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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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E. coli in raw milk caused an outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome HUS in Connecticut in 2008 that has been studied by epidemiologists who have written a research paper on the topic.

On July 16, 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Health identified two unrelated children who had experienced hemolytic uremic syndrome after consuming raw milk from the same farm. The authors investigated the situation further and found 12 more cases of people affected by raw milk from the same farm. The details of their study are chronicled in the December 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Led by Dr. Alice Guh of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the group identified 14 cases, seven of which were confirmed through genetic fingerprint testing. Five case patients required hospitalization and a total of three experienced HUS. No deaths were reported.  E. coli O157:NM outbreak strains were isolated from stool specimens of 6 case patients and 1 milking cow. The total estimated outbreak cost was $413,402. 

"Despite acceptable regulation milking standards and sanitation procedures (at the farm), it is believed that fecal contamination from an asymptomatic cow occurred during milking or the handling of milk'' causing the outbreak, the researchers stated.

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The mother of 4-year-old Kathleen Ragan told an Indianapolis television station that her daughter is severely ill with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after touching animals at the Rush County Fair.

Angel Campbell-Ragan told 24 Hour News8 TV that Kathleen has been sick with an E. coli infection and HUS for almost three weeks and has at least 10 more days of kidney dialysis ahead of her.

The family used hand sanitizers at the county fair, but Kathleen's mother said her daughter is in the habit as a little girl to chew on her fingertips. She said her child may have ingested E. coli bacteria that was caught under her fingernails.

No outbreak has been announced by the Indiana State Department of Health, but a spokesman for the agency reminded families that animal fairs are a common transmission source for pathogens that animals shed in their manure.

HUS 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. Children under 5 are most likely of any age group to develop HUS, but it can harm individuals of any age.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen has years of experience representing families whose children are stricken by HUS, sometimes as a result of food poisoning and other times from animal fairs. Our experience is that children and adults often suffer long-term medical consequences, and not just with their kidneys. Strokes, heart problems, anemia, brain damage, paralysis and central nervous system damage are possible consequences.

To contact an HUS attorney at our firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this web site.  Over the years we have collected millions for our clients and we are actively involved as a firm in efforts to prevent outbreaks of  E. coli and other pathogens.

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The Hartmann dairy farm in Gibbon, Minnesota, has been positively identified by state officials as the source of a raw milk E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least five people, including a toddler who was hospitalized with life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)..

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Health said lab tests provided evidence that the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria found in the victims of this outbreak was found in multiple animals and at multiple sites on the Hartmann farm.  This strain of E. coli has not previously been found in Minnesota.

The health department also reported that cheese samples collected last week from the Hartmann farm contained another form of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, "demonstrating that an ongoing pathway of contamination existed on the farm."

State officials have embargoed dairy products on the Hartmann farm while the investigation continues. 

At least two of the Minnesota raw milk E. coli victims were young children. Kids are the most likely of any age group to develop HUS from an infection of E. coli

Now that there is solid evidence that the Hartmann dairy farm is the source of E. coli in this outbreak, the family of the HUS victim can seek compensation on behalf of their child and themselves for the medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering and other expenses and losses.

This is not a matter of being lawsuit happy. The financial strain on a family dealing with child HUS is so enormous that it can put a strain on relationships and may prevent a child from getting the best care both now and in the future. 

Food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen has represented children with HUS E. coli and is recognized as a national leader in foodborne illness litigation. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning while also staying actively involved in food safety efforts to reduce and prevent dangerous outbreaks.

To understand you legal rights in regards to the Hartmann E. coli outbreak,  call an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

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A state health official is worried that the illness count in Minnesota's raw milk E. coli outbreak could increase as investigators continue to probe the outbreak's association with raw milk from the Hartmann Dairy Farm, also known as M.O.M.'s.

The Star Tribune reported that state officials have little doubt that the Gibbon, Minnesota, dairy farm produced the raw milk containing  E. coli O157:H7. The Department of Health announced Wednesday that four E. coli infections are considered to be part of the outbreak because they have matching genetic fingerprints.

Three of the four were hospitalized, including a toddler who developed life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

"I am concerned that we are going to hear about more cases,"  Dr. Kirk Smith, supervisor of state Health Department foodborne disease investigations, told the Star Tribune. It often takes up to two weeks for cases to surface, he added.

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 An investigation into a cluster of child E. coli cases in Belgium, Wisconsin, is continuing, but the Ozaukee County health officer has issued a press release saying the illnesses could have been caused by eating contaminated snow or ice.

In addition, the children had close contact with each other and could have passed it to each other, officials said.

A news release from the office of Ozaukee Health Officer Glenda Madlom said interviews conducted with family members for all three E. coli cases were unable to identify a common food item or other definite source of infection. "The source has not been absolutely determined but a possible explanation includes close contact or a common environmental source, such as contaminated snow or ice,'' the news release said.

The investigation -- aided by the state health department --  has identified two laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in siblings. One had onset in December and one had onset in January. A third case was identified in a neighbor who had onset in December and tested negative for E. coli infection, but is considered a probable case based on clinical symptoms.

Two of the three patients were hospitalized, and one remains hospitalized. At least one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E coli O157:H7 infection that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.

 The Ozaukee Health Department also is investigating a case of laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis in a child from the same neighborhood. At this time there is no evidence that this infection is related to the three E. coli cases, however the investigation is ongoing. Both cryptosporidium and E. coli are found on farms and in animal manure and Belgium is in a farming area.

As a precaution, the Village of Belgium tested its water supply over the weekend and determined that the water is safe. In addition, the health department is working closely with the DNR and the Ozaukee County Department of Land and Water to assist in evaluating environmental concerns. 

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The Food and Drug Administration is working with Nestle USA to pinpoint the source of E. coli O157:H7 that has been found once again in Toll House cookie dough.

The company's cookie dough was linked last year to a nationwide E. coli outbreak that sickened 80 people in 31 states, including 35 who were hospitalized and 10 who developed life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen, which practices extensively in the area of HUS E coli litigation, represented victims of the outbreak.

On Monday, Nestle's improved detection system found the pathogen in two product samples before they left the factory in Danville, Virginia, The results were immediately reported to FDA. The plant is shut down for two weeks while Nestle converts to using heat-treated flour that will kill E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter and other harmful foodborne bacteria.

Nestle said there will be no recall of product associated with the latest findings because none of the contaminated dough left the plant

.

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

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

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

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

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

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Health officials in the Tri Cities area of northeast Tennessee are investigating the cause of two life-threatening child E. coli cases in the past month.

Both children are being treated at Johnson City Medical Center, where one is in pediatric intensive care and another was scheduled late this week to receive a blood transfusion. Certain serotypes of E. coli produce a toxin in humans that can cause hemorrhagic colitis or lead to a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the U.S. 

WJHL-TV and news website TriCities.com are reporting that the situation has prompted investigations by the Tennessee Department of Health and the Northeast Tennessee Health Office. At this time, no source has been identified, but the family of the 4-year-old boy who was scheduled for a transfusion suspects he may have contracted the bacteria at a cow exhibit at the Appalachian Fair.

Petting zoos and animal fairs have been the cause of past outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, including an outbreak early this year in Colorado linked to the Western National Livestock Show.  

National law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys is currently  representing victims of the Denver livestock show E. coli outbreak and has years of experience representing families beset with the stressful and threatening realities of E. coli and HUS in children.

To contact a lawyer at our firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or receive a free case consultation by completing our online contact form. 

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