

No recalls have been announced in conjunction with this outbreak, but Schnucks last week removed lettuce and other items from salad bars at various locations. This was done voluntarily and as a precaution.

If you or a loved one has experienced bloody diarrhea or other E. coli symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Physicians in the area around St. Louis have been alerted to this E. coli outbreak and will conduct proper testing to confirm a diagnosis. Children under age 5 are especially at risk for a life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is in contact with victims of this outbreak who ate from the salad bar at Schnucks. We are continuing to accept cases at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and an attorney will call. Our firm is one of the few in the country who practice extensively in the complex area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims and their families. We currently represent E. coli outbreak victims, including those who have suffered HUS. 

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Health officials in Raleigh, North Carolina, worked through the weekend identifying more cases of E. coli infection associated with the 2011 NC State Fair. The latest results show that two people from as far east as Wilson County have been affected. 

Of the 24 cases related to the NC State Fair E. coli outbreak, nine have been confirmed and 15 are still being investigated. Here are the latest numbers and counties involved according to the North Carolina Public Health Division. 

• Wake - 11 
• Sampson - 7 
• Cleveland - 1 
• Durham - 1 
• Johnston - 1 
• Orange - 1 
• Wilson – 2 

So far, five people have been hospitalized and three people have suffered kidney failure, the first major symptom of a complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Investigators have a lot of ground to cover because of all the food stands and animal exhibits at the Fair. They have launched a full scale epidemiological study to narrow down the possibilities of where the outbreak started.

If you or a loved one has recently experienced symptoms of E. coli infection, visit your health care provider immediately.  For answers to legal questions about claims against the State Fair and its vendors, call national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information online and a lawyer from the firm will call you.

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At least six people have required hospital stays in the current Missouri E. coli outbreak that investigators are still probing. Some Schnucks food stores have voluntarily pulled lettuce or other produce from store salad bars, but only as a precaution because public health officials haven't yet discovered the exact source of the outbreak.

So far, 24 of 34 stool samples from individuals suffering from gastroenteritis have tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli. Some have suffered kidney failure and other complications from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). These illnesses have been reported within a compressed time period. Health directors in St. Louis and outlying areas have put physicians on alert and have been urging people who had bloody diarrhea to immediately seek health care.

Outbreaks involving the human pathogen E. coli are preventable and people made sick from contaminated food have the right to compensation for pain and suffering, lost time at work, medical bills and more. An E. coli lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has been assigned to investigate the Missouri outbreak and the firm has been in contact with victims. Our national food safety law firm is accepting cases at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information online and an attorney will call.

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Health officials in Michigan are trying to pinpoint the cause of an E. coli outbreak that sickened three people including two children from Maple Rapids, Michigan who have been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

HUS, a condition that develops after and E. coli infection, most often affects children under the age of 10. It is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads anemia, blood clots, and damage to blood vessel walls. Complications of HUS are severe and can include kidney damage, seizures, coma, stroke and damage to the central nervous system.

E. coli, a bacterium normally found in the gut of animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and deer, is spread by the fecal-oral route, through undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk or beverages. Symptoms of an E. coli infection include nausea, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody. Health officials urge anyone in the Maple Rapids area with these symptoms to see a doctor right away.

The affects of an E. coli infection can be long lasting and expensive. The E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen P.A., a national leader in food safety law, have helped families all over the country who have suffered the devastating affects of E. coli and HUS. Contact them for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling TOLL FREE at 1 (888) 377-8900.

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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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Schnucks grocery stores in proximity to the St. Louis E. coli outbreak have responded by pulling certain food items on a precautionary, voluntary basis as more reports of illness from St. Louis County and beyond continue to come in.

An E. coli lawyer from PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has been assigned to investigate the St. Louis outbreak on behalf of victims and the firm is in direct contact with individuals who have been hospitalized.

Approximately two dozen people are believed to be part of the outbreak and a number of confirmed case patients have been treated at medical centers. Fresh produce from grocery store salad bars is one of the suspected culprits, but traceback efforts are ongoing and health officials haven't pinpointed the cause. No recalls have been announced.

Schnucks is the dominant food store chain in the area and a spokeswoman has confirmed that food safety experts for the company have removed certain items, including strawberries and lettuce. Different Schnucks locations took different precautions, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported.

The E. coli strain at the heart of the outbreak is toxic and virulent., said Dr. Delores Gunn, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Health. She said there were 16 confirmed cases of shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections in less than 72 hours. Additional stool samples have been sent to the state laboratory for testing.

The outbreak hit hard this week and St. Louis County has been joined by state health investigators and infectious disease experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC). So far it has spread into four counties: St. Louis, Jefferson and St. Charles in Missouri and St. Clair County in Illinois.

St. Louis E. coli lawsuit:

A good E. coli lawyer will be able to hold responsible parties accountable throughout the food chain and accomplish compensation claims that are complete and fair to families who suffer. Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or send your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

An extensive study of E. coli victims has shown that even people who are not hospitalized for E. coli infections can suffer vascular injury that can evolve into  hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or structural and functional kidney impairment. We feel that any individual who has suffered gastroenteritis as a result of toxic E..coli  exposure should have an annual assessment by a physician and a blood pressure measurement coupled with a urinanalysis, kidney function testing and other checks.

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National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is investigating an E. coli outbreak associated with the North Carolina State Fair that continues to grow. To date, over 20 people have been sickened, most of them children. North Carolina counties with E. coli victims include: Cleveland, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Sampson and Wake counties.

Several children have developed a severe complication of an E. coli infection called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. Children with HUS are generally hospitalized for weeks or months and many require future kidney transplants.

An epidemiological investigation into the source of the outbreak found that most of the people sickened attended the North Carolina State Fair before becoming ill. State and local health officials are investigating the possible source of the outbreak. In 2004, an E. coli outbreak linked to petting zoo at the North Carolina State Fair sickened 108 people. Fifteen of those patients developed HUS.

In this outbreak, though, some of the E. coli victims did not visit the petting zoo or touch animals. If food served at the fair was the source of the outbreak, it was probably something that was improperly cooked or something that is not cooked on site, like ice cream.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is accepting cases for a possible E. coli lawsuit. Our E. coli lawyers currently represents E. coli victims and is one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

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Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet, but, like all foods, they carry a risk of foodborne illness. Harmful bacteria in the soil or water can contaminate produce where it grows. Or, fresh produce may become contaminated after it is harvested, during packing, storage or preparation. Eating contaminated produce can cause serious illness as Lindsay Schuessler, a 25-year-old elementary school teacher, discovered this week.

Schuessler was released from Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur on October 27 after being admitted over the weekend with an E. coli infection. Health officials who interviewed Schuessler about what she had eaten in the past seven to 10 days focused on fruits and vegetables, she told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When county health officials visited her University City home, they removed some produce including strawberries and blueberries that she had purchased from the Schnucks grocery store at Ladue Road and Interstate 170, she told the paper.

Schuessler prepared and ate a salad from items she purchased from the store on October 16 and ate more produce including prepackaged salad throughout the week. The onset of illness was sudden and intense and left Schuessler weakened and exhausted, she said in the article. Her boyfriend, who did not eat the produce, did not get sick. "I try to eat so healthy, and I'm the one who got sick," she said in the story.

During the last month, four companies have announced recalls on salad greens. Over the summer, a papaya Salmonella outbreak sickened more than 100 people, 15 people got E. coli poisoning after eating strawberries and 20 people got Salmonellosis from cantaloupe. And the ongoing cantaloupe Listeria outbreak has sickened 133 people and killed 28 and caused one miscarriage.

The source of this E. coli outbreak has not been determined, but health officials urge anyone in St. Louis County with symptoms of an E. coli infcetion to contact a health provider. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea and sometimes a fever. Complications of E. coli include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries. And even a person with a mild case of E. coli can be at long-term risk for hypertension and kidney problems.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is investigating the St. Louis outbreak. Our legal group currently represents E. coli victims and is one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/article_3d050caf-9619-5b57-97cc-b1c682c01c67.html#ixzz1c5Dh7QAY

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An antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli is the cause of an outbreak that has stricken at least 22 people in the St. Louis area.There are 16 confirmed cases in St. Louis County, two in Jefferson County, two in St. Charles County, one in St. Louis City and one in St. Clair County. At least six people have been hospitalized.

Missouri health officials have determined that the source is foodborne. A specific source has not been identified, but local salad bars are under investigation. Grocery stores have not been asked to pull items from their shelves, but at least one chain is doing so. Schnucks spokeswoman Lori Willis told Patch that it has pulled some items, including lettuce and strawberries, from its salad bars.

One thing that is known is that the E. coli strain at the heart of the outbreak is virulent and does not respond to antibiotics. Last year, St. Louis County saw a total of five cases of E. coli infection Dr. Delores Gunn, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Health, told St. Louis Public Radio. With this outbreak, she said, there were 16 confirmed cases in less than 72 hours.

Complications of E. coli include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, which can cause kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, and brain injuries. And even a person with a mild case of E. coli can be at long-term risk for hypertension and kidney problems.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has assigned an E. coli lawyer to investigate the St. Louis outbreak and the firm is accepting cases for a possible St. Louis E. coli lawsuit. Our legal group currently represents E. coli victims and is one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

Sources: http://www.stltoday.com and patch.com.

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Two young children from Maple Rapids, Michigan have been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after contracting E. coli infections, according to the Mid- Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD).

A third Maple Rapids resident, who did not develop HUS, is recovering from an E. coli infection. Health officials have not yet determined the source of this outbreak of E. coli and HUS.

E. coli is a bacterium that is normally found in the guts of animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and deer. If spread by the fecal-oral route, through undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk or beverages, for example, an infection can develop.

Symptoms include nausea, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody. diarrhea. One week following the onset of diarrhea, the kidneys can start to malfunction. When this happens, chemicals that are normally excreted in the urine start to build up in dangerous amounts. There is also a drop in the red blood cells causing anemia.

Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of an E. coli infection. HUS most often affects children under five. It is characterized by kidney damage and loss of blood. Treatment requires kidney dialysis. 

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St. Louis County, Missouri, is the center of a foodborne E. coli outbreak that has sickened 14 people in the past week, including 23-year-old Jasmine Bell. Health officials are scrambling to determine the source and urge parents to take any child with bloody diarrhea directly to a hospital emergency room for treatment and testing. 

James Bell of Florissant, Missouri, told a reporter that Jasmine, his daughter, has been hospitalized since Saturday with what hospital and health officials told him was a confirmed E. coli infection. Jasmine Bell started feeling sick during the middle of last week.

James Bell said his daughter is recovering after receiving fluids and medication and may be released soon from Christian Hospital in north St. Louis County. He said she works at a downtown St. Louis deli.

St. Louis area physicians have been alerted to the outbreak and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been notified.

E. coli poisoning from food can be a life-threatening experience, especially in children under 5 years of age, the elderly and others who have weakened immune systems. Bloody diarrhea and painful cramps are symptoms of the disease.

Feared complications of E. coli include hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or TTP HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, where toxins released from E. coli organisms attack a person's red blood cells. Kidney failure, stroke, heart attacks, central nervous system disorders (including paralysis) and brain injuries can result and even a person with a mild case of E. coli can be at long-term risk for hypertension and vascular injury.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has assigned an E. coli lawyer to investigate the St. Louis outbreak and the firm is accepting cases for a possible St. Louis E. coli lawsuit. Our legal group currently represents E. coli victims and is one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Free case consultations are available at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit your contact information online and an attorney will call you.

Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, KTVI-Fox2

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A North Carolina State Fair E. coli investigation is under way by state and county officials who have confirmed that seven children and two adults have been sickened by E. coli over the same time period. Three of the children remain hospitalized, fighting kidney failure and other symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. E. coli HUS is a life-threatening complication of toxic E. coli poisoning that happens most often in children under age 5.

Wake County and North Carolina state health officials are now investigating what food or animals at the fair may have caused the outbreak. Eight of the nine case patients attended the event. In 2004, an E. coli outbreak at the North Carolina State Fairr was linked to an animal exhibit. In that case, 108 people were sickened and litigation is still pending.

In the current outbreak, seven individuals are from Raleigh and the rest of Wake County. The eighth and ninth confirmed cases were from outside Wake County – an infected adult in Johnston County and an infected child in Cleveland County.

Investigators also are looking into the possibility of more E. coli illnesses potentially linked to the fair. If you or a loved one has recently experienced bloody diarrhea or other E. coli symptoms, see your health care provider. Make sure to request a stool sample. For answers to legal questions about compensation for present and future harms,  call national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and an attorney will call you.

Source: WakeGov.com; WRAL-TV

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The health department in Raleigh, North Carolina, is investigating seven confirmed cases of E. coli infection in Wake County. The outbreak investigators are trying to determine first of all if the cases are related. If the answer to that is affirmative, health officials will probe for the root cause of the situation.

Two of the people sickened by E. coli were hospitalized in intensive care Tuesday. Two others have been released from the hospital. Severe harm to anyone who was stricken is an indicator of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. E. coli HUS is a life-threatening complication of toxic E. coli poisoning that involves kidney failure and can mushroom into a series of other extreme complications, including stroke, heart attack, paralysis or extreme anemia.

The North Carolina Division of Public Health is helping to investigate. Six of the case patients have been children and children under age 5 are in the age group most susceptiple to E. coli HUS.

Symptoms of pathogenic E. coli infection include bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps. People who are experiencing these symptoms are encouraged to seek medical treatment. For answers to legal questions, call national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and an attorney will call you. Case consultations are free and we don't get paid unless you win 

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E. coli testing in Monroe, Wisconsin, will be completed this week among student at Abe Lincoln Elementary School, where two students were hospitalized last week with infections and two others were sickened. State and local health officials have confirmed that the illnesses were caused by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 that caused an outbreak in Green County this summer that killed one person and infected eight others.

 Epidemiologists are still looking for the root cause of the outbreak, but Green County Health Department Officer RoAnn Warden has said inadequate hand-washing after using the toilet or changing diapers has contributed to the spread of the pathogen.  

Anyone can become infected by having contact with fecal material from infected people or animals (especially cattle), or by eating contaminated food or water. Symptoms include diarrhea, which often is bloody, and severe abdominal cramps, which typically occur three to four days after exposure to the bacteria. 

While most people recover within a week, some develop a severe infection. A type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can begin as the diarrhea is improving. This can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly. Kidney failure is not the only risk of HUS. An infected person can suffer a cascading series of severe health problems that can result in paralysis, heart problems, stroke and other harms. 

An extensive study of E. coli victims over the long term has shown that even people who are not hospitalized for E. coli 0157:H7 infections can suffer vascular injury that can evolve into  hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or structural and functional kidney impairment. Our national food safety law firm feels that any individual who has suffered gastroenteritis as a result of E..coli 0157:H7 exposure should have an annual assessment by a physician and a blood pressure measurement coupled with a urinanalysis, kidney function testing and other checks.

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One sixth of cell phones in Great Britain have E.coli on them, according to a study released by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London. And that’s just one of many bugs scientists found crawling all over the phones.

About 95 percent of Britains claim to wash their hands with soap where possible, but in 390 samples taken from 12 cities, researchers found bacteria on 92% of phones and 82% of hands. Those findings suggest that many people don’t wash their hands properly even after visiting the restroom, researchers say.

Once transferred to mobile phones, bacteria can survive and grow, then be transferred back to hands, or to faces or surfaces where the phone rests. It’s gross, but it’s also dangerous.

E.coli is a common bacteria that, if ingested, causes bloody diarrhea and stomach cramping. Children who suffer from E. coli poisoning can develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

In the United States, 73,000 people become sick from E. coli poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those, 60 die. 

"I hope the thought of having E. coli on their hands and phones encourages people to take more care in the bathroom – washing your hands with soap is such a simple thing to do but there is no doubt it saves lives,” Dr. Ron Cutler, who led the study, told The Telegraph.

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The Monroe County School District says the Abe Lincoln Elementary School building is not the source of a recent E. coli 0157 outbreak that has sickened three students at the school, according to a letter to parents on the district’s website.

“Abe Lincoln building is not the source of infection but once an infected person enters the building, it is necessary to raise awareness and help prevent the spread of infection. We do not know the source of infection at this time,” the letter says. The school has added extra cleaning routines and taught classes about good hygiene.

The letter instructs parents to watch their children for symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, teach and practice good hand-washing, refrain from sending home-made treats to school and to keep sick students home. Healthy students should continue to attend.

"We've had a couple of phone calls where parents are concerned about sending their kids to school," Monroe schools superintendent Larry Brown, told WKOW news. "We don't have any reason to believe kids should not be in school."

Test results released Friday, October 14, confirm that the bacteria from one of the three cases from the Abe Lincoln school is a genetic match to the E. coli outbreak in Wisconsin that sickened eight other people and killed one child.

If you have legal questions regarding an illness associated with this outbreak, contact PritzkerOlsen, a national leader in food safety law, for a free consultation.

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Wisconsin E. coli testing for as many as 140 Monroe School District students has begun at Abe Lincoln Elementary School in response to an unexplained outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.

Public health officials are trying to understand if three recent illnesses at Lincoln are of the same exact strain as the one that caused a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 infections, including one child's death, late this summer.

The Green County Health Department and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health have recommended stool testing for all pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students who attend Lincoln. The kits are being distributed through the school nurse's office or the county health department offices and should be returned to the health department by 2 p.m. Monday, October 17, for delivery to the state lab.

Lincoln school has undergone a special cleaning and students and staff have been taught good hand washing techniques. If school children in the area display E. coli symptoms, health officials are recommending they stay home from school and day care facilities over the next few weeks.

Once test results are completed and shared with parents, the next step in the investigation will be to find what food source is responsible for the outbreak.

Families who have legal questions about E. coli compensation in this situation should call food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., one of the few legal groups in he country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. This area of law is complicated and Pritzker's E. coli lawyers have years of experience, collecting tens of millions of dollars for E. coli outbreak patients in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and beyond the Upper Midwest. Free case consultations are available at the firm's offices by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free), or leave your contact information and one of our attorneys will promptly call you. 

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Los Angeles-based Commercial Meat Co.'s recall of almost 400,000 pounds of ground beef possibly tainted with E. coli O157:H7, comes just two weeks after Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. of Emporia, Kansas recalled 131,300 pounds of ground beef products potentially contaminated with the same bacteria.

Meanwhile, in Green County, Wisconsin, E. coli O157:H7 has caused a cluster of illnesses resulting in the hospitalizations of two children and the death of another.

There is no way to tell by looking at it, if ground beef is tainted with E.coli. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees or higher kills harmful bacteria. When preparing ground beef, consumers should use a food thermometer to verify that the meat has been cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Here are some of the USDA’s other tips for reducing the risk of foodborne illness when preparing ground beef:

• Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water.
• Immediately clean spills.
• Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked.
• Use a meat thermometer to measure internal temperature.
• Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160° F.
• Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase, or after one hour if temperatures exceed 90° F.
• Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

Source: www.fsis.usda.gov

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A California company is recalling 377,775 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Because Commercial Meat Co. of Los Angeles did not hold its product after FSIS discovered a problem during routine testing, 377,775 pounds of potentially tainted beef was shipped to restaurants in California and Nevada, as well as one Federal establishment in California for further processing.

The products subject to recall were produced between September 7, 2011 and October 6, 2011. Each case bears a label with the establishment number "EST. 4873" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The following ground beef products are subject to recall:

• 5,10 and 20 lb. cases of ground beef patties
• 10,15,20,30,40 and 50 lb. cases of ground beef taco
• 5,10,15,20,25,30,40,50 and 60 lb. cases of ground beef chili 
• 5,10,15,20,30,40,50 and 60 lb. cases of bulk ground beef

No illnesses have been reported in what is the largest E coli ground beef recall so far this year. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

E.coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that can serious or fatal infection. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Children, who are especially vulnerable to foodborne illness, can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe condition that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. It is fatal in 5-10% of the cases.

The food safety experts at the law firm of PritzkerOlsen have helped families all over the country who have endured the hardship and loss that a foodborne illness can create. If you have legal questions about an foodborne illness contact them at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form online.

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Abe Lincoln Elementary School in Wisconsin's Monroe School District is the focus of a public health investigation over two child E. coli O157:H7 cases. Investigators want to know if the latest illnesses are associated with a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 cases that occurred elsewhere in the area in August and early September.

Green County Health Department and Wisconsin Division of Public Health are interviewing families to try to identify possible sources of these E. coli infections. Two children have been hospitalized and area health care providers have been alerted to watch for other cases of E. coli in Green County. Pending lab tests will reveal what strain of E. coli is at work in the most recent illnesses and whether it matches, genetically, the previous cluster, which reportedly included the death of a child at UW Madison hospital who contracted E. coli HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is a national food safety law firm that has won tens of millions of dollars for E. coli victims nationwide. We also are investigating the outbreak in the area around Monroe, Wisconsin. If you believe someone in your family has been infected, see a physician immediately. A free case consultation with PritzkerOlsen is available at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or leave your contact information and an experienced E. coli lawyer from our firm will call.

 People who are infected with E. coli are very contagious. The highest incidence of illness from Shiga toxin-producing  E. coli is in children under 5 years of age. Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by stool sample culture. E. coli HUS, on average, develops in 5 to 15 percent of case patients. Kidney failure occurs in these instances just as initial symptoms begin to clear. Many other complications can follow and HUS patients can face a lifetime of special medical risks and issues that should be compensated by the parties responsible for allowing the pathogen into our food supply.

Media source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  

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 The Tyson ground beef E. coli recall includes hamburger sold at Kroger, Save-A-Lot and Supervalu stores in Ohio, the state where four children in one family were stricken earlier this month with E. coli O157:H7 infection.

One of those children, from Butler County, was hospitalized and the public health investigation that ensued collected leftover ground beef from the patients’ home. The meat tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 at the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s laboratory. That finding prompted this week's recall by Tyson of 65 tons of ground beef.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a national food safety law firm, is providing free case consultations to all victims of this outbreak at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and a lawyer will call you.

The products subject to recall have a "BEST BEFORE OR FREEZE BY" date of "SEP 12 2011" and the establishment number "245D" ink jetted along the package seam. What follows is a nationwide listing of the stores where the recalled ground beef was distributed: 

Nationwide, State-Wide, or Area-Wide Distribution

Food 4 Less Stores in IL and IN

Food Lion Stores in FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, WV

Harvey's Stores in FL, GA, SC

Jay-C Food stores in IN

Kroger Stores in AR, IL, IN, KY, MI, MS, MO, OH, TN

Payless Super Market Stores in IN

Reid's Stores in SC

Ruler Food Stores in IN

Save-A-Lot Stores East of the Rocky Mountains

Scott's Stores in IN

Supervalu Stores Nationwide

Delaware

Dover AFB in Dover Delaware

Illinois

Hilander, 2206 Barnes Blvd, Rockford IL-Illinois

Hilander, 3134 11th Street, Rockford IL-Illinois

Hilander, 2514 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford IL-Illinois

Hilander, 2601 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford IL-Illinois

Hilander, 3710 N. Main St., Rockford, IL-Illinois

Hilander, 1715 Rural St., Rockford IL-Illinois

Hilander, 4860 Hononegah Rd., Roscoe IL-Illinois

Indiana

Payless Super Market, 1845 N. Scatterfield Rd., Anderson IN-Indiana

Payless Super Market, 1900 Applewood Center Dr., Anderson IN-Indiana

Payless Super Market, 3050 Meridian, Anderson IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 624 E. 16th St.,Bedford IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 360 E. Main St., Bloomfield IN-Indiana

Owen's, 1245 S. Jefferson, Huntington IN-Indiana

Owen's,  2718 Guilford, Huntington IN-Indiana

Payless Super Market, 65 Beck Lane, Lafayette IN-Indiana

Payless Super Market, 2513 Maple Point Dr., Lafayette IN-Indiana

Owen's, 903 Lincolnway S., Ligonier IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 600 West Broadway St., Loogootee IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 120 E. 2nd St., Madison IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 1307 West Main St., Mitchell IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 1503 West Broadway, Princeton IN-Indiana

Ruler Food Store, 805 S. Main St., Salem IN-Indiana

Owen's, 302 W. Market, Warsaw IN-Indiana

Owen's, 2211 E Center St., Warsaw IN-Indiana

Payless Super Market, 1032 Sagamore Pkwy West, West Lafayette IN-Indiana

North Carolina

Bottom Dollar, 1327 E. Dixie Drive, Asheboro NC-North Carolina

Bottom Dollar, 1810 Hwy 64-70 S.E., Hickory NC-North Carolina

Bottom Dollar, 3136 E. Kivett Drive, High Point NC-North Carolina

Bottom Dollar, 235 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville NC-North Carolina

Bottom Dollar, 1136 W. Pine Street, Mount Airy NC-North Carolina 

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An Ohio E. coli outbreak has prompted a ground beef recall by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. as state and federal health experts investigate a possible connection. The E. coli O157:H7 illnesses are located in Butler County, an area north of Cincinnati centered in Hamilton, Ohio.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service published the Tyson recall notice (see below) for 131,300 pounds of ground beef after the agency was notified of the Ohio outbreak, which has illness onset dates rangining from September 8 through September 11. The Class I High Health Risk recall did not say how many people have been sickened or whether the outbreak involves cases of HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome.

National E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., also are investigating this ground beef outbreak, providing free consultation for victims interested in an Ohio E. coli lawsuit at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our law firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for E. coli victims around the country.

USDA said the on-going investigation involved collecting leftover ground beef from the "patients’ home" on Sept. 19. The sample tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s laboratory.

The recall involves certain Kroger-brand ground beef, Butcher's Brand ground beef and generic label ground beef shipped to distribution centers in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina,  Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Texas and Wisconsin. The potentially contaminated ground beef was produced by Tyson in Emporia, Kansas.

September 2011 Tyson ground beef E. coli O157:H7 recall:

• 5-pound chubs of Kroger-brand "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 40-pound cases containing eight chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 QW." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Ind. and Tenn. for retail sale.
• 3-pound chubs of Butcher’s Brand "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 LWIF." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in N.C. and S.C. for retail sale.
• 3-pound chubs of a generic label "GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT," packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of "D-0211 LWI." These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Del., Fla., Ga., Md., Ill., Ind., Mo., N.Y., Ohio, Tenn., Texas and Wis. for retail sale.

The products subject to recall have a "BEST BEFORE OR FREEZE BY" date of "SEP 12 2011" and the establishment number "245D" ink jetted along the package seam.

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Palo Duro Meat of Amarillo is recalling 40,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The products subject to recall include:

• 40-lb boxes containing four 10-lb chubs of fine ground beef.
Each case bears “Est. 7282” inside the USDA mark of inspection and a production code of 19110.

The frozen product was produced on Sept. 9, 2011, and shipped to two Georgia warehouses for further distribution including six school districts in Georgia associated with the National School Lunch Program. Most of the beef was not distributed and remains at the the warehouses. FSIS is not aware of any product having been served as part of school lunches in the districts. No illnesses have been reported.

Palo Duro discovered the problem when by lab tests confirmed a positive result for E. coli O157:H7 on September 22 and issued the recall the next day. E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. Those most at risk of infection are the very young, seniors and people with weakened immune systems.

Ground beef must be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees to kill harmful bacteria. The only way to confirm that ground beef has been cooked properly is to use a food thermometer.

Source: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_075_2011_Release/index.asp 

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Pride & Joy Creamery, LLC of Granger, Washington, has issued a recall of raw milk because testing of the raw milk by the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) discovered that the product was contaminated with Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli.

WSDA and other public health officials are exploring the possibility that there has been human illness linked to this milk.

The recalled milk is sold only in gallon, half gallon and quart containers and bears the expiration dates of 9/30/2011 and 9/31/11. It was sold from an on-farm store at 2145 Liberty Road in Granger, WA and from the following retail outlets in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Skagit counties:

• Sno-isle
, 2804 Grand Avenue
, Everett, WA 98201
• Truhealth
,18001 Bothell-Everett
, Suite 109
,Bothell, WA 98012
• Marlenes Market
,2951 S. 38th ST.
Tacoma, WA 98409
• Marlenes Market,
 2565 s. Gateway Center Place
Federal Way, WA 98003
• Skagit Valley Food,
 202 S. 1st Street
Mt. Vernon, WA 98273
• Manna Mills,
 21705 66th Ave, West
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
• Madison Market
,1600 Madison
Seattle, WA 98122
•  Nature’s Market, 
26011 104th Ave, SE
Kent, WA 98030
• Sunshine Corner, Nutrition
15220 SE 272th, Suite F
Kent, WA 98042

E.coli infections can severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and bloody stool. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. Health officials are recommending that anyone experiencing these symptoms contact a health care provider. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), is a serious complication of E. coli poisoning in which red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

 Source: http://agr.wa.gov/News/2011/pridejoycreameryrecall.aspx

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Our E. coli attorneys are investigating a Wisconsin E. coli outbreak that has killed a 20-month old child and sickened nine other people. Two victims of this outbreak have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli poisoning which can lead to kidney failure and can cause seizures, strokes, heart failure, hypertension, pancreatitis and other life-threatening medical problems. Our attorneys have handled many of these cases and held companies accountable for the illnesses and wrongful death caused by contaminated food.

State and local health officials from the Green County Health Department are investigating the E. coli O157:H7 infections in Green County, and others reportedly scattered around the county, according to the story. The Wisconsin E. coli outbreak began in mid-August and continued into September. A source of the outbreak has not yet been identified.

E. coli O157:H7 infections are particularly dangerous in children and the elderly.  Symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection may include stomach cramping, mild fever, vomiting, nausea and bloody diarrhea. 

Pritzker Olsen E. coli attorneys have a national practice and have won millions for E. coli victims throughout the United States, including Wisconsin. Green County cities and towns: Albany, Brodhead, Brooklyn, Browntown, Juda, Monroe, Monticello, and New Glarus. Green County is south of Madison, WI.

News Source: http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/129853283.html

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Wisconsin public health officials are investigating a cluster of nine E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, including one that led to the death of a 1-year-old child from Green County, Wis. The 20-month-old girl died Sunday after a one-week hospital stay in Madison, the Captial Times newspaper reported.

Investigators, including E. coli lawyers for PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a leading national food safety law firm, are investigating the outbreak to determine its origin and protect others from becoming ill. Case patients are from all around the county and some households have multiple people who are ill. To hire a lawyer for a possible Green County E. coli lawsuit, call for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit contact information online.

RoAnn Warden, director of the Green County Health Department, told the newspaper that two patients have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication stemming from toxic E. coli infection that causes kidney disease and can also lead to heart problems, stroke, severe anemia, central nervous system impairment and brain damage. 

E. coli causes an estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths in the United States each year. Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by stool sample culture. While most people recover within a week, some develop a severe infection and are left to deal with health concerns the rest of their lives.

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The federal government's expanded ban against six more types of toxic E. coli will undoubtedly save lives and prevent serious illness by further cleaning up the nation's supply of ground beef.

The new rule to be imposed in steps by the U.S. Department of Agriculture applies to the so-called Big Six -- a half-dozen types of non-O157:H7 E. coli  strains that emit powerful Shiga toxins that can lead to kidney failure, stroke, seizures, vascular injury, pancreatitis, central nervous system damage and brain injury. HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, is the most serious complication of toxic E. coli infection

"Eating a hamburger should not be a high-risk activity,'' said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a firm that has collected tens of millions of dollars over the years for victims of E. coli infection and HUS.

Under the change, E. coli O26, O45, O113, O111, O121 and O145 are added to the currently banned E. coli. O157:H7. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 is responsible for 63,153 foodborne illnesses and 20 deaths each year in the U.S. At the same time the CDC noted that in 2010 illnesses caused by all of the other pathogenic forms of E. coli caused more illnesses than E. coli O157:H7.

From a legal perspective, the new rule will provide crucial protection in court for victims of ground beef E. coli outbreaks. Under the rule, it will be illegal to sell raw meat to the public if its contains any of the Big Six types of E. coli.  The so-called "adulterant'' status imparts strict liability on purveyors and leaves no room for excuses from meatpackers and others in the supply chain. The USDA ban holds them more accountable for tainted ground beef.

Pritzker and other food safety experts see the ban as a powerful deterrent because producers now will have to test for the additional pathogens. If meat tests positive for any of the bacteria, companies are allowed to divert it into cooked products because proper heat treatment kills the bugs.

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A seven-year-old girl who had been sent home from a hospital four times, required an emergency blood transfusion by the time doctors correctly diagnosed that she was suffering from E. coli poisoning, according to a story in the Shields Gazette.

“I was made to feel like I was being a silly parent. I felt like they didn’t believe me,” said Sarah Coulson, the girls’s mother. “I’m angry and I can’t stop thinking about it. We could have put her to bed and she might not have woken up. It was only my husband making me take her to hospital that meant she got the treatment she needed.”

"Failure to diagnose an E. coli infection can lead to serious harm, including severe dehydration, hypertension, colitis and kidney failure," said food safety attorney Fred Pritzker. "That this young girl was sent home four times is unconscionable."

When the Coulsons first brought their daughter to the hospital in South Tyneside, England, they were sent home with a prescription of rehydration salts.  After their daughter became sicker, they returned and were again sent home. The next day they brought her back and doctors took samples performed and examination and sent her home again with a directive to drink more water. Later, a pediatrician performed another examination, and sent them home again, according to the story.

The Coulsons then decided to seek another opinion and brought their daughter to the Royal Victoria Infirmary where she was admitted immediately to the intensive care unit and spent two days receiving treatment, including a blood transfusion.

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One of the 14 people who became ill during the Cowans Gap E. coli outbreak remains hospitalized at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania, according to a story in the Chambersberg Public Opinion. The patient, a child, is being treated for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli poisoning. HUS leads to kidney failure and can cause seizures, strokes, heart failure, hypertension, pancreatitis and other life-threatening medical problems.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Cowans Gap outbreak, but because all of the victims swam in the lake prior to becoming ill, the lake was closed to swimming and wading as a precautionary measure in mid-August and will remain closed for the rest of the year.

Water in Pennsylvania state park lakes and pools is tested twice weekly during the season. Since the closure, the park has added a third test each week and all results have been within the normal range, officials said.  In addition to testing samples from the lake, officials are looking at samples from the drinking water, sewer systems, rest rooms, concession stands and outside food vendors. 

Symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection may include stomach cramping, mild fever, vomiting, nausea and bloody diarrhea. Health officials recommend that people who visited the park and become ill contact their health care providers.  

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With major E.coli outbreaks and ground beef recalls in the news this summer, meat inspection has been a topic of news and conversation, a conversation, it turns out, that we, as a nation, have been having for more than a century. On this date in 1890, the United States passed its first meat inspection law. 

Today, the United States is the world’s largest producer and consumer of both beef and chicken and the third-largest producer and consumer of pork, according to US Census data. As the industries have grown, so have the challenges of keeping consumers safe and the number of laws that govern the industries.

It took 14 years and the publication of "The Jungle," Upton Sinclair’s 1905 novel that exposed the filthy conditions and the exploitation of workers in a Chicago meatpacking house, before regulations governing the process of beef production were enacted.

The filthy conditions described in the book created a firestorm of public debate. Sinclair urged President Theodore Roosevelt to support the presence of federal inspectors in the meat-packing houses and, in 1906, both the Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act were passed into law.

More than a century later, we’re still struggling to find the best way to keep consumers safe from foodborne illness. This summer, E coli contamination prompted McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC. of North Branch, Michigan to recall about 360 pounds of ground beef,  JB Meats of Avondale, Ohio to recall more than 70,000 pounds of ground beef. And Cargill recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey after a Salmonella outbreak sickened 111 people in 31 states.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/about/Agency_History/index.asp

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If performed early enough after the onset of illness, plasma exchange may be an effective treatment for symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare but potentially fatal complication of E. coli infection, according to results from a small Danish study published in The Lancet.

E. coli-HUS, which affects young children more frequently than adults, is characterized by acute hemolytic anemia, abnormally low platelet count and renal insufficiency. Most cases are associated with enteritis resulting from a Shiga toxin that is released by certain strains of E coli.

Senior author Martin Tepel, MD, from the Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, and his group used plasmapheresis to treat four women and one man ranging in age from 44 to 77 years old. All of them had symptoms of HUS associated with E coli, including enteritis, bloody diarrhea acute hemolytic anemia, abnormally low platelet count, acute kidney injury, and progressive central nervous dysfunction.

All the patients contracted E coli 0104:H4 infections while visiting northern Germany last spring. The patients were treated daily with plasma exchange by centrifugation and substitution with fresh frozen plasma.

After treatment, median platelet counts increased, median lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations decreased and renal function and neurological status improved. Researchers also found an association between the time therapy was initiated and how quickly the treatment showed affect.

Five to eight days after they began treatment, all of the patients were discharged from hospital with normal neurological status. The authors of the study say these results show plasma exchange, if performed early enough after the onset of illness, could be an effective treatment for HUS in adults and merits further study

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In Texas, a  Corpus Christi toddler spent a week in the hospital battling infection from E. coli and Salmonella, the girl's mother told KRIS-TV. The station's report said Nueces County health authorities are investigating a refrigeration problem at a restaurant where the girl had eaten chicken strips.

The restaurant Wings-N-More emptied a deli case where a health inspection found raw chicken strips stored at 68-degrees -- almost 30 degrees above the maximum recommended temperature, KRIS reported.

According to KRIS, the inspector wrote that he "had the manager verify the temperature of the product. At that time he did discard all the product that was in the deli case. He is going to keep the product on ice while he gets the refrigeration company out to get the unit fixed."

The 2-year-old girl's mother said her daughter was placed in isolation at Driscoll Children's Hospital for three days during her hospitalization, which ended this week.

Each year in the United States about 48 million people (1 in 6 Americans) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from foodborne diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella was the leading cause of estimated hospitalizations and deaths, responsible for about 28 percent of deaths and 35 percent of hospitalizations due to known pathogens transmitted by food. E. coli O157:H7 is one of the seven pathogens that cause 90 percent of all estimated illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.

Young children, older adults and people whose immune systems are weakened are the most susceptible to severe illness by infection from E. coli and Salmonella. 

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., represents victims of food poisoning in foodborne illness cases against restaurants, meatpackers and all other food purveyors. Our firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars in food poisoning awards for victims around the country. Free case consultations are available by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by sending contact information for a lawyer to call you at no expense. 

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The lake at Cowans Gap State Park reopened for boating and fishing today after a two-week closure. The lake was closed to all water activities two weeks ago amid reports of E. coli illnesses associated with swimming in the lake.

Although the Cowans Gap E. coli outbreak has not definitively been linked to the lake, it was closed as a precautionary measure and still remains closed to swimming and wading. 

So far, 14 cases of E. coli O157:H7 — 11 from Pennsylvania and three from Maryland — have been reported. All of them swam in the 42-acre lake between July 12 and July 31 and became ill a short time later.

Symptoms of an E. coli poisoning contamination include stomach cramping, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, including several of the children involved in this outbreak, a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can develop. In addition to E. coli kidney failure, HUS can cause severe seizures, strokes, heart failure, hypertension, pancreatitis and other life-threatening medical problems.

Water in Pennsylvania state park lakes and pools is tested twice weekly during the season. Since the closure, the park has added a third test each week and all results have been within the normal range, officials said. To pinpoint the source of the outbreak, officials are testing samples from the lake, drinking water, sewer systems, rest rooms and concession stands. Outside food vendors also are being tested. Health officials recommend that people who have visited the park and become ill contact their health care providers.
 

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A boil water advisory put into effect Friday, August 19, after E. coli bacteria was found in a well at Cowans Gap State Park in Pennsylvania has been lifted. Drinking water samples taken from the well have all come back with good results, park officials said Monday.

The E. coli bacteria found in the well was not the same strain that has apparently sickened at least 14 people who swam in the 42-acre lake between July 12 and July 31.

Some of the victims are children who contracted E. coli infections and then developed kidney failure (renal failure) from a complication of E. coli called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In addition to kidney failure, HUS can cause severe seizures, strokes, heart failure, hypertension, pancreatitis and other life-threatening medical problems.

Although some of the victims did drink the water at the park, all of them swam in the lake, officials said. The source of contamination in the park's lake is still unknown. All lake activities remain closed until all sampling results are complete, officials said.

Cowans Gap State Park is in Fulton County, Pennsylvania.
 

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Certain restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Michigan, received McNees Meats ground beef tainted with E. coli O157:NM -- a shiga-toxin producing type of E. coli that can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (HUS-TTP).

McNees Meats in North Branch is recalling a ton of ground beef sold to restaurants and directly to consumers from its own retail location. The product has been linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:NM that has sickened at least five people. In addition, the ground beef is the probable cause of four other illnesses. This McNees ground beef E. coli outbreak is under investigation in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella and Sanilac counties of Michigan. A public health alert has been issued.

The initial recall was for 360 pounds of ground beef products, but that was expanded to 2,200 pounds on August 11. The recall covers 1- and 10-pound bagged packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk,'' 1 to 1.5-pound packages of  "McNees Ground beef patties,'' 1-pound packages of “McNees Ground Round'' and 1 and 2-pound packages of  “McNees Ground Beef Bulk” sold in red and white plastic bags. Each product bag bears the establishment number "EST. 33971'' within the USDA mark of inspection. 

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Our attorneys are continuing their investigation of an E. coli O157:NM outbreak in Michigan that has been linked to the consumption of ground beef from McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC, a meat-processing and retail establishment in North Branch, Michigan. Nine people have been sickened. Known case patients range in age from 15 to 88 and live in Michigan counties of Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac. The outbreak started in mid-July.

All nine victims reported consuming ground beef either at local restaurants supplied by McNees or by purchasing beef directly from the company. McNees has recalled 2,200 pounds of beef believed to be tainted by E.coli O157:NM.  State, federal and local health officials are working together to determine how widely the tainted products were distributed.

 E. coli infections can cause severe, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramping. In some cases E. coli can lead to more dangerous conditions like thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause permanent kidney damage. Several of the victims of this outbreak have been hospitalized.

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Our E. coli lawyers continue to investigate an E. coli O157 outbreak associated with swimming in the lake at Cowans Gap State Park in Pennsylvania. We are looking at cases involving children who contracted E. coli infections and then developed kidney failure (renal failure) from a complication of E. coli called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a horrendous illness that, in addition to kidney failure, can cause severe seizures, strokes, heart failure, pancreatitis and other life-threatening medical problems. Our attorneys represent children with E. coli HUS throughout the United States. Contact our attorneys.

The Cowans Gap E. coli outbreak has sickened 14 people, all but one children. The outbreak victims swam in the lake between July 12 and July 31, most during the weekend of July 30-31. Swimming in the lake prior to becoming ill was the only factor in common among all of the ill individuals.

To date, the E. coli victims include the following:

• 11 people from Pennsylvania, most from the south-central region of the state
• 3 people from Maryland who visited Cowans Gap in July.

In the process of investigating the outbreak, Pennsylvania health officials found a different strain of E. coli in well water at the park. The new strain of  E. coli bacteria was found in the raw water supply well that had not yet  been treated with the chlorine system. Park officials are urging visitors to boil all water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Cowans Gap State Park is located near McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, in Fulton County. 

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At least two Cincinnati E. coli hamburger illnesses have been tentatively associated with J.B. Meats, a local producer that has in turn recalled 72,800 pounds of ground beef patties due to possible contamination by the human pathogen E. coli O157:H7.  The recalled products were sold to restaurants in the Cincinnati area over the past year, but the company did not immediately identify the restaurants.

Cincinnati health officials notified J.B. Meats August 12 of an investigation of two E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, WLWT News 5 reported. The Cincinnati Health Department had discovered that the patients came down with their infections on July 20 and 21, four days after consuming ground beef possibly linked to J.B. meats, the station reported.

The company told WLWT that the recall is precautionary, stretching back one year from now and covering 5- and 10-pound clear packages of ground beef and ground beef patties in various size packages. All the recalled ground beef from J.B. Meats is in packaging stamped with the establishment number “EST. 1188” within the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.

E. coli O157:H7 is banned from ground beef under federal law because it readily survives if the meat isn't cooked evenly at a temperature of 160 degrees. In 5 to 15 percent of infections, patients develop life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP-HUS) -- conditions that routinely result in kidney failure but can also cause stroke, seizure, paralysis, heart problems and serious anemia. Children under the age of five are most at risk.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is investigating the Cincinnati J.B. Meats E. coli outbreak and will scrutinize plant conditions and whether proper procedures were followed to protect against E. coli contamination. Restaurants, too, could be held liable in a Cincinnati E. coli lawsuit.

Individuals or families affected by this outbreak can receive free case consultations by submitting contact information or calling an E. coli lawyer at the firm at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE). Our firm has a national reputation for having spent so many years practicing extensively in the area of E. coli litigation and collection millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning. We also are actively involved in numerous efforts to prevent outbreaks and clean up the U.S. food supply. 

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The strawberry E. coli outbreak that killed a person in Oregon and sickened at least 14 others was caused by deer feces found in strawberry fields in Washington and Yamhill counties, Oregon health officials said.

Dr. Katrina Hedberg,  Oregon Public Health's state epidemiologist, said there were six samples that positively matched the E. coli O157:H7 strain that was found in the people who were infected. Strawberries from the affected fields were produced last month by Jaquith Strawberry Farm, which is located in Newberg. Jaquith sold its strawberries to buyers who then resold them at roadside stands, farm stands and farmers' markets.  

According to the agency's press release, investigators believe they have identified those operators and locations that possibly resold Jaquith strawberries. Jaquith finished its strawberry season in late July, and its strawberries are no longer on the market. But health officials are concerned that some of the berries may be stored in home freezers and they are warning the public to be on guard. 

• Berries other than strawberries;  
• Strawberries sold since Aug. 1;  
• Strawberries sold in supermarkets;  
• Strawberries picked at Jaquith Strawberry Farm's U-pick field;  
• Strawberries grown in southwest Washington state.  

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Oregon health officials have confirmed that deer droppings caused the E coli poisoning outbreak from strawberries that sickened 15 people and killed one woman. Of the ten samples taken from Jacquith Strawberry Farm in Newberg Oregon, six matched the deadly strain of E. coli 0157:H7.

The Jaquith Strawberry Farm E. coli Outbreak has sickened people in five Oregon counties: Multnomah, Washington Clackamas, Yamhill and Clatsop. 

“An Oregon Public Health Communicable Disease team has been investigating the outbreak for several weeks,” said Katrina Hedberg, M.D., M.P.H., Oregon Public Health state epidemiologist. “There were six samples that positively matched the E. coli that was found in the people who were infected.”

Strawberries from the affected fields were produced last month by Jaquith Strawberry Farm, which is located in Newberg. In response to this outbreak, Jaquith Farm has recalled its products. At this time, the Oregon Department of Agriculture believes it has identified those operators and locations that possibly sold Jaquith strawberries. Jaquith sold its strawberries to buyers who then resold them at roadside stands, farm stands and farmers' markets.

The following list (not all-inclusive) provides current locations known to have distributed Jaquith farm strawberries:

• Astoria Farmer's Market Downtown
  June 25, July 2, July 9, July 17, and July 23
  Bart & Tammy VanDomelen
• Vancouver Farmer's Market
  Last two-thirds of growing season
  Crawford Nursery and Produce (34849 SW Tongue Lane, Cornelius, OR)
• Lake Oswego Farmer's Market
  Last two-thirds of growing season
  Crawford Nursery and Produce (34849 SW Tongue Lane, Cornelius, OR)
• Tillamook Farmer's Market
  Last two-thirds of growing season
  Crawford Nursery and Produce (34849 SW Tongue Lane, Cornelius, OR)
• Ilwaco, WA Farmers Market in July
  June 23-July 28
  Ed Rice
• Farmers' market at 6th & Esther St., Vancouver, WA
  July 9, 16, 23
  Valley Berry Farms
• Farmers' market in Bend, OR (berry patch)
  June-July
  Valley Berry Farms
• Farmers' market at 3rd & Miller St., Gresham, OR (Farmer's Outlet Booth)
  June-July
  Debbie Loury
• Fir Point Farms, 14601 Arndt Rd NE, Aurora, OR
  June-July
  Lee Farms and Fir Point Farms
• Growers Outlet
  16145 NE Glisan, Portland, OR
  June 11-July 18
• Lee Farms, 21975 SW 65th, Tualatin, OR
  June-July
  Lee Farms and Fir Point Farms
• Fir Point Farms, 14601 Arndt Rd NE, Aurora, OR
  June-July
• Roadside stand at NW Laidlaw and Bethany Blvd Portland, OR
  June 13-July 20
  NW Fresh Produce
• Retail outlet at 18300 NW West Union Rd, Portland, OR
  June 13-July 20
  NW Fresh Produce
• Petrich General Store
  23915 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Hillsboro, OR
• Ray's Produce
  205 N. Main St., Newberg, OR
  June 21-July 25
• Ray's Old Town Produce
  22464 SW Pine St., Sherwood, OR
  July 10-July 17 & July 23
• The Barn
  5211 NE 148th, Portland, OR
  July 8-July 23
• Roadside/ farm stand
  9400 SW Heikes Dr, Hillsboro, OR
  June 27-July 28
  Dave Heikes
• Roadside/ farm stand
  34840 SW Johnson School Rd., Cornelius, OR
  July 8, 15, and 22
  Duyck's Peachy Pig Farms
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Marlin and Hwy 101 in Astoria, OR
  June 23-July 28
  Ed Rice
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Otis in Lincoln City
  June 23-July 28
  Ed Rice
• Roadside/ farm stand
  1690 Thatcher Rd, Forest Grove, OR
  June 23-July 28
  Ed Rice
• Roadside/ farm stand
  136th and NE Sandy, Portland, OR
  June 11- July 18
  Louisa
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Garden Home Rd & Multnomah Blvd in Portland, OR
  July 5-July 23
  Hand's Berry Stands
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Town of Rainer on Main St (Hwy 30)
  July 5-July 23
  Hand's Berry Stands
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Walker Rd and Cedar Hills Blvd
  July 5-July 23
  Hand's Berry Stands
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Tigard Grange in Tigard, Oregon
  July 5-July 23
  Hand's Berry Stands
• Roadside/ farm stand
  4th St in Cornelius, OR
  July 5-July 23
  Hand's Berry Stands
• Roadside/ farm stand
  67380 E Hwy 26, Welches, OR
  Mid June-end of July
  Hoodland Produce
• Roadside/ farm stand
  22173 Fisher Rd., Banks, OR
  June 21-July 27
  Peggy Estes
• Roadside/ farm stand
  28150 SE Hwy 212, Boring, OR
  July 16-July 22 Schedeen Farms
• Roadside/ farm stand
  845 NE 10th, Gresham, OR
  July 16-July 22
  Schedeen Farms
• Roadside/ farm stand
  24500 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Hillsboro, OR
  Third week of June to Third week of July
  Smith Berry Barn
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Berry Stand-on College St in Newberg, OR
  June 20-mid July
  Steve Jaquith
• Roadside/ farm stand
  12930 SW Scholls Ferry Rd Tigard, OR
  June 15-July 22
  Westgate Baptist Church
• Roadside/ farm stand
  Roy Rogers Rd. 1/4 mile South of Scholls Ferry Rd., Sherwood, OR
  June-July
  Joe & Jerry's Berry Fruit Stand
• Roadside / farm stand
  Hwy 99 & McDonald Lane, McMinnville, OR
  June 1-July 22
  Ray's Produce Inc
• Roadside / farm stand
  23rd & Sandy, Portland, OR
  June-July
  Ron Spada
• Roadside / farm stand
  8481 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas, OR
  July 8-July 23
  Hartnell Farms
• Roadside / farm stand
  146 W Columbia Hwy., Troutdale, OR
  June-July
  Troutdale Fruit Stop
• Roadside / farm stand
  Skyline Blvd & NW Cornell, Portland, OR
  June-July
  Tim Rice
• Roadside / farm stand
  2318 SE 302nd Ave., Troutdale, OR
  July 17-July 23
  Shelly Burns
• Roadside / farm stand
  4640 SW Hillsboro Hwy, Hillsboro, OR
  June 10-June16
  Florentine Salazar
• Roadside / farm stand
  34035 Hwy 213, Molalla, OR
  July 7-July 23
  Valley Berry Farm
• Roadside / farm stand
  Dayton Ave & Hwy 99, Dundee, OR
  June 18-June 30
  Debbie Carlile
• Roadside / farm stand
  1601 NE Market St., Fairview, OR
  July 16-July 20
  Windance Farms
• Roadside / farm stand
  2124 Mason Rd., Hood River, OR
  July 15-July 25
  Wells & Sons Produce Stand
• Roadside / farm stand
  845 N Columbia River Hwy, St. Helens, OR
  June 14-July 29
  Lana Dee Farms
• Roadside / farm stand
  51925 Columbia River Hwy, Scappoose, OR
  June 14-July 29
  Lana Dee Farms
• Roadside / farm stand
  6485 NW Cornelius Pass Rd., Hillsboro, OR
  June 14-July 29
  Lana Dee Farms
• Roadside / farm stand
  1675 NW Cornelius Pass Rd June 14-July 29
  Jim Fields
• Roadside / farm stand
  76 Gas Station Lot on Sunset Hwy & Glencoe Rd., North Plains, OR
  June 14-July 29
  Jim Fields
• Roadside / farm stand
  30240 NW West Union Rd., North Plains, OR
  June 14-July 29
  Ken Fields
• Roadside / farm stand
  Baseline & 331st St, Hillsboro, OR June 14-July 29
  Ken Fields
• Roadside / farm stand
  138th & Farmington, Beaverton, OR
  June-July
  Williamson Family Fruit Stand
• Roadside / farm stand
  5801 SW TV Hwy, Hillsboro, OR
  June-July
  Williamson Family Fruit Stand
• Roadside / farm stand
  124th & Stark St., Portland, OR
  July 16-July 22
  Schedeen Farms

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Our attorneys are investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Pennsylvania that has sickened at least 13 people, including children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  The outbreak has been associated with swimming in the lake at Cowans Gap State Park.

Those sickened in the outbreak include:

• six people from Franklin County
• four from Lancaster County
• one from Huntingdon County
• two from Maryland.

During this outbreak, eight children have been treated at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, for HUS. Of those, five had been in the lake at Cowans Gap.

Those sickened swam in the Cowans Gap lake from July 12 and July 31.

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An E. coli outbreak has sickened eleven girls who attended Camp Shawnee, an Ogden Valley summer camp, according to the Weber-Morgan Health Department. Investigators found E. coli bacteria in the kitchen water and spigots at Camp Shawnee and Camp Ben Lomond, which share a water system.

Utah health investigators are awaiting test results to determine if the E. coli bacteria found in the water system is the same E. coli strain that sickened the girls. The girls sickened in this outbreak spent August 2 to 5 at Camp Shawnee.

One girl, Emily Buck, had to be hospitalized for two days, according to news reports. E. coli can cause severe dehydration, and research has shown that even mild cases of E. coli poisoning can increase the risk of kidney problems later in life.

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National Beef Packaging Co. of Dodge City, Kansas is recalling 60,000 pounds of ground beef due to to possible E. coli contamination. So far, the recall affects grocery stores chains mainly in the southeastern U.S. including Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., Publix Super Markets Inc. and Kroger Co. Those chains have stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee, but the meat could have been sold throughout the country.

If ingested, E. coli can cause serious illness or death. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the recall Friday after the Ohio Department of Agriculture found the bacteria. No illnesses have been reported. The company has launched an investigation.
 

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An E. coli outbreak in Michigan and a related public health alert are still in effect as state and federal officials continue to investigate the distribution of 2,200 pounds of recalled ground beef from McNees Meats. USDA has linked the hamburger meat to five confirmed E. coli cases and four probable cases.

This outbreak of E. coli O157:NM is especially concerning because two-thirds of the confirmed and probable cases had to be hospitalized. Known case patients range in age from 15 to 88 and live in Michigan counties of Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac. The outbreak started in mid-July.

If you or a member of your family believes they have been sickened by contaminated ground beef as part of this outbreak, immediately contact a physician. If you have questions about a Michigan E. coli lawsuit, contact an E. coli lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a nationally recognized leader in food poisoning litigation. Our law firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in this area and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for E. coli outbreak victims. Call for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE)

The Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development are working on the outbreak with local health agencies and USDA to determine how widely the recalled products were distributed. McNees Meats has a retail location in North Branch, Michigan, and some of the ground beef was sold to area restaurants.

Click here for McNees E. coli recall information 

 E. coli is a life-threatening human pathogen that can cause severe, bloody diarrhea. In children, the elderly or people with compromised immune systems, it is especially dangerous. E. coli can lead to more dangerous conditions like thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause permanent kidney damage. Even non-complicated infections of E. coli O157 have been observed to cause long-term health concerns, including vascular injury.  

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E. coli O157:NM is a dangerous pathogen at the center of a Michigan foodborne illness outbreak linked to ground beef products from McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC, in North Branch, Michigan. So far, five confirmed cases are included in the outbreak and four more cases are likely part of the outbreak, according to Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Cases have been reported in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac counties with onset dates between July 18 and 30, 2011.

Typically, the most common E. coli strain that is reported in the news media when an outbreak like this occurs, is E. coli O157:H7. However, "E.coli O157: NM differs from E. Coli O157:H7 in that it lacks the flagellar H antigen, making it non-motile (NM)," according to the E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen.

The company initially recalled only 360 pounds of beef in connection with the outbreak, but has since expanded the recall to 2,200 pounds of ground beef products, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The current list of recalled products includes:

• 1 and 10-lb. clear packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”
• 1 to1.5-lb., approximate weight clear plastic bags of “McNees Ground beef patties.”
• 1-lb. packages of “McNees Ground Round.”
• 1 and 2-lb packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk” sold in red and white plastic bags.

"It is concerning that two-thirds of the confirmed and probable cases in this outbreak had to be hospitalized," said Dr. Dean Sienko, Interim Medical Director for MDCH. "People who shop at McNees Meats are advised not to eat ground beef they have purchased there and to throw out any McNees ground beef that may be in their refrigerators or freezers."

People who have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak may be able to file an E. coli lawsuit and recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. The E. coli attorneys at Pritzker Olsen have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of E. coli victims and victims of other food borne pathogens.

Contact the E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen for a free case evaluation >>

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An initial ground beef E. coli O157 recall issued by McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC of North Branch, Michigan has been expanded. The updated recall includes about 2,200 pounds of ground beef products that could be contaminated with E. coli O157:NM, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Below is a list of the recalled products after the expansion:

• 1 and 10-lb. clear packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”
• 1 to1.5-lb., approximate weight clear plastic bags of “McNees Ground beef patties.”
• 1-lb. packages of “McNees Ground Round.”
• 1 and 2-lb packages of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk” sold in red and white plastic bags.

The packages have the establishment number EST. 33971 inside the USDA mark of inspection. Production dates for the recalled products are as follows: July 7, July 15, July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4, 2011. They were sold at retail stores and restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Michigan and also directly to customers from McNees' own retail establishment.

E. coli O157:NM Ground Beef Outbreak Investigation

The investigation has been ongoing since Aug. 4 and is being carried out by the Michigan Departments of Community Health (MDCH) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). According to the Michigan Department of Community Health:

A total of five confirmed Shiga-toxin producing E. coli cases and four probable cases have been reported in Lapeer, Genesee, Isabella, and Sanilac counties. Illness onset dates range from July 18-30. Those affected range in age from 15-88.

People who think they may be sick with E. coli from ground beef should first visit a doctor and get tested to see if E. coli is the pathogen making them sick. If their case of E. coli can be linked to the same strain involved in the E. coli ground beef outbreak, victims may be able to file an E. coli lawsuit against the ground beef producer or the restaurant that served the tainted beef. Victims may be able to recover expenses for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.

It takes an experienced foodborne illness attorney to win such cases. The E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen have recovered millions of dollars for people sickened by E. coli and other foodborne pathogens.

Contact the E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen for a free case evaluation >>>

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Eating ground beef has become a high risk activity, and consumers need to be informed of that risk. In Michigan 9 people have E. coli infections because they ate ground beef processed by McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC, a meat-processing and retail establishment in North Branch, Mich.

Six of the people sickened landed in the hospital. Because most of the people sickened were adults, it is likely that at least one developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and/or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). These severe complications of an E. coli O157 infection cause kidney failure, central nervous system damage (strokes, seizures, paralysis, etc.), pancreatitis and death.

The victims of this outbreak and their families need to know the following:

1. They are not to blame even if the ground beef was cooked at home. McNees is still responsible for the pain and suffering caused by their ground beef.
2. E. coli O157 food poisoning is preventable with good sanitation and product testing.
3. The USDA, which is supposed to police the beef industry, is also supposed to promote the industry--bad idea.
4. You have the right to sue McNees and any other parties that are legally responsible for the E. coli infection and every medical problem resulting from it.
5. You have the right to ask for expected future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and income loss. Our attorneys hire experts to come up with these figures. You can contact Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our E. coli cases, for a free consultation.
6. Sadly, you are not alone. For support, and you need it, visit Stop Foodborne Illness. This is a nonprofit organization run by families who have gone through what you are going through now.

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An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to swimming at the lake in Cowans Gap State Park in Pennsylvania. Dr. Andre Weltman of the Pennsylvania Health Department told the media that there are six confirmed E. coli 0157:H7 cases involving children who had been swimming in the lake over the past month: 4 from Franklin County, one from Huntingdon County and one from Maryland.

At least four of these children have hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. To date, three of the children with E. coli HUS have required dialysis for kidney failure. When HUS progresses to this point is when a lot of other problems surface, including seizures, brain damage, pancreatitis, heart failure, blindness and other serious health problems. It is fatal in 5-10% of the cases.

In response to this outbreak, Pennsylvania officials closed the lake at Cowans Gap State Park yesterday in the late afternoon:

All water activities at Cowans Gap State park including swimming, wading, boating and fishing is prohibited until further notice. We are doing this to insure that we have safe water in the lake for these recreational activities.

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Update: Since this post was first written, the number of confirmed cases of E. coli O157 reported in this outbreak has risen from 3 to 5..

Five confirmed cases of E. coli O157  and 4 probable cases have been linked to ground beef processed and distributed by McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC., a North Branch, Michigan, company.  Those sickened live in the following Michigan counties: Lapeer County, Genesee County, Isabella County, and Sanilac County.

Six of the people sickened were hospitalized. E. coli can cause severe dehydration, colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and other serious medical problems. We have had clients who were hospitalized for months.

Illness onset dates range from July 18-30. Those affected range in age from 15-88.

Michigan health officials informed the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the outbreak on August 4. Epidemiological evidence quickly pointed to McNees ground beef as the source.

In response to this outbreak, McNees Meats recalled approximately 360 pounds of ground beef product products.

The products subject to recall include:

• 36 - 10 lb. Bags of “McNees Ground Beef Bulk.”

Each clear plastic bag bears establish number “EST. 33971” within the USDA mark of inspection. The products subject to recall were produced on July 15, and July 21, 2011, and sold to restaurants in Armada, Lapeer and North Branch, Mich. The products were also sold from a retail establishment owned by McNees Meats and Wholesale, LLC.

Our E. coli food poisoning attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against McNees Meats and Wholesale LLC.

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Our attorneys are investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Northwest Oregon associated with eating fresh strawberries from Jaquith Strawberry Farm in Newberg, Oregon.  According to the Oregon Department of Public Health, at least 10 people were sickened last month, including one person who died.

Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won over a million dollars for a family whose loved one died in Oregon. "The victims of this outbreak and the family of the person who died deserve compensation," said Pritzker. "Sellers of contaminated products need to be held accountable, even if wild animals were the source of the contamination."

Ten people have confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections caused by a single strain. These individuals include residents of Washington, Clatsop, and Multnomah counties. Six other people in northwest Oregon also have recently developed an E. coli O157:H7 infection and appear to be part of this outbreak. Of the confirmed cases, four have been hospitalized, and one elderly woman in Washington County died from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), kidney failure associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection, There were 12 females and four males among the cases, and their ages ranged from 4 to 85. They fell ill between July 10 and July 29.

Jaquith sold its strawberries to buyers who then resold them at roadside stands and farmers’ markets. In response to this outbreak, Jaquith has recalled its products.

None of the following have been implicated in this outbreak:

• Berries other than strawberries;
• Strawberries sold since Aug. 1;
• Strawberries sold south of Benton County or east of Multnomah County;
• Strawberries sold in supermarkets;
• Strawberries picked at Jaquith Strawberry Farm’s U-pick field.

When a potential outbreak is investigated, public health officials ask a slate of questions of those who have been sickened, family members and health care providers. The questions are to find common exposures and “trace back” to the source.

“If someone gets sick, we ask questions about everything from what they’ve eaten, to whether they’ve been to common gatherings, to whether they’ve been swimming in a particular place, and then out of this we try to find commonalities,” he said.“The commonality among these cases has been strawberries at roadside stands and farmers’ markets supplied by this one farm last month.”

While investigating the farm, William Keene, senior epidemiologist with Oregon Public Health, saw dear roaming through the strawberry field. Keene is having deer feces tested for E. coli to determine if deer are the source of the E. coli contamination, Keene told the Oregonian.

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Another child has died from an E. coli infection. Health officials are looking at the petting zoo at the Hendricks County Fair as a possible source of the illness.

We are currently representing a family whose little boy contracted an E. coli infection after visiting another petting zoo. In that case, the boy developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), but survived.

Petting zoos at fairs and other locations need to be safer for children:

• Soap and warm, running water should be available for washing hands in or near the petting zoo and at many stations throughout the fairgrounds.
• Most people do not understand that animals can have dangerous pathogens like E. coli O157:H7 on them. Large warning signs with eye-catching graphics should be displayed throughout the petting zoo area and the entire fairgrounds.
• Staff at the petting zoo should discuss the importance of hand washing with visitors.

The family of the young girl who died, Kalei Welch, wants to get out the message about hand washing:

"The petting zoo part of a fair really can be a dangerous place because they're touching the animals," said Marc Monte, senior pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Avon, Indiana, and spokesman for Kalei's family. "The animals sometimes have this bacteria on them. If hands are not washed or if they depend on just the sanitizer, that can be not a good thing."

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Deschutes County, Oregon Health Department has issued a health advisory to Elk Lake Resort area visitors regarding E. coli-contaminated water at the resort.

"This case is similar to cases we recently settled involving water served at a restaurant," said E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker. "The well water that was servicing the restaurant became contaminated with E. coli, and dozens of people were sickened."

The Elk Lake Resort warning:

It has been reported in the past week that recent visitors to the area have become ill with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

Elk Lake Resort has been cooperating closely with Deschutes County Health officials and has voluntarily closed the restaurant (cabins are still operating with a "boil water" alert) until the health investigation is complete. Although not confirmed to be the cause of illness, the drinking water at the resort has tested positive for E-coli bacteria.

Deschutes County Health Services Department officials continue to investigate the cause of illness and will not know any conclusive sources of the reported illnesses until next week, if a source is identified at all.

The warning cautioned visitors at Elk Lake Resort to drink only bottled water and avoid ice or drinking water from resort plumbing.

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Microbiologist Andy Benson and his research team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln received a five-year, $2.35 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study cattle known as “supershedders,” animals that shed an unusually large number of E. coli O157:H7.

E. coli O157:H7 long has been known to colonize the bovine gut. Although it causes no disease symptoms in the animals, it can be transmitted to humans through improperly cooked beef, among other ways.

"Studies looking at animal-level factors have shown that while many animals may be carriers of the organism, a small portion of animals shedding the organism at very high levels may account for much of the transmission risk," added Benson, the W. W. Marshall professor of biotechnology in UNL's department of food science and technology.

Benson hopes this newly funded research will lead to pre-slaughter intervention strategies to prevent E. coli O157:H7 illness in humans.

The goal is to try to associate organisms in the cattle's gastrointestinal tract with genes in the animals to see if some of those interactions are causing certain animals to become supershedders of the E. coli pathogen, while others that may have E. coli present do not shed it in unusual numbers.

If those relationships can be understood, it may be possible to develop breeding and genetic programs to reduce the number of animals that shed high levels of E. coli O157:H7, salmonella, campylobacter and other pathogens.

"While epidemiologically oriented approaches have provided extensive information about the transmission patterns of the organism, they have essentially failed to come up with meaningful and effective pre-harvest interventions that work in beef production," Benson said. "On the other hand, breeding strategies, which have heretofore never been considered as an approach, could be implemented as a relatively simple intervention with potentially huge payoffs, ultimately reducing numbers of 'supershedders' that are released into feeding operations."

The USDA grant was part of the Food Safety Foundational Awards from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Source: Press release from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska

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“Dyspepsia” is defined as “painful, difficult, or disturbed digestion, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, heartburn, bloating, and stomach discomfort.”

Many of our foodborne illness clients sickened by E. coli have these complaints long after the passing of their acute illness. Is there a relationship between these symptoms and the initial illness?  Emerging medical studies offer strong evidence of just such a connection.

In 2000 there was a massive water-borne E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Walkerton, Ontario, Canada. The only good thing to come of it was the unprecedented opportunity to study the long-terms effects on those individuals exposed to bacterial dysentery. One such recent study, “Prevalence of Uninvestigated Dyspepsia 8 Years After a Large Waterborne Outbreak of Bacterial Dysentery: A Cohort Study,” published in the journal, Gastroenterology, concluded that “this 8-year study has demonstrated a greater than 2-fold increase  in the prevalence of dyspepsia in subjects exposed to acute gastroenteritis compared with nonexposed individuals, suggesting that acute enteric infections have the ability to trigger symptoms that affect the upper, as well as the lower GI tract, with long-lasting consequences.”

Dyspepsia is a descriptive term that often surfaces in western literature. Derived from Greek dys-, "difficult, bad" + pepsis, "digestion," dyspeptics have painful symptoms as referenced in this quote from Seneca, the first century Roman philosopher:

“Pain, scorned by yonder gout-ridden wretch, endured by yonder dyspeptic in the midst of his dainties, borne bravely by the girl in travail. Slight thou art, if I can bear thee, short thou art if I cannot bear thee!”

Emerging medical literature is showing that dyspepsia, decreased kidney function, high blood pressure and allied medical problems are long-term consequences of E. coli O157:H7 even in those individuals who were previously thought to have made a full recovery. 

Attorney Fred Pritzker represents E. coli victims and their families nationwide. To contact Fred, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.

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On the heals of the deadly outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 (E. coli O104:H4) infections in Germany linked to fresh sprouts, Congress may eliminate the Microbiological Data Program, the only national program screening U.S. fruits and vegetables for this and other non-O157 E. coli strains. The program tests about 15,000 samples annually of sprouts, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cantaloupe and cilantro for a cost of about $4.5 million.  The House has already voted to eliminate the program, and the Senate will be making its decision soon.

It is vitally important for the Microbiological Data Program to continue testing fruits and vegetables because the likelihood is that E. coli O104:H4 and other dangerous mutations of E. coli will show up in the United States. E. coli O104:H4 has the ability to stick to cells in the intestine (characteristic of enteroaggregative E coli) and make Shiga toxin (characteristic of Shiga-toxin-producing E coli, for example E. coli O157). It is the Shiga toxin that cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-pathogen-program-20110704,0,7549423.story

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Five staff workers at Camp Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene tested positive for E.coli O26, according to news reports.

All five experienced abdominal cramping and diarrhea. One had bloody diarrhea, and some experienced nausea.

According to the Coeur d' Alene Press:

The five staff workers worked in the camp kitchen and four were food handlers during the camp’s start-off week June 19 to June 24.  They were excluded from kitchen duty as soon as their illnesses were known. The five also shared living quarters.

“I’m thankful we caught it when we did,” said Bob Baker, Camp Lutherhaven executive director. “We’ve put everything in place to stop this in its tracks.”

Because these staff workers were food handlers, it is possible others have been infected. This can happen when sick food handlers do not adequately wash their hands.

The source of the outbreak is under investigation. Recent E. coli outbreaks at summer camps have involved contaminated well water and contaminated hamburger.

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The Alabama Department of Public Health continues its investigation of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Lee County. Thirteen children and two adults who either played in the Splash Park or swam in the pool at the Opelika SportsPlex and Aquatic Center between June 4 and June 22 were identified with severe gastrointestinal illness. Five children have been confirmed positive for E. coli O157:H7 infection.

Four children were initially hospitalized and two remain hospitalized.

“Based on the information that we have now, it appears that the common source of exposure was the Aquatic Center,” said State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson. “Because of the risk for outbreak of illness, it is essential that public pools and water parks follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for adequate chlorine and pH levels.”

Parents should be alert for symptoms of illness. If a child has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal cramps parents should seek medical attention for their child. People with diarrhea caused by potential waterborne pathogens, such as E. coli, should not use recreational water venues such as swimming pools, water slides and water parks for two weeks after symptoms resolve.

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At least four children may have been sickened by contaminated water at the Splash Park at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center. Dr. Mary McIntyre, medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Disease, said, “Based on what we know now, four children who were in the Splash Park between June 12 and June 18 have been hospitalized at East Alabama Medical Center with gastrointestinal illness.” Two of the children have tested positive for E. coli.

"Proper pool maintenance prevents E. coli outbreaks," said E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker. "If the Splash Park is the source of this outbreak, the city should be held accountable. These four children suffered severe pain, and their parents have medical bills to pay and have lost time from work."

The health department’s Bureau of Clinical Laboratories is conducting tests on water samples and specimens from the affected children, and two children have been found positive for E. coli infection. At this time it appears that the common exposure is the Splash Pool at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center. This common exposure may be sufficient to prove that the Splash Pool was the source of the outbreak, even if the water samples come back negative.

E. coli infections can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States. Even in cases where a child does not develop HUS, the child is at greater risk of future kidney problems because of the E. coli infection.

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The E. coli strain that has sickened thousands in Germany is a combination of two E. coli strains, according to research published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases:

1. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)—which stick to the intestinal lining with a “stacked brick” adherence pattern and usually cause prolonged, watery diarrhea.
2. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC—which causes hemorrhagic colitis (bloody diarrhea and can result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a leading cause of kidney failure.

This deadly combination was the result of evolution. "The most likely scenario is that an EAEC strain acquired the ability to produce Shiga toxin from a STEC strain," Edward Dudley, an assistant professor of food science at Penn State told Penn State Live.

E. coli can swap genetic material across different E. coli strains and across bacterial species, according to Dudley:

It's a fascinating organism because it has the ability to pick up new genes from other organisms and evolve into a variety of types. It's like they're playing a game of poker and shuffling cards back and forth and somebody comes up with a jackpot hand that allows it to become something nasty.

Dr. Helge Karch of the University of Münster and team leader of the research published this week told the New York Times:

“I think it is human-specific,” Dr. Karch said. And that increases the mystery of where it goes between outbreaks.

Dr. Karch thinks it smoldered in human populations, causing mild illnesses in most and occasionally causing severe disease. Then, somehow, it was passed to the bean sprouts by someone who harbored the bacteria. And since sprouts are eaten raw, they were highly infectious.

The strain is so rare, Dr. Karch said, that those infected had no immunity. An epidemic caught fire.

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A Central Texas E. coli outbreak may have been caused by food served at Jason’s Deli in Killeen, Texas. Epidemiological evidence points to guacamole used as spread for the "California Club" sandwich at the deli as the most likely source of the outbreak, according to News Channel 25.

Channel 25 reports that investigators “concluded that the guacamole was likely contaminated on-site, possibly by an object or employee during the food preparation stage.” If a restaurant food handler has E. coli, the bacteria can be transmitted to others if food is contaminated with the food handler’s feces (poop). Two simple measures can prevent this: 1) adequate hand washing and 2) sending home food handlers who are sick with gastrointestinal illness involving vomiting or diarrhea.

Here are the basics of the outbreak as reported by Channel 25:

A report of five confirmed cases of E. coli stemming from an undisclosed Killeen restaurant left many Central Texans demanding to know exactly where the contamination came from.

The cases date back to April 2011, when at least 11 people became sick after eating at a local restaurant.  Doctors confirmed five of them had a strain of the bacteria Escherichia coli (O157:H7) that has been known to result in hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal complication that can lead to kidney failure. Two were hospitalized.

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Four people who visited the Animal Petting Farm at Forest Park in Everett, Washington have suspected cases of E. coli, according to the Snohomish Health District . One of them, a child, was hospitalized for 3 days.  

Animal manure can harbor E. coli O157 and other dangerous pathogens. If contaminated manure gets on animal fur, it is possible for E. coli bacteria to get on the hands of anyone who pets the animal. Also, the ground and surfaces such as fencing can be contaminated. E. coli is usually associated with cows, but other animals can carry E. coli bacteria. 

Below is a video of Dr. Gary Goldbaum of the Snohomish Health District discussing the E. coli outbreak associated with the Animal Petting Farm in Everett, WA. 

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Since June 10, when German officials concluded that sprouts from an organic  farm in the northern state of Lower Saxony were the source of the outbreak, counts of infection, HUS and E. coli death have increased by 221, 22 and five respectively, authorities have announced.

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The Tennessee E. coli outbreak that has sickened 11 people in northeast counties of the state appears to be made up of various different strains of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STECs. The investigation continues, but no so far no source to any of the different strains has been discovered.

STEC means shiga toxin-producing E. coli -- the group that can cause severe infection and leads to HUS E. coli in 5 percent to 10 percent of cases. Public health officials have told various news outlets that two HUS cases from Southwest Virginia -- children who were treated in a Northeast Tennessee hospital -- were of a different strain than any of the Tennessee cases. One of those children -- a 2-year-old girl from Dryden, Virginia -- tragically died.

David Kirshke, director of the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Office, which serves Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties, told the Bristol Herald Courier that public health officials are still investigating and haven't given up on trying to find the various sources of the poisonings. Eleven cases of E. coli are typically more cases than Northeast Tennessee sees in an entire year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is assisting in the investigation.

Meanwhile, public health reminders are abounding in the region -- including advice to restaurants and home cooks to heat all ground beef products to 160 degrees throughout to kill potential bacteria. E. coli O157:H7 and other STECs originate in the guts of cattle and other animals. The organisms are expelled in feces and become impacted on animal hides. From there the microbes can flake onto meat in the slaughtering process, or E. coli can spread from nicked intestines.

The federal government has banned E. coli O157:H7, in particular, from ground beef and cuts of beef intended for grinding. Despite private and government testing regimes, ground beef E. coli outbreaks still occur and lead to E. coli lawsuits to hold meatpackers accountable for selling product with potentially lethal pathogens.

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The Northeast Tennessee E. coli outbreak has grown to include an 11th victim as health officials continue to search for the source of the outbreak, the Sullivan County Regional Health Department said in a press release.

The outbreak in eight northeast Tennessee counties may soon include three more cases pending test results. All of those illnesses are in addition to two severe infections to children from Southwest Virginia. Tragically, a 2-year-old girl died and was confirmed to be infected with E. coli O157:H7, possibly from food.

Officials are reminding families in the region that E. coli O157:H7 is found in ground beef and other meat and can survive grilling or cooking if not cooked to an internal temperature of 160 F. Officials have also said some infections can be caused by swimming in contaminated waters and inadvertently swallowing the water. E. coli O157:H7 also can contaminate raw milk, many varieties of fresh produce, shelled nuts, cheese and other food.

National E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are investigating the outbreak and accepting cases from families and individuals who have been afflicted. If you or a loved one has experienced sharp stomach pain and watery or bloody diarrhea as part of a gastrointestinal illness, immediately see a physician. For answers to legal questions, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or send contact information. An E. coli lawyer will call you.

E. coli O157:H7 is a strain of bacteria that produces a toxin that can cause hemorrhagic colitis. This illness can develop into an extremely serious condition known as HUS, or  hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney failure, brain damage, strokes, and seizures in young children and the elderly. E. coli O157:H7 has caused numerous sporadic cases as well as outbreaks of foodborne disease resulting in illnesses and deaths. This pathogen can survive both refrigerator and freezer storage.  

Here is the official notice from Sullivan County, dated June 7:

"To date, 11 cases of E.coli have been reported in our region...one of which is in Sullivan County. The source of the bacteria has not been identified and our staff is working closely with the Northeast Regional Health Office in Johnson City to investigate the source of illness. PLEASE NOTE...The cases in our region ARE NOT related to the outbreak in Germany.''

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The E. coli death of a 2-year-old Dryden, Virginia, girl and the hospitalization of her brother are being investigated along with at least six other cases from northeast Tennessee as an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.

Dr. David Kirschke, medical director of the Northeast Regional Health Office in Johnson City, has told reporters that the cases were discovered in the seven-county area in recent weeks: Greene, Carter, Johnson, Hawkins, Hancock, Washington and Unicoi Counties. No cause has been determined.

Kirschke told the Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper that health officials have been interviewing families stricken by the pathogen about their recent food histories and other possible exposures. He told the newspaper that seven of the eight case patients are infected by the same strain of E. coli. He also said several of the patients ate meat that was not thoroughly cooked.

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E. coli in bean sprouts may be the cause of Germany's massive outbreak of  E. coli O104:H4, according to the latest from the investigation by public health officials. A variety of media reports say the sprouts appear to have come from a grower in northern Germany -- the center of the outbreak.

While testing is under way to confirm the cause, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is reporting 658 cases of HUS, or hemolytic uremic sydrome, and 1605 non-HUS Shiga toxin E. coli cases.   Twenty-two people have died in the outbreak.

While HUS is predominantly observed in children under 5 years of age, in this outbreak the great majority of cases are adults, with more than two thirds being women, The agency said most case patients have a history of travel to the North of Germany (mainly Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North-Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg). Within the EU also Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom have reported cases of HUS, related to the ongoing outbreak as well as cases of non-HUS STEC cases. 

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Tulsa child E. coli cases have drawn investigators to a church daycare center where three of the four case patients are enrolled for child care. The Tulsa City-County Health Department announced the investigation this week, saying two siblings infected by E. coli have been hospitalized.

All of the children sickened in the outbreak are younger than 10, Health Department spokeswoman Kaitlin Snider said. An agency press release identified the daycare center as located at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Health officials said they cannot be certain that the church or its child-care program is the source of the infection, but they are closely investigating that angle. The center has capacity to care for more than 100 children.. 

"The source of E. coli can be challenging to confirm," Health Department Director Bruce Dart stated in a news release. He stressed that there is no indication that this infection is related to the outbreak in Germany that has killed at least 18 people. Nor have health officials drawn any links between what is happening in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a similar-sized child E. coli outbreak in Amarillo, Texas, where seven young people have been sickened.

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The HUS E. coli outbreak centered in Germany has infected at least four Americans who were traveling there and two U.S. military men in Germany have been tested for the outbreak strain of E. coli O104:H4.

According to the World Health Organization, the total case count has grown to 1,823, which includes 552 cases of life-threatening HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. At least 18 individuals have died and the unprecedented outbreak remains very active. The vast majority of illnesses have been in Germany.

At a press conference in the U.S., Chris Braden of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the CDC has no reason to believe and no expectation that the outbreak will spread in the United States. Of the four travelers who were sickened, three remained hospitalized with HUS -- a complication of E. coli infection that causes kidney failures, coma, stroke, anemia, vascular injury and other severe medical difficulties by attacking a person's red blood cells and fragmenting them. The three HUS case patients are from Massachusetts, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The source of the outbreak remained unknown, but the focus has been on salad ingredients including cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes. The Food and Drug Administration says very little produce for salads is imported from Spain and Germany, but inspectors will test any shipments for E. coli before they reach America.

Meanwhile, the CDC will continue to monitor the European E. coli outbreak. The effort includes surveillance of medical cases where an American has become sick with HUS or other diarrheal illness caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. after traveling to Europe since April 1, 2011. 

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Four young children in Amarillo, Texas, have been hospitalized with HUS and three others have been sickened -- all by E. coli O157:H7. The outbreak or cluster has prompted city health officials to warn Amarillo area residents to practice good hand hygiene to help keep it from spreading.

Dr. Roger Smalligan, the public health authority for Potter and Randall counties, told Amarillo Globe News that an investigation is in progress to determine the cause. Six of the seven children had some contact with each other and several of the children are related to each other, Smalligan said. He wouldn't say if the Amarillo child E. coli outbreak was in a daycare setting, as some outbreaks are.

The four children hospitalized with HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, are all under age five -- the age group most susceptiple to HUS. HUS is a life-threatening condition in which the body’s blood cells are fragmented by Shiga toxin, causing blocked circulation in the kidneys and elsewhere or bleeding in the brain. Once an infection from a type of E. coli that emits Shiga toxin has been established, no therapeutic interventions are available to lessen the risk of HUS from developing.

Smalligan said no specific food has been linked to the illness as of yet. Officials also are investigating whether international travel, exposure to infected animals, human-to-human contact with infected individuals or nonpublic sources of water might have played a role. Amarillo Public Health Director Matt Richardson said the investigation could take some time.

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The German E. coli outbreak  that has killed 16 people and caused nearly 400 cases of  HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, involves a stain of the pathogen that has not been seen in the United States.

Robert Tauxe, a foodborne disease expert at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  told The Associated Press that it is extraordinary to see so many cases of HUS from a foodborne illness outbreak. "There has not been such an outbreak before that we know of in the history of public health," Tauxe told the AP. Officials are frantically searching for a cause, but the number of new cases has dropped off.

The CDC's Tauxe said two people from the U.S. are among more than 1,150 people in total who have been  sickened in the outbreak, which was initially thought to be caused by contaminated cucumbers but now is undetermined. The two U.S. victims had recently traveled to Hamburg, where the outbreak started several weeks ago.

The outbreak also has infected people in other European countries, including Denmark, France, the Czech Republic, the U.K., the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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Two children from Tennesse have been treated at Vanderbilt University hospitals in Nashville for serious E. coli infections and the Tennessee Department of Health has been notified of eight E. coli cases statewide so far this year.

State Health Department spokeswoman Shelley L. Walker told the Marshall County Tribune in Lewisburg, Tennessee, that the office has been notified of two E. coli infections in residents of South Central Tennessee, but it was not immediately clear if the two cases were the children treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.

"There is no evidence to suggest at this time that there is an ongoing outbreak in that region,'' Walker told the newspaper.

A pharmacist who asked not to be named was the source of the newspaper's information on the two Tennessee child E. coli cases. The father of one of the children called the newspaper to say his daughter was recovering, but declined to say more. The Marshall County newspaper story said health officials conducted food history interviews to investigate any possible common source of the infections.

The pharmacist said one of the children received kidney dialysis treatment, an indicator that she may have suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially deadly disease caused by powerful Shiga toxins emitted by certain types of E. coli, including E. coli O157:H7.

Children under age 5 are most susceptible to HUS, but it can affect people of any age, including healthy adults. Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by stool sample culture.

Signs and symptoms of HUS may include: fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue and irritability, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination and swelling of the face, hands, feet, or entire body. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care.

To have an E. coli attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., review your case, please submit a contact form or call our office at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our investigators are aware of the Tennessee cases and are monitoring reports of a possible outbreak. PritzkerOlsen is a national leader in foodborne illness law and is one of the very few legal groups practicing extensively in this area. Over the years we have won millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and we are actively involved in efforts to prevent outbreaks and protect families from contamination of our food supply.

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An active cucumber E. coli outbreak in Germany, now extending into Sweden and other western European countries, is attracting worldwide attention after hundreds of people have fallen ill, including more than 200 people who have contracted life-threatening hemolytic uremic sydrome (HUS). At least five people have died.

According to reporters from Reuters news agency and Science Insider, the outbreak strain of E. coli O104 has been found in cucumbers grown in Spain and sold at a big market n Hamburg, Germany, that resells to restaurants, caterers and other outlets. 

Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors diseases in the European Union, said it had reports of 214 HUS cases, a complication that causes kidney failure and can lead to stroke, paralysis, heart problems, brain infection, severe anemia and other severe health conditions. Children under the age of 5 are most susceptible.

The agency said at least nine HUS cases in Sweden have been linked to the outbreak, including four people who had recently travelled to northern Germany. Scientists have speculated that manure from infected animals used on an organic farm might have spread the bacteria to cucumbers.

E. coli O104 is one of six major non-O157:H7 types of E. coli that emit powerful Shiga toxin, which attack and fragment a person's red blood cells. 

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E. coli O157:H7 outbreak researchers in Nebraska are continuing their study of cattle fed a percentage of wet distillers' grains -- an ingredient already known to lead to greater prevalance of E. coli O157:H7 in manure.

The USDA studies at the agency's Clay Center animal research station are important because the wet distillers' grains are being used as a relatively inexpensive feed supplement in the beef cattle "finishing phase" -- the last 120 to 140 days before slaughter. The grains are a byproduct of corn ethanol manufacturing.

From a food safety perspective, higher levels of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle manure is problematic. It raises the threat that potentially deadly human pathogens will enter the food supply and make people sick with life-threatening hemoloytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  National E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., represents victims of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks and are actively following the study results in hopes that more prevention measures can be developed.

In early experiments with 608 steers, the Clay Center researchers showed that the incidence and prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in manure, and the incidence on hides, was significantly higher for cattle whose corn-based feed included 40 percent wet distrillers' grains than those whose feed did not include them In follow-up studies, the researches want to determine what causes the difference in E. coli levels, and what can be done to reduce them.

 There's a working hypothesis that the fiber component of hay may scrape the 

gut wall, physically removing the organism and contributing to reduced colonization of E. coli in the intestinal tract. In general, research supports that cattle on grain-based diets shed higher 

levels of generic E. coli in their feces than cattle on a high-forage diet.

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Raw milk E. coli deaths and raw milk Campylobacter outbreaks won't get much attention today in Washington, D.C., when supporters of raw milk rally against public health protections that restrict the distribution of what scientists know to be a dangerous food.

The Food and Drug Administration is one of the targets. To protect public health and put limits on the business of selling unpasteurized milk, the FDA wisely uses its interstate commerce authority to block distribution of raw milk across state lines. But Contgressman Ron Paul has just introduced legislation attempting to legalize those sales.

Grassfed on the Hill, a D.C. area private milk buying group and target of a recent FDA sting on purchasing raw milk, has organized the Capitol Hill rally where they plan to milk an actual cow and drink the fresh milk. The rally is expected to draw hundreds of raw milk supporters.

From a public health policy viewpoint, this latest P.R. stunt by raw milk enthusiasts will certainly obscure or distort the risks that people -- especially children -- face from consumption of milk not pasteurized to kill microscopic pathogens that can cause serious illness and death. The organisms can pass through a cow's udders and also enter the milk supply through cow feces in the milking environment. 

The mainstream view that unpasteurized milk is unsafe is held by local, state and federal health officials from coast to coast, including FDA, CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association. The FDA simply wants to protect the public from disease.

Raw milk has been found to contain numerous pathogens that can cause serious illness, including Campylobacter, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Brucella.  Ppasteurization was developed many years ago  to reduce diseases that were commonly caused by raw milk.

Getting sick from one of these germs can lead to a wide variety of illness. Some germs cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, headache, and body aches lasting for a couple of days to several weeks. Most healthy people with this type of illness recover, but hospitalization rates are usually 10-30%. Severe complications can include bloodstream infections, a polio-like paralysis, kidney failure, and death.  For example, E. coli O157:H7 infections lead to a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in 10% of children and HUS is fatal 5% of the time. In addition HUS survivors often suffer from lifelong medical issues, including the need for kidney transplants in some.

Illnesses from raw milk are particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, children, and people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV/AIDS. Germs found in raw milk and raw dairy products can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, sometimes leading to abortion, stillbirth, or severe disease in newborns. 

If you or a loved one has been sickened in an outbreak caused by raw milk, contact national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our law firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness, recovering millions for victims of food poisoning. 

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The current Japanese beef E. coli outbreak involves E. coli O111, one of six prevalent non-O157:H7 strains of E. coli not routinely screened for in the United States even though they produce the same potentially deadly toxin as E. coli O157:H7, which the U.S. government banned from ground beef in 1994. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that these six non-O157:H7 strains cause approximately 113,000 illnesses and 300 hospitalizations annually in the United States, yet to date there are no policies to control them.

"Japan's nightmare with E. coli O111 should trigger changes in our own country,'' Pritzker said. "We shouldn't have to wait for a similarly sized disaster to strike here. It's another impetus for our government to get moving.'' 

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An E. coli outbreak in Bell County, Texas, has been reported by the local health department, but no announcement has been made as to what may be causing people to be sickened by the toxic bacteria. A story by News Channel 25 of Waco, Killeen and Temple said at least five cases of E. coli infection in Bell County have been reported.

The Bell County Health Department is asking anyone with bloody diarrhea to seek medical attention immediately. The outbreak is under investigation, and, at this point no one has died.

Toxic types of E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of animals, especially cows. Once shed via manure, they can contaminate various foods, including ground beef. E. Coli O157:H7 is banned from ground beef because it's so dangerous. Once ingested -- even in very small exposures -- a person can fall ill and possibly take a turn for the worse. An estimated 8 percent of E. coli victims develop a life-threatening complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome HUS.

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One of the study authors, Manan Sharma, told FoodProductionDaily.com that consumers must be aware that danger levels rise once a package is open. Bags that are not completely consumed should be stored at appropriate temperatures in household refrigerators to minimize temperature abuse. Temperature abuse can lead to clustering of the bacteria.

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Salmonella can lead to reactive arthritis, or Reiter's syndrome. Listeria can cause meningitis and stillbirths; and Campylobacter may be the most common precipitating factor for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

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The DeFranco & Sons hazelnut E. coli outbreak sickened eight people in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan from December 20 to February 16 -- hospitalizing four of them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its final update on the outbreak.

The outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was found on hazelnuts and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts by public health laboratories in Minnesota, California and Wisconsin. "Source tracing identified a common distributor for the hazelnuts consumed by ill persons: DeFranco & Sons in Los Angeles, California.''

Most of the potentially contaminated nuts were sold in bulk bins across the country and in Cello bags of Sunripe brand filberts, according to the DeFranco recall announcement. The hazelnuts were grown in Oregon. They fall to the ground from trees and are gathered from there, where it is possible they can come in contact with animal fecal contamination harboring E. coli O157:H7. In Canada right now, there are fears that shelled walnuts grown in the U.S. are behind a separate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.

If you are a victim of the hazelnut E. coli outbreak who is interested in joining hazelnut E. coli litigation, contact PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a leading national food safety law firm representing victims in nearly all major outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S.   An E. coli attorney at Pritzker will provide a free consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or respond to information you provide on our hazelnut E. coli contact form.

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Possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination of shelled walnuts sold in Canada has prompted an expanded recall as Canadian food and health agencies continue to investigate a multi-provincial outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.

The shelled walnuts recalled this week by three retailers in London, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta, are product of the United States. This is an expansion of a previous public warning issued last week. about shelled walnuts and products containing walnuts distributed by Amira Enterprises Inc. of Montreal.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume raw shelled walnuts described in a recall announcement because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The CFIA said it is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been investigating a hazelnut E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Oregon-grown shelled hazelnuts. As of April 1, 2011, eight persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli serotype O157:H7 were reported from  Minnesota (3),  Wisconsin (4) and Michigan (1).

Laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on in-shell hazelnuts recovered from a patient's home identified E. coli O157:H7 matching the outbreak strain by DNA analysis.

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As of 10 a.m. EDT Saturday, March 26, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), listed various Walmart and BJ's Wholesale Club stores as retail locations associated with the recall of Seltzer's Lebanon Bologna issued by Palmyra Bologna Company, a Pennsylvania processor. The recall was prompted by an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to the bologna that has sickened at least 14 people in 5 states: Maryland (3 cases), New Jersey (2 cases), North Carolina (1 case), Ohio (2 cases) and Pennsylvania (6 cases). Below is the Seltzer's bologna recall retail distribution list

New Jersey - NJ Walmart - undisclosed locations in New Jersey

BJ's Wholesale Club 1910 Deptford Center Rd. Deptford, New Jersey

BJ's Wholesale Club 152 Route 73 Voorhees, New Jersey

North Carolina - NC BJ's Wholesale Club 2370 Walnut St. Cary, N.C.

Pennsylvania - PA Walmart - undisclosed locations in Pennsylvania

BJ's Wholesale Club 1785 Airport Rd. South Allentown, Pennsylvania

Maryland -MD Walmart - undisclosed locations in Maryland

Note from the FSIS regarding this retail distribution list: "FSIS has reason to believe that the above retail location(s) received various sizes of Seltzer's Beef Lebanon Bologna that have been recalled by Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc. This list may not include all retail locations that have received the recalled product or may include retail locations that did not actually receive the recalled product."

Grocery stores can be held liable in foodborne illness outbreaks: Bologna E. coli: Attorneys Investigate Grocery Store Liability. The same information is true for stores like Walmart and BJ's Wholesale Club that sell grocery items and have delis. Contact our E. coli lawyers for a free consultation: 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our contact form for review by our attorneys.

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 In response to an E. coli outbreak centered in Pennsylvania, E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on the maker of Seltzer’s Lebanon bologna to notify customers who have been sickened about the long-term risks of infection by this pathogen.

Pritzker said in a press release that Palmyra Bologna Company of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, should implement a public awareness campaign to inform victims of E. coli O157:H7 and their loved ones to consult with their physicians about getting the testing and treatment that their good health demands.

“Case patients in this outbreak deserve to understand these risks and obtain the annual assessments suggested by the study authors,’’ Pritzker said. “It is time for the company responsible for this outbreak to take action.”  

 

Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or through his food poisoning contact page regarding this E. coli bologna outbreak. Mr. Pritzker is the founding partner of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., a Minneapolis, MN law firm that represents E. coli victims nationwide. Mr. Pritzker has won millions for food poisoning victims and has appeared on national and local news programs to discuss foodborne illness lawsuits and food safety.

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E. coli lawyer  Fred Pritzker is calling on Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc., maker of Seltzer’s Lebanon bologna products, to pay medical expenses and other costs incurred by victims of a bologna E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey and North Carolina.  To date, 14 people have confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7

After an epidemiological investigation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) determined that there is a link between certain Seltzer’s Lebanon bologna products and the cases of E. coli O157:H7. In severe cases, E. coli 0157:H7 can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS), a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure, pancreatitis, blindness, seizures, strokes, other serious health problems and death.

In response to this outbreak, Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc., of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, recalled 23,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna that was sent to distribution centers in California, Colorado, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania for further distribution to retail stores. The recalled bologna was sold in packages labeled "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA." The recall was announced on March 22, 2011. The recall does not involve any Seltzer’s Lebanon bologna product produced since December 31, 2010. 

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A bologna E. coli outbreak has grown to include 14 people with infections from the same strain of E. coli O157:H7, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an E. coli outbreak investigation announcement. The CDC's report says that as of March 22, 2011, 14 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli  have been reported from Maryland (3 cases), New Jersey (2 cases), North Carolina (1 case), Ohio (2 cases) and Pennsylvania (6 cases).

Investigation by health officials from affected states, the USDA and the CDC has associated the illnesses with beef Lebanon bologna made by Palmyra Bologna Company, of Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Palmyra is recalling approximately 23,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna products that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 and consumers are advised to check below for the list of recalled products.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., has launched its own investigation into this outbreak and is reaching out to victims about a possible bologna E. coli lawsuit. For answers to questions about E. coli litigation, including a free case consultation, contact an attorney at the firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or we will respond to your contact information. Our firm is one of the very few law groups in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli and other types of food poisoning.

E. coli Bologna Outbreak Information

According to the CDC, reported dates of illness onset range from January 10, 2011 to February 15, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 1 to 70 years, with a median age of 13.5 years. Seventy-nine percent are male. Among 13 ill persons for whom information is known, 3 or 23 percent, reported being hospitalized, and none have reported hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is associated with E. coli O157:H7 infections. No deaths have been reported.

• 6-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 20 2011" printed on the package.
• 12-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by dates of "Apr. 20 2011" or "Apr. 21 2011" printed on the package.
• 16-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 22 2011" printed on the package.

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Seltzer's bologna E. coli outbreak has sickened at least four people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Carolina. The type of E. coli is O157:H7, the dominant variety that is associated with life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

The case patients in this outbreak fell ill between January 28 and February 12 and  public health officials are still investigating. To date, the bacteria has not been found in samples of the bologna, but epidemiologists have linked it to the outbreak based on eating patterns of those who were afflicted. Meanwhile, consumers are being warned not to eat Seltzer's beef Lebanon bologna that was produced in December 2010.

If you or a loved one has suffered gastrointestinal illness after eating the product, see a doctor.  For answers to legal questions about a possible Seltzer's bologna lawsuit, call PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form. A lawyer will call you and provide a free case consultation.

To date, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has not released a list of retailers who handled Seltzer's bologna that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. But consumers can check their own inventory for the following recalled items:

 6-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 20 2011" printed on the package. 

12-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by dates of "Apr. 20 2011" or "Apr. 21 2011" printed on the package.

16-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 22 2011" printed on the package. 

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A beef Lebanon bologna E. coli outbreak in New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania has sickened at least four people -- a group of illnesses that state and federal health officials have associated with Lebanon bologna products made by Pennsylvania-based Palmyra Bologna Company, Inc.

A Seltzer's beef Lebanon bologna recall was announced today and the investigation into the outbreak is continuing. The four case patients had matching E. coli O157:H7 illnesses with onset dates between January 28 and February 12, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced in a news release. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a health care provider. For legal questions or to receive a free case consultation, call food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form. Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli O157:H7 and other types of food poisoning.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Children under age 5, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to infections. Even mild E. coli O157:H7 infections can cause long-term health consequences throughout a person's life -- a reality that demands thorough claims recovery..

Seltzer's Beef Lebanon Bologna E. coli O157:H7 Recall

The recalled beef product is similar in appearance to salami. It is a fermented, semi-dry sausage. Palmyra Bologna Company is recalling approximately 23,000 pounds of its Seltzer's beef Lebanon bologna products, each package bearing a label with establishment number "EST. 474" inside the USDA mark of inspection, The products subject to recall were produced in December 2010 and were sent to distribution centers in California., Colorado., Maryland., New York and Pennsylvania for further distribution to retail stores.  The FSIS will publish a corresponding list of stores.  

For consumers, here is the list of Lebanon bologna products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7: 

• 6-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 20 2011" printed on the package.
• 12-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by dates of "Apr. 20 2011" or "Apr. 21 2011" printed on the package.
• 16-ounce packages of "SELTZER'S BEEF LEBANON BOLOGNA" with lot code "01351" and best-by date of "Apr. 22 2011" printed on the package.

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The production of bean sprouts without adequate sanitation poses a significant public health risk because of the pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli.

Those food poisoning concerns prompted the Food and Drug Administration this month to shut down a sprout processor in Mount Airy, Maryland, until the owners empty the place and start over with a hired sanitation expert. Vegi-Pak Farm LLC  and its president, Sun Ja Lee, and general manager, Brian W. Lee, signed a consent decree that triggered the closing, the FDA said in a press release.

Vegi-Pak Farm grows, processes, packages and distributes ready-to-eat soybean sprouts and holds and distributes tofu and mung bean spouts. The products are sold to markets in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The operation has been in trouble before with state and federal regulators for insanitary conditions.

Violations found during FDA’s September 2010 inspection of the facility included the presence of numerous flies, inadequate removal of waste, inadequate conveyance of liquid waste; inadequate screening against pests; inadequate cleaning and sanitizing of processing equipment; inadequate hand washing facilities and poor employee sanitation practices.  Inspections conducted by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in August 2010 and in April and July 2008,  found similar conditions at Vegi-Pak Farm, the FDA said.

E. coli sprout outbreaks and Salmonella sprout outbreaks happen in the U.S. with sporadic regularity. These are serious foodborne illnesses that can result in long-term health conditions, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in E. coli victims and Reiter's Syndrome, or reactive arthritis, in Samonella victims.

If you or a loved one has been sickened as part of an E. coli sprouts outbreak or Salmonella sprouts outbreak, contact a food poisoning lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form. An attorney from our firm will provide a free case consultation and answer any questions you might have about a sprouts lawsuit.

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E. coli outbreak researchers at Michigan State University will study strategies to reduce the amount of E. coli released by cattle under a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The hope is that a reduction in E. coli O157:H7 will correspond with a decrease in the number of foodborne illnesses in humans.

The intestines of cattle are the primary reservoir for E. coli O157:H7 bacteria and other types of E. coli that emit powerful Shiga toxin once ingested by humans. The animals shed the bacteria in feces and it can contaminate butchered meat and many other foods depending on circumstances. Michigan State said in a press release that molecular biologist and epidemiologist Shannon Manning will lead the multi-disciplinary shedding study.

Part of the research goal is to better understand shedding of E. coli from Michigan cattle and dairy cows with the goal of enhancing detection methods and control strategies. Maybe there are farming practices that could reduce colonization of the microbes inside the animals. The research team expects to develop new ideas for direct-fed antimicrobials, vaccines, therapies and other control strategies that can reduce the frequency and level of Shiga toxin E. coli shedding.   

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Ever since USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong exposed as superficial our nation's  testing methodology to find E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef, we realize more and more the need to improve our defense against this very dangerous pathogen.

Fong delivered a report last month that showed the USDA's method for test-sampling cuts of beef meant for ground beef  --  beef trim -- is an insufficient screen to keep the bacteria out of hamburger -- which is still the most likely vector to cause multi-state outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning. In 5 to 15 percent of these infections, the organism causes life-threatening hemoloytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).  Children under 5 are most susceptible to HUS, which is the leading cause of E. coli death and can ravage any person of any age with a cascade of medical problems starting with kidney failure.

The Center for Public Integrity, a non-profit organization committed to investigative journalism, helped bring Fong's concerns to life with the following, reader-friendly description of the problem. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be in charge of fixing it. Here's the Center for Public Integrity's take, with a few practical edits:

"Most of the ground beef consumed domestically is made of beef trim, the various bits left on a carcass after the choice cuts have been butchered. A device similar to a carrot peeler is used to slice roughly 4-inch pieces of trim off the cow, which are stacked into large bins, and sent off for testing before being ground. Under the current N-60 method, inspectors test 60 of these slices for E. coli. The process is overseen by the (FSIS).

Fong warned that, in situations where E. coli is present in 1 percent of the inspected bin, the current screening method would miss it over half the time. Or, as the report puts it, “if the contamination level is very low, FSIS is more likely to miss contamination than to detect it.” 

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The Food and Drug Administration is testing for E. coli O157:H7 at an Oregon hazelnut packing company and the California distributor that sold the filberts to retailers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and other states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has associated the hazelnuts recalled by D. DeFranco and Sons with an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened seven people in December and January. One victim is from Michigan and there are three each from Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Minnesota Department of Health has provided the first microbiological link between the hazelnuts and the outbreak. Tests ordered by the state confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of E. coli in hazelnuts taken from the home of one of the victims.

DeFranco, based in Los Angeles, announced an  E. coli hazelnut recall last week. Many of the potentially tainted in-shell filberts were sold in bulk bins at grocery stores. The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Oregon, reported that most of the hazelnuts came from a processor in Oregon -- George Packing Co. of Newberg. The co-owner of the company is a state senator, Larry George. The firm has resisted FDA attempts to obtain its list of farmers for purposes of the traceback investigation.

Yet George and Polly Owen, manager of the Hazelnut Marketing Board in Oregon, say change is needed in the industry to incorporate tougher food safety measures. Oregon produces nearly all the filberts grown in the United States. There are 650 hazelnut farms in Oregon but only 20 processors. There is speculation that the filberts were contaminated from contaminated patches of ground beneath hazelnut trees. The nuts are harvested after they fall to the orchard floor. E. coli O157:H7 is expelled into the environment in feces from cattle and other animals, including deer.

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E. coli O157:H7 matching the hazelnut E. coli outbreak strain has been found in shelled hazelnuts taken from the home of a Minnesotan who became ill, the Minnesota Department of Health said. The laboratory result was the first microbiological confirmation associating in-shell hazelnuts distributed by D. DeFranco and Sons with an outbreak that has sickened three people in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.

Based on purchase information associated with the positive hazelnut sample, the health department traced the product to a December 9, 2010, shipment from DeFranco, based in Los Angeles, California. Late last week, DeFranco recalled in-shell hazelnuts sold in bulk bins at grocery stores along with Cello bags of Sunripe brand hazelnuts and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts with sell-by dates of June 30, 2011. Click here for detailed hazelnut recall information.

Minnesota is one of at least four states investigating the outbreak in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initial association between hazelnuts and the outbreak was based on food history questionnaires that showed six of seven victims having eaten bulk hazelnuts. Traceback efforts are ongoing to determine where in the supply chain the nuts became contaminated.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak and has questions about a possible hazelnut E. coli lawsuit, call an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form. A lawyer at the firm will provide a free case consultation and explain how E. coli litigation works. Our firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning.

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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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E. coli investigators assigned to the filberts E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan will continue their probe this week, trying among other things to find where and how in the supply chain the in-shell hazelnuts became contaminated.

An official from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that part of the effort will be in Oregon, where the filberts are believe to have been harvested. Oregon grows more than 95 percent of the U.S. supply of hazelnuts. The nuts are gathered from the ground after they fall from trees that are 50 to 60 feet tall. It's possible the bacteria contamination occurred at that point, but the handling of the produce in packing, storage and distributions also will be probed.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be looking closely at PulseNet, the CDC's surveillance network for outbreaks. The system can match the genetic fingerprints of human pathogens that come from the same source. Doctors' offices around the country are required in many states to send E. coli samples and other pathogen samples to state labs for molecular subtyping.  So far, the CDC has said there have been seven people infected by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7: One in Michigan and three each in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Forty-three percent have been hospitalized. 

Hazelnut E. coli Recall

Meanwhile, retailers and consumers remain under warning not to sell or eat in-shell hazelnuts and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts distributed by D. DeFranco and Sons of Los Angeles, California. Six of the seven victims of the outbreak reported buying filberts from bulk bins in grocery stores, but the recall also involves Cello-bag packages of Sunripe brand hazelnuts with a sell-by date of June 30, 2011.

DeFranco recalled all hazelnut and mixed nut products distributed from November 2, 2010, to December 22, 2010. Recalled product was shipped to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Recalled products would have been purchased after November 2, 2010.  Important to this recall, because of the bulk sales, is a list of retail stores that received potentially contaminated hazelnuts. National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen has compiled the complete hazelnut stores list on its website, obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health.

E. coli attorneys at PritzkerOlsen are accepting cases from this outbreak at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or a lawyer will call you immediately to follow up on a contact form that you submit online. Our firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We have collected tens of millions of dollars for E. coli victims all around the country, operating from our main office in Minneapolis. PritzkerOlsen also is actively engaged in various efforts to stop food poisoning by keeping dangerous pathogens out of our food supply.

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The filberts E. coli outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan prompted our office to issue the following press release today, through Business Wire:

E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on D. DeFranco & Sons, a Los Angeles, California, wholesaler to pay medical bills and other costs incurred by victims of the multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with eating in-the-shell hazelnuts, also known as filberts. Forty three percent of the people infected by the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been hospitalized for treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"It is only fair that DeFranco & Sons pay for hospitalization and other direct costs while related legal issues, including pain and suffering, are pending,’’ Pritzker said. “The families deserve that peace of mind.’’

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Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan tied E. coli O157:H7 infections to hazelnuts, otherwise known as filberts, to a distributor based in Los Angeles, California -- D. DeFranco & Sons. This multi-state outbreak of E. coli infections currently includes seven case patients and there are reports that two people in Canada were sickened by E. coli O157:H7 with the same genetic fingerprint.

DeFranco is recalling in-shell bulk hazelnuts and cello-bagged Sunripe hazelnuts in the U.S. and Canada. These potentially contaminated filberts were shipped in the U.S. to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. A list of stores that received hazelnuts recalled for E. coli in all those states has been posted by food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., which has launched its own separate investigation into the outbreak. The retail list was obtained from the Minnesota Department of Health.

E. coli in Filberts

E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks caused by shelled nuts are not unheard of. The bacteria, which emits a powerful toxin when consumed by humans, harbors in the guts of cows and other animals and is expelled into the environment by way of feces.  Prevention of microbial contamination in these products lies in the application of good agricultural, manufacturing and storage practices, using food safety approved plans.

Public health officials have not announced where the suspect hazelnuts originated or how they may have become contaminated, but more than 90 percent of the U.S. crop of filberts is raised in Oregon.  Six of the seven victims in this outbreak reported eating shelled hazelnuts purchased in bulk bins. Recalled products would have been purchased after November 2, 2010. Also included in the recall are Sunripe Hazelnuts, Sunripe Large Hazelnuts in 1-pound packages, and Sunripe Mixed Nuts in 2-pound. and 4-pound packages, all with a “Sell-By” date of 6/30/2011. 

People who are victims of this outbreak may have questions about recovering compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering. E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen are accepting cases at 1-888-377-8900 and offering free case consultations. If you fill out a contact form, a lawyer will contact you and discuss how E. coli litigation works. Our attorneys do not get paid by you until they obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf. Over the years we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness.

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 A filbert E. coli outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan has sickened seven people with confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections traced to a California wholesaler D. DeFranco & Sons. DeFranco's recall of hazelnuts was announced Friday for hazelnut and mixed nut products distributed from November 2, 2010, to December 22, 2010. Recalled product was shipped to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

All confirmed case patients in this outbreak reported eating in-the-shell filberts, most purchased in bulk bins at grocery stores. Also included in the recall are Sunripe Hazelnuts, Sunripe Large Hazelnuts in one-pound. packages, and Sunripe Mixed Nuts in two-pound and four-pound packages, all with a sell-by date of June 30, 2011. Click here for a combined list of filbert E. coli recall stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan where product was delivered.

The three Minnesota cases occurred in men over age 50 in Hennepin, Redwood and Stearns counties. The three Wisconsin cases occurred in La Crosse and Brown County and included a child and two adults. None of the Wisconsin case patients were hospitalized, but there have been E. coli O157:H7 hospitalizations elsewhere in this outbreak. The Minnesota Department of Health said two Minnesota filbert E. coli case patients were hospitalized for a time, but have recovered. 

Routine monitoring by the health departments in the respective states identified E. coli O157:H7 cases with the same DNA fingerprint. The individuals became ill between December 20, 2010, and January 28, 2011. The California Department of Public Health helped trace the filberts to DeFranco.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, you may be curious about a potential filbert E. coli lawsuit. E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are conducting their own investigation of the outbreak and will answer questions about victims' rights to compensation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our online contact form. Our law firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars over the years for victims of food poisoning.

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Researchers in Scotland found that 11 percent of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses reported from 1999-2008 were attributable to secondary, or person-to-person, spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The study covered 2,228 E. coli O157:H7 infections and found that secondary cases of infection are just as prone to result in life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), as primary cases. Researchers reported that the mean (midpoint) percentage of HUS developing in case patients was 11 percent..

As previously reported many times in this blog by food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., transmission of E. coli O157:H7 to humans requires only a low infectious dose of bacteria. That's a major reason for why so many people are sickened by exposure to others who are infected.

The Scotland study said the results indicated that E. coli O157:H7 patients need immediate advice about infection control in the home, accompanied by immediate stool sampling and monitoring. And not just for primary or index cases, but also for their contacts. "We must continually raise professional and public awareness of secondary spread,'' the CDC summary of the research said.

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E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker told Minnesota Public Radio today that Minnesota state officials would make rare news if they were to file criminal charges against a raw milk farmer from Gibbon, Minnesota, who currently is under fire on contempt of court allegations.

"The level of prosecution in foodborne illness cases is practically nil," said  Pritzker, a national attorney based in Minneapolis who specializes in seeking damages for food contamination victims.  "In all the years that I've been doing this I have yet to see a manufacturer, producer, actually prosecuted and convicted for any outbreaks.'' 

The audio of the MPR report can be heard below:

Steil and MPR have provided consistent and comprehensive coverage of the story.

The Minnesota case began to unfold last spring when state epidemiologists traced an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 to raw milk dairy products from the farm of Michael Hartmann. State investigators inspected the farm last spring after associating its products to eight E. coli illnesses. It was re-inspected in October after the state linked seven more cases of food borne illness to Hartmann milk, this time Campylobacter and cryptosporidium. Hartmann was defiant and more conflict arose late last year when the Hartmann farm was caught selling its products in the Twin Cities against a state prohibition. The contempt of court charges arose when state officials reported that raw milk products embargoed by the state as unsafe had disappeared from Hartfmann's farm.

For his part, Hartmann has denied wrongdoing and has accused the state of overstepping its authority. But the state says in its contempt of court brief that Hartmann "has consistently refused to comply with food law for more than a decade." According to MPR, state authorities have said the case could warrant felony charges.

Mr. Prtizker, founder and president of national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., said the most recent example of a criminal investigation in a foodborne illness outbreak dates to the 2008-2009 peanut product Salmonella outbreak linked to now-defunct  Peanut Corporation of America. Nine deaths and more than 700 illnesses were attributed to the company's tainted peanut butter, peanut paste and other items. 

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E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes were found in stocks of Bravo Farms cheese recalled in connection with last year's Bravo Farms Gouda cheese E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened 38 people who bought or sample cheese at Costco stores in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nevada.

In addition, state and federal investigators found conditions at Bravo Farms, based in Traver, California, that were not food safe: a colony of flies in a processing area, bare-handed cheese processing, improper handling of equipment, containers and utensils, a rabbit inside the facility and pests. Of  the 24 unpasteurized cheese samples investigators took, 15 tested positive for Listeria and one tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

In a complaint filed with the  the Eastern District of California, FDA authorities said the facilities at artisan cheese company Bravo Farms are ripe for cross-contamination and "not of suitable size, construction, and design to facilitate maintenance and sanitary operations for food manufacturing purposes."

The federal court sanctioned a seizure by federal agents of more than 80,000 pounds of recalled Bravo Farms cheese to ensure it is destroyed. The confiscation included 97 wedges of raw-milk Gouda cheese of the type recalled because of the outbreak.

John Sheehan, director of the FDA's dairy division, told the Los Angeles Times that the actions are part of an FDA review of artisan cheese makers. He said the inspections came from concerns "about raw-milk cheese made under artisanal conditions" and a flurry of nine artisan cheese recalls last year, including at least two that were associated with outbreaks. As of October, the FDA had inspected 102 facilities, some big, some small. Of the 147 samples taken, 32 tested positive for Listeria, the Times reported. The inspections continue.

Bravo Farms Lawsuit 

The cheese-making conditions at Bravo Farms are important to a cheese E. coli lawsuit filed against Bravo Farms and Costco by national food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., with assistance from local counsel in Arizona. E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen represent seven victims of the Gouda E. coli outbreak, including four members of the same family who suffered infections from contaminated raw milk Dutch Style Gouda cheese from the Costco store in Glendale, Arizona, last fall.

Our firm is conducting its own investigation and continues to accept new cases from those who were made ill.  E. coli O157:H7 is a strain of E. coli that produces large quantities of a potent toxin that damage the intestine and a person's red blood cells with potentially fatal health consequences. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the leading cause of E. coli death and the leading cause of kidney failure in children worldwide.

If you or a loved one were sickened after eating Bravo Farms cheese, contact our office for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our E. coli lawsuit contact form. 

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An E. coli lawsuit against Bravo Farms and Costco looms as a check against the cheese E. coli outbreak that sickened 38 people in five Western states as Bravo Farms returns this month to making cheese at its creamery in Tulare, California.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., and its local counsel filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Arizona on behalf of four family members who suffered infections of E. coli O157:H7 matching the outbreak strain after eating Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese at a Costco store in Glendale, Arizona, on October 15, 2010. Costco, which sold and sampled the cheese in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nevada, also is named in the lawsuit. E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, also represents three other victims of the outbreak. If you or a loved one suffered gastrointestinal illness after sampling or buying cheese at Costco in October or November, you may have a claim in this outbreak to recoup medical costs and receive other compensation. Mr.  Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our Bravo Farms E. coli lawsuit contact form.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause one of the most severe forms of foodborne illness and public health investigators at the federal and state level detected the exact strain of this pathogen in packages of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese as was found in the 38 case patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counts this outbreak as one of only two multi-state outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7 to happen in 2010. The cheese was made from raw milk, which the CDC and FDA has warned for years is at risk for contamination from an assortment of pathogens carried by cows.

Bravo Farms co-owner Jonathan Van Ryn told The Business Journal in Fresno that Bravo Farms is working exclusively with pasteurized milk while restarting cheese-making operations after a long shutdown related to the outbreak. Van Ryn told the newspaper that Bravo Farms might make raw milk cheese again but likely would age it longer than the 60-day requirement. He also said Costco is willing to do business with the company in the future but that there is no plan to sell cheese there in the next couple months. Van Ryn said that in all the investigation related to the outbreak, no one determined how the gouda cheese became contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

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The Zillman Meat Market E. coli outbreak in Marathon County, Wisconsin, has spread to three people in Michigan, officials said in a press release. The investigation into the source of the E. coli is ongoing but Marathon County health officials identified the type of E. coli as E. coli 045. 

In November and early December several persons in the Wausau, Wisconsin, area  developed illness from E.coli contracted from eating smoked ready-to-eat meat products processed at Zillman Meat Market in Wausau, the Marathon County Health Department said.

The county is repeating an earlier warning "not  to eat or serve any ready-to-eat smoked meat products purchased from Zillman Meat Market between September 30, 2010 and December 28, 2010.''

The three newest cases were reported in Michigan in December, 2010, after ready-to-eat smoked meat products were shared with family members. The State Department of Health Services assisted in identifying the Michigan cases.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact an E. coli lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our contact form for a free case consultation. Our firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we currently represent multiple people sickened by E. coli in other outbreaks. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

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