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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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 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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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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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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Food poisoning litigation was the topic of the keynote address delivered last week in British Columbia by American food safety attorney Fred Pritzker. More than 100 Environmental Health Officers attended the address as part of the Fraser Health Authority's Annual Environmental Health Officer Educational Day.

The 47-page Power Point demonstration focused on how lawyers prove food poisoning cases in the aftermath of outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and other types of foodborne illness. In Canada, Environmental Health Officers are like food safety inspectors in the U.S. Mr. Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., explained how he and his associates at the firm thrive on holding wrongdoers accountable for violating food safety rules. The best way to do that is obtain fair compensation for clients' harms and losses. The firm also advocates for safer food and for the elimination of human pathogens from the food supply.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys are involved in practically all national outbreaks of foodborne illness, always representing victims. The firm's typical foodborne illness cases involve significant injuries or death, but lawyers at the firm also handle a volume of smaller cases from the same outbreak.

Pritzker told the Canadian health officers that the real battleground in foodborne illness litigation is proving that a particular food product caused a particular client's foodborne illness. He touched on the importance of using food safety experts to help fortify the cases and he discussed how a case is put into suit when settlement negotiations fail.

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Nearly ten years of progress to improve how the nation prevents, identifies, and contains E. coli 0157:H7 outbreaks, other disease outbreaks and bioterrorism threats faces erosion due to widespread cuts in public health spending.

That is the thrust of the "Ready or Not 2010" report released this week by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report notes that almost a decade of gains since 2001 is in real jeopardy due to severe budget cuts by federal, state, and local governments. "The economic recession has led to cuts in public health staffing and eroded the basic capabilities of state and local health departments, which are needed to successfully respond to crises.''

A report summary said 33 states and Washington, D.C. cut public health funding from fiscal years (FY) 2008-09 to 2009-10, with 18 of these states cutting funding for the second year in a row.  The report also notes that just eight states raised funding for two or more consecutive years.  The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has found that states have experienced overall budgetary shortfalls of $425 billion since FY 2009.

While states are struggling, federal support for public health preparedness has been cut by 27 percent since FY 2005 (adjusted for inflation), the report said.  Local public health departments report losing 23,000 jobs - totaling 15 percent of the local public health workforce - since January 2008.

From a food safety standpoint,  we all depend on public health staffing to monitor and detect the cause of E. coli 0157:H7 outbreaks, Salmonella outbreaks, Listeria outbreaks and outbreaks caused by other dangerous human pathogens. In fact, the entire national monitoring system for detection and tracebacks relies on close communication between doctors' offices, local, state and federal agencies with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The reporting and traceback systems must be preserved to minimize outbreaks and to hold those who distribute poisoned food accountable for their actions with food safety lawsuits.

Some key findings on the vulnerabilities in the nation's public health preparedness include:

• Seven states cannot currently share data electronically with health care providers.
• Ten states do not have an electronic syndromic surveillance system that can report and exchange information to rapidly detect disease outbreaks.
• The United States has 50,000 fewer public health workers than it did 20 years ago - and one-third of current workers are eligible to retire within five years.

The report also looked at findings from a recently released report from the CDC based on activities in 2007-08 that focus on emergency operations and food outbreak identification.: 21 states were not able to rapidly identify disease-causing E.coli O157:H7 and submit the lab results in 90 percent of cases within four days.

Click here to read the entire Ready or Not 2010 report.

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An HUS E. coli death in Jasper County, Missouri, is under investigation by public health officials who say the victim was one of 11 people who fell sick at a family gathering over Thanksgiving weekened.

The Jasper County Health Department has collected leftover food  from the family event as part of the effort to determine the cause of the E. coli outbreak. Health Department Director Tony Moehr told reporter John Hacker of the Carthage Press that he believes the outbreak is isolated to those exposed at the family event. Names of the victims, including the HUS E. coli  patient who died, have not been released out of respect for the family's privacy. 

HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, is a life-threatening condition in which the body’s blood-clotting mechanisms are altered, causing blocked circulation or bleeding in the brain or kidneys. Kidney failure is a common result. Once an infection has been established, no therapeutic interventions are available to lessen the risk of the course that HUS will take. Across the United States, HUS E. coli kills about 80 people a year.

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Food safety inspectors for the state of Idaho were inspecting a prison south of Boise for evidence of E. coli bacteria in the wake of an outbreak of serious food poisoning, the Associated Press is reporting.

The story said five individuals at the privately run Idaho Correctional Center became sick around December 1. Tests from at least two of the victims identified a toxin associated with E. coli bacteria that can cause serious illness. Sarah Correll, staff epidemiologist at Idaho's Central District Health Department, said in the AP story that no new cases have been discovered and the inmates who were sickened are recovering.

The state inspectors were at the prison doing both food and water inspections, the story said.

Many types of E. coli release a powerful toxin--called a "verotoxin" or a "Shiga toxin"--that attacks the lining of the intestine. The most prominent Shiga toxin E. coli type is 0157:H7.  In most cases of  E. coli O157:H7, severe abdominal cramps are followed by watery, then bloody, diarrhea that subsides within a week or so. In 5 to 15 percent of reported E. coli O157:H7 infections, the Shiga toxins enter the bloodstream, causing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which often leads to kidney failure and also can lead to anemia, internal bleeding, central nervous system disruption and stroke. HUS is the leading cause of E. coli deaths. 

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An Arizona Costco cheese E. coli outbreak is under investigation by state and federal health officials who say that at least 11 people in Arizona may have been sickened by a product sold by Costco at Cheese Road Shows in October.

Besides Arizona, another 14 people have been sickened by the same exact outbreak strain of E. coli in New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada and California.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Costco warned consumers in a press release on Thursday to avoid Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese because the cheese may be related to this outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 infections. 

 Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda E. coli Facts:

Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese was offered for sale and in cheese sampling events at Costco Wholesale locations.

As of Thursday, 25 people have fallen ill since mid-October. The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (11), CA (1), CO (8), NM (3) and NV (2). There have been 9 reported hospitalizations, 1 possible case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths

E. coli is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines. Although most types of E. coli are harmless, some types can make you sick. The worst type of E. coli, known as E. coli O157:H7, causes bloody diarrhea and can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death.

E. coli lawyers at  PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are monitoring this Costco cheese E. coli outbreak and have established a claims center for members of the public who have been harmed. For a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page. Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning.

We currently represent E. coli HUS victims and have years of experience representing victims of food poisoning against large national retailers and food manufacturers.

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Health officials in Hawaii are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections and have temporarily closed a barbecue restaurant in Honolulu that they have associated with at least some of the illnesses.

Peppa's Korean BBQ restaurant was ordered closed Thursday by Hawaii's Department of Health, according to a news report by KITV.com. The health agency is aware of seven E. coli patients, some of whom ate food from the restaurant before becoming ill, the report said.

KITV reported that four of the seven victims were hospitalized and that one remained hospitalized Thursday. Six of the patients were from Oahu.

The story didn't say what caused the outbreak, only that "a health inspection team found evidence of exposure to the bacteria'' at the restaurant. 

"Health officials have ordered the restaurant's owners to correct the problems with thorough cleaning and training before it allows the business to reopen,'' KITV.com reported.

The health department has reminded doctors to report any E. coli  infections to the agency. If you or a loved one believe you may be part of this outbreak, immediately see a doctor. For answers to legal questions, call law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete a contact form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation that has collected millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning. We also are actively involved in efforts to prevent outbreaks and strengthen U.S. food safety laws.

E. coli O157:H7 infection is a serious threat to anyone's health, but children, pregnant women, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems are most at risk. In five to 15 percent of cases, patients develop E. coli HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be life threatening.

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 A cluster of  E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut have been associated with fresh ground beef made in New York and sold in meat cases at Trader Joes, Price Chopper, Shaw's, BJ's, Ford Brothers and Giant stores.

The ground beef E. coli outbreak and recall of 545,699 pounds of Fairbanks Farms ground beef was announced early this morning by the USDA. The potentially contaminated ground beef was sold through retail meat cases under the various stores' labels. To recognize the recalled ground beef, look for the USDA establishment number EST 492 inside the USDA mark of inspection. EST 492 is the plant identifier for Fairbanks Farms.

The packages have sell-by dates ranging from September 19-28 and Oct. 6,7. Consumers also are urged to check their freezers for this product. Freezing temperatures do not kill E. coli O157:H7, a pathogenic bacteria which can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). E. coli HUS is a life-threatening illness that hits hardest against kids under 5 and adults over age 60. It also is dangerous to others with weakened immune systems.

This is the second New England ground beef E. coli outbreak and recall to happen in weeks. The first involved more than 20 Rhode Island Lincoln Middle School sixth graders sickened by hamburgers made in Brockton, Massachusetts, and served at Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working with USDA and state health and agriculture departments to investigate these New England E. coli outbreaks.

Anyone with E. coli symptoms, especially bloody diarrhea, is urged to see a physician. Make sure stool sample tests are taken and any confirmed illness must be reported to public health officials by your doctor. For more legal information about this outbreak, contact national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of food poisoning and we have collected millions for victims.

We currently represent E. coli HUS patients and are accepting cases from the New England E. coli ground beef outbreaks in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Pritzker Olsen attorney David Szerlag is a Rhode Island attorney.

E. coli O157:H7 is banned from ground beef in the United States. Because it is an adulterant, liability for illnesses caused by it do not stop with the manufacturer. To receive a free case consultation, call us or contact us online by completing a contact and information form. 

Prevention of foodborne illness is an important part of our mission at Pritzker Olsen. Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen spent parts of this year giving seminars at industry food safety conventions to discuss the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in our food supply and what companies should do to prevent it.

For the complete list of recalled ground beef, click here and scroll to bottom.

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In petting zoo E. coli outbreaks, the primary mode of transmission is from feces of an animal to the mouth of the person by unconscious hand-to-mouth contact. That's because animal fur, skin, saliva and living areas can become contaminated with fecal germs.

Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm with expertise in all cases involving E. coli O157:H7, is investigating a possible outbreak at Sponsel's Minnesota Harvest Petting Zoo near Jordan, Minnesota.

Our firm represents a 3-year-old boy who apparently became infected with E. coli O157:H7 from a llama at the zoo and we believe there could be at least one more person who also is a victim.

The child spent 11 days this month in a Twin Cities hospital fighting hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a life-threatening complication of an E. coli O157 infection.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) found a strain of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of a llama at the petting  zoo that genetically matched the strain of  E. coli O157:H7 that sickened the toddler.

The petting zoo has been voluntarily and temporarily shut down.  The apple orchard at Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest is not associated with this potential E. coli outbreak. The attraction is located about 12 miles south of Shakopee.

E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most common and most dangerous kinds of intestinal disease agents associated with animal contact. Pritzker Olsen also represents victims of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at this year’s National Western Stock Show in Denver.

“Despite state guidelines recommending sanitation measures to ensure the safety of visitors to petting zoos, it  appears the operator of this facility did not follow all of these guidelines,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. 

For a free consultation with an attorney regarding your E. coli poisoning case, please call 612-338-0202, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form., 

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 The Centers for Disease Control has associated the Lincoln Middle School E. coli outbreak in Rhode Island with contaminated ground beef served at Camp Bournedale during a school trip. The camp and meat supplier, South Shore Meats Inc., are both located in Massachusetts.

See details of the related South Shore Meats recall

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