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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kidney Failure 

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

Neurological Damage 

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

Diabetes 

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

Gastro-intestinal problems

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

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

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In the United States, about 1,000 foodborne illness outbreaks happen every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These outbreaks, caused by food tainted with pathogens such as E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria or Campylobacter, sicken 48 million people -about one sixth of the population, every year. Some of these people, roughly 128,000 of them, will become so sick they require hospitalization. Though most of those hospitalized will recover from the foodborne illness, some will face long-term health problems including:

Kidney Failure
Most common in children, hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious condition that can develop when toxins from an E. coli infection destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury.

Chronic arthritis
Reactive arthritis can develop after a Campylobacter infection. In some cases, people who contract a Shigella or Salmonella infection develop reactive arthritis experiencing joint pain, painful urination and irritated eyes, for months or even years leading to chronic arthritis.

Brain damage
Listeria and Salmonella infections can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain. For newborns, long-term consequences can include mental retardation, seizures, paralysis, blindness, or deafness.

Nerve damage
Roughly 40 percent of all U.S.cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a nerve disorder that can cause temporary or long-term paralysis, are triggered by an infection with Campylobacter.

Death
Every year, 3,000 Americans die of illnesses associated with food poisoning. Almost 90 percent of those fatalities are caused by just five pathogens: Salmonella, Toxoplasma, Listeria, norovirus, and Campylobacter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The North Carolina outbreak is tragic, but not unusual.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following ground beef products are subject to recall:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Huron County, Michigan, E. coli outbreak has developed recently with three confirmed illnesses and a fourth individual who is awaiting laboratory tests. A fifth person suspected of E. coli 0157:H7 infection tested negative for the pathogen.

According to the Huron County Health Department, three of the case patients are hospitalized, raising the possibility that one or more has developed life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). On average, five to 15 percent of people infected with E. coli 0157:H7 develops HUS or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

The Huron Daily Tribune quoted the county's health services director, Cindy Rochefort, as saying the cause of the outbreak has not been determined. As the public health investigation continues, area physicians and medical institutions have been alerted to look for HUS E. coli symptoms.

Law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represents HUS victims and is investigating the Huron E. coli outbreak. If you or a loved one lives in the area of the outbreak or has eaten recently at a restaurant in the county and believe you may have developed an E. coli infection, seek medical care immediately. For answers to legal questions about HUS litigation and compensation, call our firm at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

PritzkerOlsen is a leading food poisoning law firm involved in virtually every foodborne illness outbreak in the United States. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of people injured or killed as a result of adulterated food, including hemolytic uremic syndrome victims who have suffered kidney failure, heart problems, brain damage, anemia, central nervous system damage and other complications.We understand the long-term nature of medical issues surrounding HUS and the implications of current and future pain and suffering for victims and their families.

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Peppa's South King in Honolulu -- the restaurant at the center of a Hawaii E. coli outbreak investigation -- has reopened after an intense day of E. coli safety training and other food safety instruction.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin reported that a Hawaii Department of Health worker remained at Peppa's until midnight Thursday working with restaurant staff on a 10-point mitigation plan before the department cleared the restaurant for reopening Friday.

Peppa's manager John Kim told the newspaper that business was totally dead on the first day back in operation.

The health department has not issued any updates since it was reported earlier in the week that seven people suffered E. coli O157:H7 infections between March 2-23, including four who said they had eaten at Peppa's, 1240 S. King Street. Public health investigators observed food handling violations at the restaurant.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is investigating the outbreak and would welcome any information from families affected by illness or from people familiar with the restaurant. Call us at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

If you are a victim of this outbreak and seek answers to legal questions, an E. coli lawyer at our firm will provide you with a case consultation at no cost to you. We represent victims of food poisoning in every corner of the United States, including Hawaii. If we agree to take your case, you owe us nothing until you win.

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At least one child HUS case and possibly a second is under investigation as part of the Villiage of Belgium E. coli outbreak in southeastern Wisconsin.

Fox 6 News of Milwaukee broke the story that several Wisconsin children who live on Grand Avenue in Belgium have been stricken recently by E. coli O157:H7 infections. The station says one 4-year-old spent six weeks at Childrens' Hospital with E coli HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. The child underwent dialysis and blood transfusions and was in the intensive care unit. Now a second child has been hospitalized.

Ozaukee County Health Department officials, along with state health investigators, are looking for a cause. The Village of Belgium WI president says E. coli water tests taken on the town's water supply have come back negative.

If you have information on this outbreak or wish to speak to an E. coli lawyer who has experience in outbreak investigations, contact an E. coli HUS lawyer at Pritzker Olsen by dialing 1-888-377-8900 (toll free.) Our law firm is a recognized leader in the area of foodborne illness and we are actively involved in efforts to prevent food poisoning of all types by making the U.S. food supply safer.

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Well-wishers from around the country are praying for the recovery of a 1-year-old boy from Iowa who has been hospitalized with a severe complication of E. coli O157:H7 disease -- a possible victim of the multi-state JBS Swift beef outbreak.

The story of Isaiah Romero was first carried by KSFY-TV in Sioux Falls, where the boy has been receiving medical attention this week at Sanford Children's Hospital. He first became sick a few weeks ago, but an E. coli test returned negative. Then his illness progressed into HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, which happens to a number of children who become infected with E. coli O157:H7. HUS is the leading cause of E. coli deaths.

Iowa isn't one of the nine states initially identified by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as a location of any of the known illnesses in the JBS Swift outbreak. But it's very plausible the outbreak has spread, especially in the Midwest were Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota have all seen cases. It's very common for the CDC to publish updates on an outbreak to cover newly found cases.

Isaiah's father was quoted in the KSFY story as saying: " It's hard on us, but with God's help we are doing OK.''

Well-wishers have been writing in to the station's website with messages of empathy and prayer. One unidentified writer said Isaiah's cousin was being treated for the same illness. That is not confirmed.

One of the most recent messages came from Susan Vaughn Grooters, public health coordinator for the food safety non-profit group known as Safe Tables Our Priority, or STOP.

"We can help navigate the public health response, the medical system, and our peer-to-peer network can help families not feel so isolated in such a difficult and unpredictable time. Our hearts go out to Isaiah and the Romero family.''

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, located in Minneapolis, is currently representing families who have had loved ones develop HUS from E. coli. Our firm is one of America's most experienced representatives of victims of foodborne illness. We have recovered millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning by holding meatpackers, food companies, restaurants, insurers and other parties accountable for dangerous pathogens in food.

To learn more, contact our firm toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or email president Fred Pritzker at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com. To receive a free case consultation from an HUS lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, go online to complete one of our submission forms. 

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 A problem arises when a person believes they were sickened by E. coli O157:H7, but in doctor visits never gave a stool sample -- the surest method of proving the cause of foodborne illness.

The question has arisen again in the Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak that has infected at least 72 people in 30 states. Fred Pritzker, founder and president of national food poisoning law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, explains options in a Nestle cookie dough FAQ below.

Our law firm has collected tens of millions for victims of E. coli O157:H7 and other foodborne illnesses. We are representing victims nationwide and have the resources, experience and skill to represent you and hold parties to the outbreak responsible. Contact an E. coli lawyer at our firm by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing an online form to receive a free case consultation from one of our attorneys.

Here are the Nestle E. coli FAQs:

I got sick after eating Nestlé Toll House cookie dough.  Am I
part of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak?

The best way to determine if you are part of the Nestlé Toll House
outbreak is to have your stool tested. If the stool test is positive
for E. coli O157:H7, further testing is necessary to determine if the
E. coli O157:H7 found in your stool matches the genetic fingerprint
of the samples obtained from other outbreak victims.  If your stool
sample is positive for E. coli O157:H7 and it has the same genetic
fingerprint as the other victims, it is highly likely that you are
part of this outbreak.

I got sick but I was not asked to provide a stool sample.  How
do I prove I was part of this outbreak?

There are many reasons why people with E. coli O157:H7 are not asked
to provide a stool sample.  The problem is that without a positive
stool sample, it’s difficult to say what’s causing your symptoms.
That’s because there are many illnesses and conditions that produce
symptoms similar to E. coli O157:H7. Thus, the best evidence that you
have E. coli O157:H7 is a positive stool sample. However, and as
discussed below, in some cases it is possible to link undiagnosed
symptoms if you have leftover cookie dough that tests positive for E.
coli O157:H7.

I still have some of the Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough.  If
it’s tested and the testing shows it’s contaminated with E. coli
O157:H7, does that mean I have a case even if I did not give a stool
sample?

Under some circumstances, a product that tests positive for E. coli
O157:H7 can help prove you are part of this outbreak even if you did
not provide a stool sample.

Where can I have the Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough tested to
see if it’s contaminated with E. coli O157:H7?

There are labs that will test your cookie dough for you.  You may
contact Exova in Portland, Oregon, at 503-253-9136 for testing your
product . You may also contact Accugen
Labs in Willow Brook, IL at 1-800-282-7102, or fill out an Accugen submission form.  Either
of these laboratories will have you fill out a form to send with your
product. Please note that our law firm is not affiliated with these
labs and we have no contact with or control over them regarding food
testing. Thus, we can accept no responsibility for anything regarding
product testing by these labs including but not limited to lost
samples, the manner in which the testing is performed, test results,
etc.

 Make sure you are clear that you want your product tested for E. coli  O157:H7.

How much does it cost and who pays for it?

Testing will cost about $35-50 depending on how many tests need to be
performed.   You will have to pay that cost via check or credit card
when you ship your product.   If tests show the food is adulterated
with E. coli O157:H7 and we accept your case and later obtain a
recovery on your behalf, you will be reimbursed for all testing costs.

How do I get a sample of Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough and
send it to the testing company?

Products are generally sent in a sealed plastic bag, with an ice pack
to keep your product relatively cold via FedEx overnight service.
When you fill out your shipping form, the lab can assist in choosing
the proper packaging, but anything that is sealed, and keeps the
product cool will most likely work.

How long does it take to find out if the sample is positive?

Results will generally be available in 2-5 days.  If your product is
positive for E. coli O157:H7, further tests on your product may be
necessary to confirm this result, and to determine the exact strain of
E. coli O157:H7.

If the sample is positive, what do I do then?

Immediately contact an E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen at
1-888-377-8900.  Further testing on your product may be necessary.

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Nestle Toll House cookie dough packages are printed with a warning against raw consumption of the product. In a press release, the founder and president of national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys explains the emptiness of the warning and calls on Nestle to immediately pay medical bills and lost wages for victims of the ongoing Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2009 -- Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm with extensive experience in E. coli O157:H7 litigation, has called on Nestle USA to immediately pay the medical bills, lost wages and other expenses incurred by victims of the E. coli outbreak that state and federal health officials have associated with eating uncooked Nestle Toll House cookie dough.

Fred Pritzker, founder and president of the law firm, also said that Nestle will eventually be held accountable for full compensation to victims even though Toll House cookie dough packages carry a warning against eating the product raw. According to Consumer Reports, 39 percent of American consumers make a habit of eating cookie dough raw.

"It's a popular snack eaten from the package and no one knows that better than Nestle,'' Pritzker said. "A tidy little warning against eating raw dough won't get a company off the hook for selling food that is laced with a deadly pathogen.''

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 70 individuals in 30 states have been diagnosed since March 1 with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, an organism that produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness and death. Thirty of the 70 victims have been hospitalized, including seven who have suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous complication that attacks a person's red blood cells and kidneys. Nestle has recalled ALL varieties of its refrigerated Toll House cookie and brownie dough and the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have warned consumers not to eat or bake with the product.

"It is only fair that Nestle pay for the medical bills of its injured customers,'' Pritzker said. "The families deserve that peace of mind.''

He said other corporations involved in E. coli outbreaks have advanced medical expenses to those injured by their food products. "Corporate responsibility means taking concrete steps to right a wrong. It is time for Nestle to step up and guarantee that its Toll House cookie dough customers will not be stuck with hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills,'' he said.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and it is involved in practically every major outbreak, including the peanut product Salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 700 people and killed nine late last year and early this year. PritzkerOlsen is representing the families of three women who died in the Salmonella outbreak and has filed a Salmonella wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corp. of America -- the company that federal officials have linked to the outbreak.

Currently, Pritzker Olsen is preparing information for a possible Nestle cookie dough lawsuit and it is doing some of its own investigating into the outbreak and product recall. Most of Nestle's Toll House cookie dough is produced at a factory in Danville, Virginia, where 550 people work. The plant also makes Buitoni refrigerated pasta.

To contact an E. coli  lawyer Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact us online by completing one of our forms for a free case consultation.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in with its first report on the Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak and recall, saying that young females dominate the known universe of victims.

The CDC also named all states involved in the outbreak. States with the most cases are Minnesota (6), Washington (5), Colorado (5), Illinois (5), Ohio (4), Massachusetts (4), Texas (3) and Maine (3).

The complete list -- provided by the CDC -- goes as follows:  Arkansas (1), Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Delaware (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (6), Missouri (2), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), Nevada (2), Ohio (4), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (2), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (1).

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is accepting cases from all states involved in the outbreak, which has sickened at least 66 people. Federal authorities say 25 of the victims have been hospitalized and seven have suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, a  type of kidney failure that presents severe complications.

If you or someone you know has become ill from eating Nestle cookie dough products, see a physician and make sure E. coli test results are forwarded to your state health department. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 and have eaten raw cookie dough from Nestle, an E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen is ready to assist you. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our online forms for a free case consultation.

Nestle has said that its cookie dough packages carry a warning not to eat the product raw. But everyone knows that Americans commonly eat raw cookie dough as a treat. In addition, a person could get sick without knowingly eating raw dough -- just from handling it during the cooking process and getting it on your hands.

Nestle has recalled ALL varieties of its refrigerated, prepackaged Toll House cookie and brownie dough and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC have warned consumers not to eat the product raw nor bake it. See the complete recall list by clicking here.

The CDC said the illnesses have been traced to March 1. More than 70 percent of the confirmed cases are in patients under the age of 19. Three-fourths of all patients are female. The CDC said "most'' patients sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 told investigators that they had eaten raw Nestle cookie dough before experiencing vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. No one over the age of 57 is in the group.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has warned consumers in that state not to eat Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough, which health investigators believe may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The announcement, carried by Channel 9 News in Denver, quoted state health officials as saying there are at least 66 E. coli infections in 28 states that have been matched through laboratory analysis. Epidemiological study has associated the cases with Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough. Five cases have been confirmed in Colorado, including two people who have been hospitalized and one person has suffered severe complications.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys expects more information on the outbreak to be forthcoming. Colorado and Minnesota are two of the states involved. The firm has begun its own investigation and is accepting cases from all states involved in the outbreak. An E. coli lawyer is ready to assist you. The contact number is 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning, including clients from the latest national Salmonella outbreak involving peanut butter and other peanut products. In that instance, Pritzker Olsen has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough has not announced any recalls in the current outbreak.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly organism that is especially hazardous to small children, the elderly and other people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, sharp abdominal cramping and nausea. Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a potentially fatal complication of E. coli. It often involves kidney failure and is the leading cause of E. coli deaths.

Pritzker Olsen has years of experience representing victims of HUS, E. coli O157:H7 and other foodborne diseases. Founder and president Fred Pritzker has been a frequent critic of U.S. food safety laws and inspection efforts. He also has been dedicated to educating the public on the dangers of contaminated food and to illuminating unsafe food manufacturing processes.

To contact the firm in writing for a free case consultation, complete one of our online consultation forms.  

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Breaking News April 19, 2010: An E. coli outbreak in Washtenaw County, Michigan has sickened at least 10 people, 2 of whom have been hospitalized.  Most of those sickened live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Our law firm is currently representing E. coli victims and E. coli HUS victims.  Contact us.

The Michigan E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid’s Produce Company has sickened at least 35 people in Michigan. At least 6 people in Illinois have also been sickened in this outbreak.

According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, some of the Michigan cases consumed shredded or chopped iceberg lettuce in restaurants or institutions purchased from Aunt Mid's Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor. This is epidemiological evidence that associates Aunt Mid’s with the outbreak. 

The Michigan Depatment of Agriculture has been testing Aunt Mid's iceberg lettuce samples and Aunt Mid's processing facility. To date, the state tests have found no contamination of either Aunt Mid’s iceberg lettuce or Aunt Mid’s processing facility.

According to James McCurtis, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Community Health, Aunt Mid’s is still suspected because its lettuce is the only kind delivered to the Lenawee County Jail (5 inmates sickened) and the two restaurants in Illinois where the outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria was also found.

Legally, an epidemiological association with an outbreak can be sufficient evidence to find liability. This is necessary in cases involving a perishable food product because by the time an outbreak is uncovered, perishable food items are often consumed. This is particularly true in the case of a perishable food product served at a restaurant or other food service facility.  In this case, the epidemiological evidence is supported by the finding of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 (microbiological evidence) at the Lenawee County Jail and the two restaurants in Illinois.

If you or your child has been sickened in the Michigan E. coli outbreak, it is critical that you contact an E. coli lawyer if you want to be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages. Liable parties could include farms, processors, distributors, a food service company, a restaurant and others. If you retain our law firm, we will immediately investigate your case.

Our law firm has a national reputation in this area, and we handle E. coli cases throughout the United States. We are currently handling a number of E. coli cases, including cases involving hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To contact the firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online consultation form for a free consultation.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported that the outbreak that has resulted in one death and dozens sickened is an E. coli outbreak. The Oklahoma State Department of Health's public health laboratory found "a type of E. coli bacteria" in 10 patient specimens tested. (Update: On August 29, 2008 the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported that the E. coli involved in this outbreak is 0111 and that 116 persons have been sickened in the outbreak.)

Four children sickened in this Oklahoma E. coli outbreak have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  Three of those children are on dialysis.

We are representing people who contracted E. coli infections after eating at restaurants. One person we are representing developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and is in a coma.  Attorney Fred Pritzker spent two days in the intensive care unit with the family.

Antibiotics and anti-diarrheal medicines are not recommended for treating E. coli. Research has shown that antibiotics and anti-diarrheal medicines can lead to the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome.  Although the CDC has issued a warning to medical professionals regarding this, we have been contacted by people who have been prescribed these medications when they presented to a doctor with the symptoms of an E. coli infection.

For information about E. coli lawsuits, restaurant liability, or any other legal help, please contact our law firm: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli litigation cases.

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