American Meat Institute Has A Beef With USDA's New E.coli Policy

Posted on December 6, 2011 by PritzkerLaw

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.”
 

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American Meat Institute Has A Beef With USDA's New E.coli Policy

Posted on December 6, 2011 by PritzkerLaw

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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Probe Widens in Freshway E. coli Outbreak

Posted on May 8, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Many facets remain active in the investigation of the Freshway Foods lettuce E. coli outbreak in New York, Ohio and Michigan.

Initial reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention make it clear that this outbreak has fallen in a big way on college and K-12 students and that it has happened in a tight frame of time -- from April 10-26 (that range could expand if more cases come in).

CDC has visually described the outbreak linked to shredded romaine lettuce in an epidemic curve, or epi curve. The curve shows onset of illness dates for the 19 confirmed illnesses and 10 probable illnesses known as of May 5. Here's the curve:

Infected individuals range in age from 13 years old to 29 years old and the median age is 19 years. Sixty-nine percent of patients are male. Among the 29 patients with available information, 12 (41 percent) were hospitalized. Three patients have developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that is the world's leading cause of kidney failure in children.
 
Two of the probable cases and one of the confirmed cases come from public schools in Wappingers Falls, New York. Also in New York, the Saratoga Springs City School District warned parents this week that children in four schools may have been served contaminated romaine from Freshway.
 
Colleges involved in the outbreak are Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and Daemen College in Amherst, New York. 
The CDC freely admits that E. coli O145 outbreaks have gone unreported because few clinical labs test for the pathogen, which is one of the six most common non-O157 E. coli types that produce poisonous Shiga toxin. That means more victims could be found in the 20 other states that Freshway distributed tainted romaine. 
As epidemiologists search for those cases, the CDC, FDA and certain state health departments also are looking at Freshway and the farm level to determine where in the distribution chain the point of contamination likely occurred. A state official in Arizona and a company official at Freshway have said the lettuce originated at a farm in Yuma, Arizona, but the grower has not been named.
 
Food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is actively investigating the outbreak and monitoring the results of the public probe. If you believe you or a loved one became infected from contaminated romaine lettuce recalled by Freshway from 23 states, contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). We also will consult with you online if you complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.
 
Pritzker Olsen is a national leader in foodborne illness litigation, representing victims of food poisoning in all corners of the U.S. We have clients in New York, Michigan and Ohio, including the family of Nellie Napier of Medina, Ohio. Nellie was one of nine people who died in the peanut butter Salmonella outbreak of early 2009 caused by negligence at Peanut Corp. of America
 
Details of the Freshway lettuce recall can be viewed here.
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Columbus Ohio E. coli Outbreak Part of Three-State Study to Find Cause

Posted on May 4, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

State, local and federal health authorities are getting close to producing a questionnaire in an attempt to pinpoint the food causing a three-state outbreak of E. coli O145 in central Ohio; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Erie County, New York.

An updated message from Columbus Public Health says the epidemiological questionnaire will compare people who were sickened with others who ate at the same places and did not get sick.

"This type of study can make for strong evidence as to what made people sick, even if laboratory tests of food samples do not reveal anything. The investigation is expected to take several weeks,'' the agency said.

In Ohio, no new E. coli O145 cases have been found since April 20 so they believe people may have eaten the tainted food sometime between April 1 and April 20. Investigators do not believe all of the cases are related to one particular restaurant or place, but a group of places that may have all received food from the same distributor.

One of the common denominators in the Ohio, Michigan, New York E. coli outbreak is that university students have been among the victims at Ohio State University, University of Michigan and Daemen College in Amherst, New York.

Columbus Public Health said in its latest message on the outbreak that investigators are actively seeking to talk to anyone in the areas of the outbreak who became sick after April 1 with E. coli symptoms of diarrhea and severe stomach cramping.

And while officials previously have only described the bacteria as non-O157 E. coli, they now have confirmed it is E. coli O145 -- one of six non-O157 types that emit Shiga toxin.

Together in the three states, around 60 cases of illness are considered to be part of the outbreak.

As the public investigation continues, law firm Pritzker Olsen is building its own files on the outbreak and is interested in talking to victims. We are in touch with some of the investigating agencies and also believe a common foodservice distributor or foodservice item is behind the outbreak.

To receive a free case consultation, call an E. coli lawyer at our firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page. 

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Ann Arbor E. coli Outbreak Prompts Food Safety Lawyer to Call for Change

Posted on May 1, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Business Wire has released the following press release in connection with the  E. coli O145 outbreak affecting university students and faculty in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio and Amherst, New York.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen has learned that ground beef is not high on the list of foods suspected of causing an outbreak of E. coli O145 in Michigan, Ohio and New York, where approximately 50 university students and other people are believed to be infected.

Health investigators are looking for a cause that likely comes from a shared foodservice supplier or foodservice item at Ohio State University, University of Michigan and Daemen College, said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of the firm.

But regardless of what food ultimately is confirmed as the cause, Pritzker Olsen is calling on USDA to immediately take steps to broaden E. coli protections where beef is slaughtered and processed. Contaminated ground beef is currently the most common source of E. coli infection.

E. coli O157:H7 is the single most prevalent type of E. coli in U.S. food poisoning cases. As such, it was declared an adulterant in ground beef in 1994, making tainted ground beef illegal to sell and requiring industry to test for the pathogen.

But in 16 years since then, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has failed to put adulterant labels on six additional strains of shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC); E. coli O145, 045, 0121, 0103, 026 and O111.  In addition, the agency has not acted on a public petition to deem all beef products adulterated if contaminated with E. coli organisms -- not just ground beef and cuts intended for ground beef as regulations now state.

Pritzker said the university outbreak of E. coli O145 is a powerful reminder that it's time for the USDA to take a major step forward in keeping potentially deadly E. coli forms out of the U.S. beef supply.

"Non-O157 STECs are every bit as hazardous as E. coli O157:H7 and they all need to be regulated,'' said Pritzker, whose many current food poisoning clients include a survivor of E. coli O111.  "Another public health disaster shouldn't be required in order for change to take place.''

The CDC estimates that non-0157 STECs cause 36,700 illnesses, 1,100 hospitalizations and 30 deaths in America each year. These strains can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), kidney failure, and E. coli death, just like the O157 strain.

Pritzker Olsen law firm, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, represents individuals and families nationwide in cases involving foodborne illness. The firm is involved in virtually every major foodborne illness outbreak and has obtained some of the largest verdicts and settlements in foodborne illness cases. Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE).

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E. coli O145 Outbreak in Michigan, Ohio and New York Continues to Expand

Posted on April 29, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

E. coli O145 has sickened dozens of people in Michigan, Ohio and now New York.

 

Health officials have not released much information, but this is what is being reported by health departments and news sources:

  • E. coli O145 cases in Michigan, Ohio and New York have been genetically linked, meaning the same food source probably made these people sick;
  • The Ohio Department of Agriculture is testing four food samples and food items also are being tested in Michigan;
  • Ground beef is not highly suspected in Michigan;
  • Students at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan are among those sickened in the outbreak;
  • The food that was contaminated with E. coli O145 was most likely served at restaurants, cafeterias and other eating establishments.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is actively investigating this outbreak. Even though the food source of this outbreak has not been determined, it is not too early to contact an E. coli lawyer at our law firm for a free consultation regarding your legal rights: 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our online consultation form.  We are not paid unless you win.

We have recently settled an E. coli case in Michigan and are litigating E. coli cases in Ohio.  Read about a Michigan E. coli lawsuit and an Ohio E. coli lawsuit.


Keywords: E. coli O145 outbreak, Ann Arbor, Michigan, lawyer, Columbus, Ohio, attorney, Ohio State University, University of Michigan, Buffalo, New York, food poisoning, lawsuit, Ecoli 0145.

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E. coli Outbreak in Michigan Ohio NY

Posted on April 29, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

The E. coli O145 outbreak in Ohio and Michigan has spread to New York, where at lest 13 illnesses are suspected of being linked to the outbreak.

All together, the outbreak may have sickened around 50 people and is not contained.

Public health officials in the three states are being assisted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in trying to determine the cause of the outbreak, which has included students at Ohio State University in Columbus and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

New York State Health Department spokesman Jeffrey Hammond said in an e-mail to the Columbus Dispatch that the agency will soon issue a statewide health-care provider alert.

One New York illness has been definitely linked to the Michigan-Ohio E. coli O145 outbreak and a dozen others are suspected of being linked, the newspaper reported.

The linked New York case is from Erie County, home to Buffalo, and the individual has recovered.
 
Meanwhile, all five Ohio E. coli infections previously confirmed by the public health authority in Columbus have now been genetically linked to the outbreak in Michigan, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Eight other probable cases are under evaluation in Ohio
 
The investigation into what is causing this non-O157 E. coli outbreak is at the stage of testing various food samples, but authorities are not saying what foods are suspect. Ground beef is the most common vehicle for E. coli outbreaks, but a source told national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen that beef products were not high on the list of suspect foods.
 
In Ohio, Columbus Public Health officials want to hear from individuals who think they might have been infected. The number to call is 614-719-8888.
 
If you have a confirmed illness or one that is being investigated by health authorities, Pritzker Olsen will answer your legal questions and provide a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).
 
Our law firm, which also can be reached through the contact form on the side of this Web page, is one of the few in the nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We have collected millions for victims of food poisoning over the years.
 
E. coli O145 infections are less common that those caused by E. coli O157:H7, but both types of the organism emit shiga toxins that can wreak havoc in a person's body by shutting down kidney function, damaging the brain and central nervous system and leading to strokes, coma, paralysis and E. coli death. 
 
When complications of this sort develop, a person normally has been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Our firm has represented families in many of these cases against meatpackers, restaurants, food distributors and food processing companies.
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Michigan Ohio E. coli Outbreak Proves the Need to Regulate Non-O157 STECs

Posted on April 27, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

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

Members of the food safety community, including law firm Pritzker Olsen, have been calling for the expanded ruling so that producers of meat are required to test for the potentially deadly pathogens to help protect our food supply.
 
A non-O157:H7 E. coli strain is currently loose in Michigan and Ohio and public health officials are scrambling to determine the food source. If you or a loved one has been affected by the outbreak, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) for a free case consultation. Or, you can contact us with the online form on the side of this Web page.
 
In the Michigan-Ohio E. coli outbreak, at least 12 people have tested positive for non-O157 E. coli and 20 more people are considered probable victims pending test results. Officials are urging anyone with symptoms of E. coli, which include bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps, to contact a physician. Make sure to ask to be tested for E. coli -- your physician is required to report the illness to the health department.
 
The six non-O157 E. coli strains identified as STEC pathogens by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are O26, O111, O103, O121, O45 and O145. These strains can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), kidney failure, and E. coli death, just like the O157 strain. 
The CDC estimates that non-0157 STECs cause 36,700 illnesses, 1,100 hospitalizations and 30 deaths in America each year. As Pritzker Olsen founder and president Fred Pritzker has often said: They are just as hazardous as E. coli O157:H7 and need to be regulated. 
The current E. coli outbreak, which has sickened university students in Columbus, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, could help call attention to the problem. Leaders on this issue have included S.T.O.P. -- Safe Tables Our Priority and select members of Congress including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
 
Senator Gillibrand already has put out a press release on this issue in response to the outbreak.: 
"The laws that are meant to keep us safe from hazardous foods are in critical need of updating. We need immediate action to keep our families safe,'' Sen. Gillibrand says.
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Michigan E. coli Outbreak in Washtenaw County Under Investigation

Posted on April 19, 2010 by PritzkerLaw

Public health officials in Washtenaw County, Michigan, around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, are actively investigating an outbreak of food poisoning thought to be caused by E. coli.

The Michigan E. coli outbreak currently includes 10 cases, but other probable cases also are under investigation. The announcement comes from Dr. Diana Torres-Burgo, medical director for Washtenaw County Public Health.

Dr. Torres-Burgo said investigators are doing everything they can to find the source of the Washtenaw County outbreak. Victims have experience abdominal cramping followed by diarrhea that progressively worsens and often turns bloody. Ill persons have not experience fever, she said.

Anyone with similar symptoms should seek medical attention immediately and ask to be tested for E. coli poisoning. For answers to legal questions about the Michigan outbreak, call national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

A lawyer with years of experience representing E. coli O157:H7 victims will provide you with a free case consultation and encourage you to report your illness to the county if you haven't done so already. Public reporting is important to help prevent more people from getting sick.

E. coli O157:H7 infection is especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people who have weakened immune systems. In five to 15 percent of cases, patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome or an associated illness known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). These conditions are life-threatening and often leave victims with long-term medical conditions that can be disabling.

Michigan authorities in Washtenaw County are still searching for the source of this outbreak. While contaminated ground beef is the leading cause of E. coli outbreaks, many other foods or water also are capable of carrying the pathogen.

Pritzker Olsen is starting to collect information for its own investigation of the outbreak around Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. If you have information about the possible cause of these illnesses, please contact us.

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