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

Carefully washing produce is the best way to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, but it can’t always eliminate it. In some cases, Salmonella and E. coli can live inside plant tissues, according to a recent study by researchers at Purdue University¹.

Researchers found E. coli 0157:H7 present in the tissues of mung bean sprouts and Salmonella present in peanut seedlings in plants whose seeds had been contaminated with the pathogens prior to planting, according to study results published in separate papers in the Journal of Food Protection and Food Research International.

“The pathogens were in every major tissue, including the tissue that transports nutrients in plants," said Amanda Deering, a postdoctoral researcher in food science.

Deering and Robert Pruitt, a professor of botany and plant pathology, used a fixative to freeze the location of the bacteria in the plant tissues before slicing samples, then injected antibodies labeled with fluorescent dye to detect the pathogens. "This shows us as close to what was in the plant when it was living as possible," said Deering, who was able to count hundreds of bacteria in almost every type of tissue. "The number of bacteria increased and persisted at a high level for at least 12 days, the length of the studies."

Properly washing the produce would eliminate Salmonella and E. coli from its surface, but not inner tissues, Deering and Pruitt said. However, cooking those foods at high temperatures would kill the pathogens. In a project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, Deering and Pruitt will continue to study the pathogens to determine how they survive inside plant tissues and possible ways to eliminate them.

1. Purdue Press Release: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/110815DeeringPathogens.html .

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Seven people from Illinois are case patients in the turkey Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 77 people in 26 states. Ground turkey has been implicated as the cause of this outbreak in Illinois, Ohio and other states. But as of yet the investigation has not identified the brand name or the manufacturing plant where the meat came from.

The Illinois Department of Public Health, along with local health departments in Illinois, are collaborating with the CDC and USDA to investigate. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to some antibiotics. Any potential information on the contamination source will come from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the primary regulator for meat.

Nationally, the turkey outbreak has caused one Salmonella death and the illnesses have occurred since the first day of March. The outbreak is ongoing. Of the seven cases in Illinois with the same type of Salmonella as the outbreak, at least one person has been hospitalized. Reports of illness in Illinois started on March 21, 2011, with the most recent case patient becoming ill on June 29. Case patients range in age from 3 to 60 years and were reported in Cass County, Cook County, DuPage County, Madison County, Peoria County, Will County and Williamson County. This area encompasses Chicago and other Illinois cities.

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Ohio is part of the turkey Salmonella outbreak under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control, state health departments and local offices. The Ohio Department of Health reports 10 cases occurred between April 22 and June 26, including three cases in Cuyahoga County.

Ohio turkey Salmonella cases also have been reported in Franklin, Lake, Lorian, Lucas, Montgomery, Summit and Warren counties, the Columbus Dispatch reported. They are all part of the multi-state outbreak that the CDC reports has sickened 77 people in 26 states.  So far there has been one Salmonella death in the outbreak, but not in Ohio.

Public health officials in Ohio and beyond are working to identify the precise source, but ground turkey has been implicated. The brand of ground turkey or the plant where it was packaged is not known at this time. Therefore, this outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg has not yet prompted any turkey recall.

 

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Since June 15, five individuals – three young children and two older adults – developed diarrhea and other symptoms caused by bacteria called Yersinia enterocolitica. All five people drank and became ill from pasteurized milk in glass bottles from the same local dairy, Brunton Dairy in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

“The five victims of this outbreak deserve compensation,” said Fred Pritzker, lead attorney for our food poisoning lawsuits. "The parents of the children who were sickened should also be compensated for the time they had to take off of work and other damages."

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state Department of Agriculture and the Allegheny County Health Department are working together to investigate gastrointestinal infections in Beaver and Allegheny counties. Illness onsets range from June 15 through July 17. Other persons in the same households also experienced a similar illness, but the cause of their illness was not confirmed.

Brunton Dairy is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to pasteurize milk at the farm. The dairy produces buttermilk, regular, fat-free, reduced-fat, cream, and chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk, as well as ice cream. The dairy makes home delivery to households in Western Pennsylvania and sells milk and ice cream at retail establishments. The public may also buy products on the farm, and the milk can be purchased for use by restaurants.

Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria causes diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and can sometimes enter the bloodstream and affect other organs. Onset of illness usually occurs four to seven days after exposure, but can be as short as one day or as long as two weeks. The bacteria can cause severe infections and the illness can mimic appendicitis and sometimes leads to unnecessary surgery. In a small proportion of cases, complications such as skin rash, joint pains, or spread of bacteria to the bloodstream can occur.

Yersinia is a rarely reported cause of foodborne illness in Pennsylvania, with an average of 22 cases annually statewide and an average of six cases annually in the southwestern region of the state, including Allegheny County. Many hospital laboratories do not routinely look for Yersinia in samples; therefore, Yersinia infections may be missed unless proper laboratory technique is used.

Any person who consumed a product from Brunton Dairy and has symptoms of diarrhea is recommended to contact their health care provider to assure appropriate specimens are collected and treatment is administered, as Yersinia infections can be treated with antibiotics.

Our attorneys are representing a man in Pennsylvania who was sickened in another outbreak linked to milk from another dairy. To contact our attorneys about a lawsuit against Brunton Dairy, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.

Ill individuals, health care providers, or laboratories can contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-ACHD (2243).
 

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In the video below, personal injury attorney Ryan Osterholm discusses Cryptosporidium infections associated with swimming pools.

Cryptosporidium is a pathogen that can cause severe diarrhea and sometimes death. It can survive in water once it is introduced via a fecal contaminant. People contract Cryptosporidium from swimming in pools and ingesting infected water.

Recently, our law firm has been contacted by a family sickened by Cryptosporidium from swimming in a pool in Ohio. We have reason to believe this outbreak affected many more people than this one family.

If you are part of this Cryptosporidium outbreak, it is important that you contact your doctor to be diagnosed and treated and contact your local health department to ensure the outbreak investigation is complete.

To contact our law firm about your Cryptosporidium claim, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free).

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Head cheese is at the center of a lawsuit alleging the jellied meat caused listeriosis, an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes.  In the lawsuit, the man claims head cheese manufactured by Veron Foods, LLC, a Prairieville, Louisiana, establishment, was contaminated with Listeria.

The man ate the cheese on May 18 and because so ill that he had to be hospitalized on May 20.  He spent more than a month in an intensive-care unit.  As of the date of this post, he is now only somewhat ambulatory and has suffered memory loss that may be permanent.

On August 14, a few days prior to the filing of this lawsuit, Veron Foods recalled approximately 500,000 pounds of “ready to eat” sausage and hog head cheese products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The Vernon Foods recall involved the following products:

• All Size Packages of Veron Hot Smoked Sausage
• All Size Packages of Veron Mild Smoked Sausage
• All Size Packages of Martin Hot Smoked Sausage
• All Size Packages of Martin Mild Smoked Sausage
• All Size Packages of Veron Andouille Sausage
• All Size Packages of Martin Andouille Sausage
• All Size Packages of Veron Hog Head Cheese

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “LA 22” inside the LDAF mark of inspection as well as date codes of 010110 through 111310 and were distributed to retail establishments and institutions within the state of Louisiana.  

Attorney Fred Pritzker has significant experience litigating listeriosis cases.  He has a national practice and is available for a free consultation.

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Salmonella enteritidis, an egg-associated bacterium, can be undetectable by sight or smell. The Salmonella enteritidis can be present in ordinary-looking eggs. If contaminated eggs are eaten raw, or even undercooked, the bacterium can cause illness.
 

The symptoms of a Salmonella enteritidis bacterium infection are fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. The symptoms usually begin 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food or beverage and the illness can last 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover without the use of  antibiotics, if the diarrhea is severe and leads to dehydration hospitalization may be required.

As in most cases of food contamination, the elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are the most susceptible to severe illness. In patients with underdeveloped or impaired immune systems, the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream. Once in the blood stream the Salmonella enteritidis can infect other parts of the body and can be fatal unless treated promptly with antibiotics.

Salmonella enteritidis: Reduce the Risk

Eggs are safe when handled properly.  "Handled properly" has to do mostly with refrigeration and cooking. All shell eggs should be stored in the refrigerator. When consumed, the eggs need to be cooked and eaten right away.

When eggs are kept refrigerated properly, it prevents the Salmonella enteritidis from multiplying. The correct refrigeration temperature for safe storage of eggs is less than 40 degrees.

The fewer number of Salmonella present in the egg, the less likely it is to cause illness. Cooking reduces the number of bacteria present in an egg. That is why it is important to completely cook eggs - runny yolks are not recommended. Throw out any eggs that have been kept at 40-140 degrees for more than 2 hours.

Salmonella enteritidis: Recall on Eggs in California and Many More States

As many as 228 million (228,000,000) shell eggs from Wright County Egg, Galt Iowa, that have been recalled due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination. The recalled eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

The Wright County Egg  shell eggs were delivered to wholesalers, distribution centers and food service companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. California, Colorado, Nevada and Minnesota have Salmonella enteritidis outbreaks that have been confirmed by public health officials.

Contact a Salmonella lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. for a free consultation and for information about a possible Wright County Egg Salmonella class action lawsuit. We are conducting our own investigation into this Salmonella outbreak. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this web page.
 
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a premier foodborne illness litigation law firm.  We have collected millions on behalf of our clients infected with Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7 and other foodborne diseases. Our attorneys have been interviewed by local TV stations, CNN, CBS News, Fox News, Associated Press and others.

States Included in the Recall: California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa

States with Confirmed Outbreaks: California, Colorado, Nevada and Minnesota

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The Wright County Egg Salmonella recall is estimated by The Associated Press to cover some 228 million eggs distributed nationwide since May 19, 2010.

A joint field investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is ongoing and intended to identify potential sources of Salmonella Enteritidis in these shell eggs, such as feed.

Public health officials in California, Colorado and Minnesota have confirmed outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis traced back to Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. The number of cases in California alone is 266, including 43 in Los Angeles County.

Since May 2010, CDC has identified a nationwide, four-fold increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates through PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories. CDC received reports of approximately 200 cases every week during late June and early July compared to an average of 50 per week in that time period over the past five years. 

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Like Minnesota, health officials in Colorado and California have traced Salmonella outbreaks to the same Iowa egg farm doing business as Wright County Egg.

The CO, CA and MN Salmonella egg outbreaks are under investigation now by state and federal health investigators, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A person infected with the Salmonella Enteritidis bacterium usually has fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food or beverage. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without antibiotic treatment. However, the diarrhea can be severe, and the person may be ill enough to require hospitalization. 

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Our law firm recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a husband and wife who contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating beef at a barbecue restaurant. We sued the beef processor, a distributor of the meat and the barbecue restaurant that served the couple the meal that made them sick.

The husband was hospitalized with severe bloody diarrhea and cramps. The wife also suffered bloody diarrhea and cramps, but she developed TTP-HUS, a complication of an E. coli O157:H7 infection that can cause kidney failure, brain injuries, heart damage, other serious injuries and death.  She spent two months in the hospital and almost died several times.

An E. coli outbreak in Honolulu, Hawaii that sickened at least seven people in March also involves a barbecue restaurant, Peppa’s Korean BBQ. The Peppa’s E. coli may be the result of food handling violations that closed the restaurant down yesterday. According to the Honolulu Advisor:

After it was confirmed that some of those sickened by E. coli 0157:H7 had eaten at Peppa's, state Sanitation Branch inspectors were dispatched to the restaurant, where they observed food-handling violations….

Those violations, coupled with confirmation of the Peppa's connection, caused inspectors to issue a "notice of permit suspension" and a cease-and-desist order against the restaurant at about 10 a.m. yesterday….

To contact a lawyer at Pritzker Olsen about the Peppa’s E. coli outbreak, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

Keywords: Peppa’s E. coli, lawsuit, Honolulu E. coli, lawyer, attorney, Peppa’s Korean Barbecue, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura (TTP), child E. coli.

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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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The Texas Department of State Health Services has ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from the San Antonio Bay between Nov. 16 and Nov. 25 and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers not to consume any oysters harvested from the beds after Nov. 16.

The warnings are related to an investigation into about a dozen Norovirus-related illnesses from South Carolina and North Carolina residents who ate San Antonio Bay oysters.

Consumers who ate oyster products on or after Nov.16 and have experienced symptoms of norovirus are encouraged to contact their health care provider and local health department. 

Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and a general sense of tiredness. Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to the virus. The illness typically lasts one to two days. Norovirus typically is not life-threatening,

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Food retailer Safeway is recalling certain ground beef products sold at all of its stores in Arizona and a store in Gallup, New Mexico, because they may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella.

The Salmonella ground beef recall is related to fresh hamburger made by Beef Packers Inc. of Fresno, California. More than 22,000 pounds of the meat from Cargill-owned Beef Packers has been associated with a ground beef Salmonella outbreak with two confirmed victims in Arizona.

Safeway is recalling ground beef packages from its Arizona stores with sell-by dates of September 28-October 11. Even though all the beef is believed to have been sold by now, the company is urging consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for the product.

The recall includes fresh ground beef products sold during the dates listed above at the full-service counter in brown butcher paper and at the self-service area wrapped on black Styrofoam trays. These products include fresh ground beef, fresh ground beef patties, fresh meat balls, fresh meat loaf and fresh bell peppers stuffed with beef and pork.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella is from the Salmonella Newport family and is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

Young children, adults over age 60 and people who have weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to Salmonella, which can be life threatening and can also bring on long-term negative health consequences, including Reiter's Syndrome.

If you or a loved one has been sickened by ground beef sold by Safeway and have been to a doctor, you may have a claim against the retail chain, Beef Packers and Cargill. To protect your legal rights and receive a free case consultation, call a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact and information form on the side of this page. 

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Selling raw, unpasteurized milk is illegal in many states, but not in Washington.

If a producer or processor is properly licensed with the state Agriculture Department and the raw milk carries a consumer warning label about the associated health risks, sales are legal.

But as the Dungeness Valley Creamery E. coli outbreak demonstrates, legal doesn't mean safe.

Here is an excerpt from a press release issued Tuesday by the Washington State Department of Agriculture in Olympia, Washington: 

"Three recent E. coli infections in Washington have been linked to drinking raw, unpasteurized milk. As a result, the Washington state departments of Health and Agriculture are reminding consumers of the potential health hazards of these products.

The patients all report drinking raw milk produced by the Dungeness Valley Creamery in Sequim. No E. coli has been found in samples from the dairy's current batch of milk, but during an investigation at the dairy, WSDA found the same bacteria that caused one of the illnesses.''

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially lethal pathogen, especially dangerous to young children, older adults and others with weakened immune systems. Each year in the United States, the bacteria causes about 90 deaths, 3,000 hospitalizations and 100,000 infections.

In more than 5 percent of cases, patients develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children and carries the risk of many serious health problems ranging from strokes, diabetes, heart damage and central nervous system disorders.

Pasteurization of milk kills E. coli and other harmful pathogens. If you or a loved one has become sick after drinking raw milk, contact a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions, call an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900 (toll free). Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of food poisoning litigation and we have recovered millions for E. coli victims. To contact us online, complete the form on the side of this web page.

Despite scientific proof to the contrary, many people believe raw milk is more nutritional than pasteurized milk. But here are facts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that set the record straight:

• Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
• Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions.
• Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
• Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk’s nutritional value.
• Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time.
• Pasteurization KILLS harmful bacteria and SAVES lives 

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National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is representing an Arizona client who became sick with Salmonella not long after an August 2009 ground beef recall.

The original recall involved 825,769 pounds of ground beef produced by Fresno, California.-based Beef Packers, Inc., which is owned by Cargill Meat Solutions, a subsidiary of Cargill, Inc.

 

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The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has issued a consumer alert against consumption of milk products from a licensed, on-farm bottling plant that may not have been properly pasteurized.

The consumer alert  was announced by the agency this week in a press release. It applies to whole milk, chocolate milk, skim milk, heavy whipping cream, half and half, buttermilk and eggnog in a variety of sizes from Blue Marble Family Farm of Barneveld, Wisconsin.

The products have "sell-by" dates of November 27 and later and are believed to have been distributed primarily in southern Wisconsin, including the Madison area, according to the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper. The dairy plant number 55131 is on the label.

The state's unsafe raw milk press release said lab tests from a routine inspection showed the presence of an active enzyme that is normally destroyed by pasteurization.

Wisconsin food safety officials say they are unaware of any illnesses caused by these products, but the consumer warning is another opportunity to remind you and your family that pasteurization of milk is critical to killing disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter and Listeria.

Some people continue to believe that pasteurization harms milk and that raw milk is a safe and healthier alternative. Victims of raw milk outbreaks represented by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys would tell you differently. Our firm handles cases for victims of unsafe raw milk and can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or online by completing the contact and information form on the side of this web page.

Earlier this year in Wisconsin, for instance, public health officials associated 35 confirmed cases of Camplyobacter jejuni in southeastern Wisconsin to consumption of raw milk produced by Zinniker Family Farm in Elkhorn. On person was hospitalized. 

 

Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization from the Food and Drug Administration:

• Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
• Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
• Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
• Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time.
• Pasteurization KILLS harmful bacteria and SAVES lives.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that a total of 28 people in 12 states have been sickened by the same strains of E. coli O157:H7 in a ground beef outbreak associated with hamburger meat from Fairbank Farms in Ashville, N.Y.

A cluster of the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses are in the East as previously reported, but Minnesota, South Dakota and California each have confirmed cases -- suggesting a much wider outbreak.

One person in New York and another in New Hampshire have died as a result of the outbreak, according to news reports by USA Today and the Associated Press. The USDA responded to the problem by announcing the recall of a half-million pounds of ground beef made in mid-September by Fairbank Farms.

Grocery chains in eight eastern states initially received the product, including Trader Joes, Shaw's, BJ's Wholesale, ACME, and Giant. By now, any of the recalled meat that was not consumed is in consumers' freezers, where the E. coli organisms do not perish. Consumers should look for packages marked with USDA establishment number EST 492 inside the mark of inspection. Most sell-by dates on the recalled ground beef are September 19-28.

 

The CDC said investigators found E. coli O157:H7 in an open container of ground beef that was in a patient's home. In advanced, secondary DNA testing so far, E. coli  in the hamburger matched seven of the human isolates. Previously, all 28 human isolates matched each other in DNA fingerprint analysis.

 The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows:  California (1), Connecticut (4), Massachusetts (8), Maryland (1), Maine (2), Minnesota (1), New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (2), and Vermont (1).

USA Today reported that 16 of the patients have been hospitalized, including two with hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is accepting cases from this outbreak. We represent victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness in the United States. As one of the few law firms practicing extensively in the area of food poisoning, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims and survivors of E. coli and other pathogens transmitted in contaminated food.

These outbreaks are preventable and the principals of Pritzker Olsen work to diminish the problem by calling for tougher food safety laws and vastly more inspections of our meatpacking facilities and other food plants. Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen each spent time this year giving seminars at national food industry conventions on the importance of investing in prevention of E. coli O157:H7, in particular. 

Anyone with E. coli symptoms who has eaten ground beef should immediately contact a physician. If you have legal questions about this outbreak, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact and information form. We will provide a free case consultation and if we agree to accept your case, you owe us nothing until you win.

 

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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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 The USDA, CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health are investigating what food may have caused the Lincoln Middle School E. coli outbreak during a school trip to Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Fifteen students who attended the camp October 13-16 reported getting diarrhea -- a prime symptom of E. coli -- and two of the 15 have confirmed infections of E. coli O157:H7. Two of the children sickened in the outbreak remain hospitalized.

 This is the statement issued by Dr. Robert S. Crausman, chief of Rhode Island's Center for Infectious Diseases: "We want to assure parents and students that we are not seeing this diarrheal illness spread person to person. However, any student or chaperon who was on the field trip and has diarrhea should call their doctor for medical evaluation and treatment.''

Lincoln School Superintendent Georgia Fortunado said school staff is working with health officials on the response, which included a letter to parents disclosing the problem.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially fatal human pathogen that is the leading cause of kidney failure in children around the world. The organism lives in the guts of cattle and other animals without harming them, but in humans it emits a powerful toxin that attacks blood cells and can invade the central nervous system.

More than five percent of E. coli O157:H7 infections lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. This is a life-threatening disease that is most likely to strike young children, under 5, and adults over the age of 60.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys currently represents E. coli HUS victims and is doing some of its own investigation of the Lincoln Middle School E. coli outbreak. If you have information that could be useful to families whose children are victims of this outbreak, contact us at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

We also will provide free case consultations to any of the Camp Bournedale parents who are dealing with this outbreak. Call or complete our online contact and information form so we can assist you. If we agree to take your case, you pay us nothing until you win.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered tens of millions for survivors of food poisoning over the years. We are dedicated to prevention of E. coli O157:H7 and do not believe the federal government is doing enough to ensure food safety. One of our clients, Jeffrey Almer, provided key testimony earlier this year before a Congressional panel that is considering food safety reform. Change is long overdue. 

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 A family owned sandwich maker from Raleigh, North Carolina, has stopped production and may have shut down -- at least temporarily -- in the wake of a  Listeria monocytogenes finding by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Fisher Rex Sandwich Co. makes the pre-packaged sandwiches for the regional convenience store industry and for vending machines -- a family business since 1928.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the Fisher Rex recall announcement this week, saying that any sandwich with a 7-digit code, starting with numerals 01, was subject to recall. Sandwiches with five-digit codes were said to be OK. 

The press release said production had ceased while the company worked with health investigators to determine the source of the contamination.

Now Raleigh-Durham television station WRAL is reporting that Fisher Rex is closing, laying off 40 workers.  

Listeriosis, the disease that comes with infection by Listeria, is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly, young children and people who have weakened immune systems, including some cancer patients. In a Listeria outbreak in Canada last year linked to deli meat made in Toronto, 22 people died.

Pregnant women are more likely to contract Listeriosis and it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

Public health officials are warning people in the Raleigh Durham area to look for Listeria symptoms, which may include flu-like fever and muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Other symptoms may include stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or convulsions.

Contact a physician if you or someone close to you is sick with these symptoms after eating a Fisher Rex sandwich. To protect your legal rights, contact a Listeria lawyer at national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. We are one of the few firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and have collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

For a free case consultation, contact us at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free), or complete our online contact and information form . Foodborne illness is preventable and Pritzker Olsen has been a consistent voice for extensive reform of the U.S. food safety system, including more inspections of commercial food plants.

 

 

 

 

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A food company based in Ionia, Michigan, has pulled its sprouts from the market in response to the state's investigation of a sprouts Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least twelve people.

Lansing television station WLNS is reporting that Living Foods Inc. took the action even though lab tests have failed to positively link its sprouts to the outbreak. The sprout outbreak started earlier this month and hit in seven Michigan counties: Bay, Genesee, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne.

The sprouts have sell-by dates of October 22 or earlier. They had been distributed to retail stores and foodservice accounts.If you have health concerns after eating Living Foods sprouts, see a physician immediately. To protect your legal rights, contact a national food safety lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). We are currently representing Salmonella victims and our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. To receive a free case consultation online, please complete our contact and information form.

The Michigan outbreak of Salmonella from sprouts prompted the state Department of Community Health to issue a health advisory late last week against consumption of any raw alfalfa sprouts until more could be learned about the source of the outbreak. There was no update of that advisory on Tuesday, nor did state health officials issue any press release about the voluntary recall by Living Foods.

Most healthy adults don't need medical attention for a Salmonella infection, but the bacteria can cause severe illness and death in young children, older adults, some cancer patients and others whose immune systems are weakened.

 

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 Two Michigan residents have been hospitalized and 10 others sickened in a MI Salmonella Sprouts outbreak that has prompted a public health warning.

State and local health and agriculture officials are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the precise source of the sprouts Salmonellosis outbreak.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said the illness onset dates have ranged from August 17 to September 18, 2009. The confirmed sprouts Salmonella cases have been spread over seven counties: Bay, Genesee, Kent, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for the state health department, issued a recommendation that people, especially young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, avoid consumption of raw alfalfa sprouts until more is known about the source.

If you or someone you love has been sickened in this Michigan sprouts outbreak, see a physician immediately. To protect your legal rights, contact national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). For years our firm has been a national leader in representing victims of food poisoning and our top lawyers are frequently sought out for expert commentary by the media and by large groups, including food industry convention gatherings.

To contact a Salmonella lawyer online, complete our contact form and receive a free case consultation. If we agree to take your case, we don' t get paid unless you win. Over the years, our firm has recovered tens of millions for victims of food poisoning.

Sprouts are always an iffy proposition from a food safety perspective because there are multiple risk factors. If pathogenic bacteria are present in or on the seed when sprouts are planted, the organisms can stick with the plants. In addition, the warm and humid conditions required to grow sprouts are ideal for the rapid growth of the microbes. Thirdly, poor hygiene in production plants can give rise to Salmonella, or E. coli O157:H7 in sprouts.

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The federal government has taken court action to shut down an Oakland sandwich maker for running a filthy plant that has repeatedly been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous pathogen most likely to hurt young children, older adults and pregnant women.

In conjunction with the enforcement action at Rel's Foods Inc., which sells its ready-to-eat sandwiches to convenience stores, delis, gas stations, liquor stores and other small retail outlets in California and Nevada, the California Department of Public Health has embargoed and seized all products inside the plant.

The permanent injunction filed late Thursday in U.S. District Court by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA requests a permanent injunction against Rel's to stop the company from selling adulterated food.

Tests have found Listeria "numerous times'' at the plant since 2002 and recently the infectious bacteria was found in sandwiches. A press release from the FDA said Rel's has an "extensive history of operating under insanitary conditions.''

Named in the injunction request are owner Peder Scott Sorensen and two managers, Patrick O'Malley and Timothy Ault.

Conditions at the plant include poor sanitation by workers, excessive condensation dripping on food-making surfaces and repeated violations of current good manufacturing requirements.

“Rel's lack of effective measures to bring its food processing operations into compliance with the law poses a serious public health threat,'' said Michael Chappell, FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.

Listeriosis, the illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes, can cause fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems, including cancer patients. Most likely to get the disease are pregnant women, who may suffer miscarriages or stillbirths as a result of the infection.

No illnesses have been reported, but if you or anyone you know has fallen sick and you have reason to believe it's from a Rel's sandwich, see a physician immediately. To protect your legal rights, call national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

Our firm has years of experience as a leading advocate for victims of food poisoning and we represent individuals sickened by Listeria, E. coli,  Salmonella, Campylobacter and other infectious disease agents found in contaminated food. For a free case consultation, complete our online Listeria compensation and contact form.

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State and county officials in Wisconsin are considering whether criminal charges should be filed against a family farm in Elkhorn that sold raw milk associated with a Wisconsin raw milk Campylobacter outbreak.

Walworth County Assistant District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld told the Janesville Gazette newspaper that it's a crime in Wisconsin to sell raw milk. But he said it could take another couple of weeks for officials to decide what to do in the case of Zinniker Farm selling the unpasteurized product under a program whereby customers supposedly share ownership of a cow.

The farm in southeastern Wisconsin has been associated with an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni that sickened at least 35 people, including one who was hospitalized. State health officials stepped in to shut down the distribution of raw milk and found the same genetic strain of Campylobacter in cow feces on the farm as was found in 25 of the patients.

Farm families can legally drink raw milk produced on their farms, but the state forbids the sale of any raw milk to outsiders who don't own the farm itself unless the buyer is a pasteurized dairy processor.

Prosecutors have met with farm owners Mark and Petra Zinniker in addition to officials at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Zinnikers have declined to offer public comment so far.

Most people recover from Campylobacter infection within two to five days and sometimes closer to 10 days. But there is a risk of long-term health consequences associated with the disease, even after diarrhea, stomach pain and other symptoms subside. Some people develop arthritis. Others come down with the rare disease of Guillain-Barre' syndrome, an attack on the body's nerve system that can lead to temporary paralysis. An estimated one in 1,000 people who contract Campylobacter also develop Guillain-Barre'.  

If you or a loved one have been sickened in this WI raw milk outbreak, regardless of your beliefs about the safety of drinking raw milk, contact an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. We are a national food safety and food poisoning law firm that has a national reputation for representing victims of foodborne illness and making recoveries from insurance companies.

 Over the years we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for patients who have been affected by diarrheal, foodborne illnesses and associated complications, including Guillain-Barre' syndrome.

For more information and to talk to one of our attorneys free of charge, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Or, to receive a free case consultation from a lawyer who has handled Campylobacter cases in the past, submit one of our online forms with your contact information and description of your experience.

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Researchers from Canada, the United States and Germany have learned howListeria monocytogenes spreads inside a person's body -- a discovery they hope will inform new approaches to keep the foodborne pathogen in check.

According to Exchangemagazine.com, University of Toronto professor Scott Gray-Owen led a team of scientists from his own university, the University of Central Florida and the University of Wurzburg, Germany. They confirmed that Listeria bacteria moves quickly from cell to cell via finger-like structures that push out of one cell to pierce into adjacent cells.

In a previously unknown finding, they discovered that the Listeria bug secretes a protein called InlC -- unique to Listeria -- that softens the junction between cells, making a breach easier. The findings are published in the current issue of Nature Cell Biology. The hope is that this discovery of a novel protein weakening cell walls will lead to new approaches and treatments to impede or block infections caused by Listeria.

In Canada last year, an outbreak of Listeriosis killed 22 people, all elderly. The disease was spread by contaminated deli meat made in Toronto. The deli meat Listeria outbreak showed how devastating the bacteria can be in people who have weakened immune systems. Young children and pregnant women also are more vulnerable to infection from this bacterium. Pregnant women are more likely to become infected than the general population and the disease can cause stillbirth or miscarriage.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen attorneys has represented Listeria victims around the country. The firm has a national reputation for representing victims of food poisoning against major food companies, meat packers, commodities giants, food distributors, corporate farms, restaurants and insurance companies when contaminated food is the vehicle for disease in a family member. The firm has collected tens of millions for victims of all types of food poisoning. To contact a lawyer by phone, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). For a free case consultation via the Internet, complete one of our online forms.

 PritzkerOlsen has been a steadfast advocate for prevention of foodborne illness and has called on many occasions for stronger food safety laws, including a more effective inspection network. Our law firm also supports education initiatives to create public awareness of foodborne illness threats and repeatedly informs consumers of food safe strategies.

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 A Wisconsin Campylobacter raw milk outbreak that hospitalized one person and sickened 34 others was caused by contaminated raw milk sold under a cow share program by Zinniker Family Farm of Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

That's what the Food Safety Division of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported today in a news release.

Steve Ingham, head of the division, said the evidence is "compelling'' linking the raw milk Campylobacter illnesses to the farm. All 35 individuals had consumed raw milk and 30 identified Zinniker Family Farm as the source.

In addition, testing showed that Campylobacter jejuniisolates from 25 of the patients had the same DNA fingerprint. The very same outbreak strain of Campylobacter was found in manure samples obtained from milking cows on the farm, the press release said.

Said Ingham: "So far we've been fortunate that the infections have not been life-threatening.''

The agency said 21 of those sickened in the outbreak are under the age of 18.

Ingham pointed out that Wisconsin law for more than a half century has required pasteurization of milk that is for sale. Some farmers believe otherwise, but they are mistaken, Ingham said. "Cow-share'' programs don't qualify as exempt, he said.

Helping with the investigation of the outbreak was the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Because Zinniker sells its raw milk to a defined customer list, food safety officials don't believe there is much risk to the general public. However, Ingham said, the outbreak should discourage consumers from joining "cow share'' programs or other similar arrangements to buy unpasteurized milk. He described it as "inherently risky food.''

If you or someone you know has been sickened in this outbreak and are looking for advice on protecting your legal rights, food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen attorneys can help. Our firm is one of the few in the nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness and we have collected tens of millions for victims of food poisoning, including Campylobacter.

A Campylobacter attorney can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Or, to receive a free case consultation via the Internet, complete one of our online forms.

Campylobacter jejuni are bacteria that cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, an infection may lead to paralysis, which could require hospitalization and artificial respiration. 

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 A Salmonella outbreak that may have been caused by shredded lettuce sickened at least 124 people nationwide, but the outbreak has subsided and investigators may never pinpoint the cause.

That is the report out of Oregon today in a story produced by reporter Lynne Terry of The Oregonian.

There was a clustering of these Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses in the West, including two people who were hospitalized in Oregon, one with severe damage. William Keene is senior epidemiologist at Public Health Division in Oregon. He told the newspaper that shredded lettuce is a leading suspect and many of the victims who were interviewed had eaten at fast food restaurants.

But Keene said the outbreak is not tied with any recall and authorities are not warning people away from lettuce or fast food restaurants.  If lettuce was the culprit, it's all eaten by now, the story said.

According to The Oregonian, the first cases began to appear in mid-July. By the end of August the outbreak had reached its peak and tapered off.

In recent times, major outbreaks of Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 have been tied to leafy green vegetables such as lettuce or spinach almost every year. In the past, investigators have linked outbreaks to specific producers. Dole, for instance, caused a bagged lettuce E. coli outbreak in 2005 and a baby spinach E. coli outbreak in 2006.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys is currently representing Salmonella Typhimurium victims, including the families of three women who died of the disease late last year and early this year after eating contaminated peanut butter.

Our law firm has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and is dedicated to preventing foodborne illness. Between Salmonella and E. coli, more than 100,000 people a year become infected in the United States, thousands of whom are hospitalized.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella in this latest outbreak, contact a Salmonella attorney at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free case consultation online, go to our contact form and submit your information via the Internet.

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 A ton of individually wrapped burritos -- none of which have individual package coding -- are under Listeria recall by a California food company after the product was shipped to a Minnesota warehouse for further distribution.

The burrito recall, announced Friday, was spurred by the company's own finding of Listeria monocytogenes -- a potentially deadly bacterium in a batch of "Butcher Boy Red Chile Beef and Been Burritos'' made August 3 at the Riverside, California, plant of Windsor Foods.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says it will publish on the internet a list of stores where the burritos were to be sold when the list becomes available. FSIS says it has not received reports of illness associated with the recall.

The Butcher Boy Red Chile Beef and Bean Burritos were shipped frozen in 18-pound bulk cases, each carrying 72 individually wrapped items. The cases are marked with the USDA establishment number EST 1905, package code 1219215 and case code 2080001. Total weight was 2,268 pounds.

If pregnant women consume food contaminated with Listeria, there is potential to cause stillbirth and miscarriage. But if an infection is caught early, antibiotics can potentially keep the baby safe. Although Listeriosis is not as common as other foodborne illnesses, it can be deadly when infections hit small children, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems.

For instance, a terrible Listerosis outbreak in Canada last year killed 22 people. The outbreak was caused by contaminated deli meats made in Toronto. The outbreak underscored the reality that Listeria is unlike other pathogens because it can survive and grow in refrigerators, at low temperatures.

If you have symptoms like neck stiffness, nausea and fever, see a doctor. A blood test will confirm if you have Listeriosis. To protect your legal rights against the company or restaurant that made you sick, 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 nation practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions for victims of food poisoning, including Listeria. To receive a free case consultation, complete one of our online contact forms.

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 Two experienced microbiologists who work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say they were as surprised as anyone to find E. coli O157:H7 in Nestle cookie dough this year.

Writing in a new Public Health Matters blog for the CDC, Gerry Gomez and Mike Humphrys said the lab work they did at the CDC was examined in conjunction with  similar work by 13 public health laboratories around the country. Together, they tested cookie dough from 164 different packages.

"We found that the chocolate chip cookie dough that sick people had eaten didn't come from only one batch,'' the two scientists wrote. "We found it was produced over several months.''

The outbreak itself peaked during May and June. By the end of July, according to a CDC summary, there were 80 confirmed illnesses in 31 states. Thirty-five of the victims received hospital treatment and 10 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a disease that attacks a person's red blood cells and causes serious illness including kidney failure, strokes, heart problems and other damage. HUS also is the leading cause of E. coli deaths, most often affecting young children, the elderly or others who have weakened immune systems.

Like everyone else, including the national food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen attorneys who represent victims of E. coli poisoning, Gomez and Humphrys wrote that they are far more accustomed to seeing E. coli outbreaks caused by contaminated and undercooked hamburger or by unpasteurized apple juice.

They also noted that they isolated  E. coli O157:H7 bacteria from the cookie dough by making a slurry from the dough and dropping ultra tiny magnetic beads into the slurry. If there was going to be any E. coli bacteria, it would attach to the beads, which were only 5 percent as wide as a human hair.

From there, a bigger magnet was used to pull out the beads.... giving the scientists a better chance of isolating E. coli.

"Even experienced microbiologists who have 'seen it all' can be surprised and challenged by an old bacteria turning up in a new place,'' the  experts wrote. 

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 An Indiana melon grower has recalled 27 bins of cantaloupe after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  found Salmonella in a sample batch.

The melons were shipped through Farm-Wey Produce of Lakeland, Florida, to Aldi's in Greenwood, Indiana; and Meijer stores in Lansing, Michigan; Newport, Michigan and Tipp City, Ohio. The recalled cantaloupes were identified as 41MG10, Bins 4753-4980.

Melon Acres said in a press release that it has shut down the field where the melons were picked and is working with the FDA to determine the source of contamination. The positive sample finding was reported August 21, 14 days after a third party food safety auditing firm gave the farm good and excellent marks for food safety.

The FDA said no illnesses have yet been reported in connection with the Salmonella recall cantaloupe.

Most cases of Salmonella poisoning don't require medical treatment, but infections can cause serious illness that lead to hospitalization, even death. National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker has produced a Salmonella video outlining steps that Salmonella victims should take to protect their legal rights if they are sickened in an outbreak of the disease.

His firm, Pritzker Olsen attorneys, is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and Mr. Pritzker is a frequently quoted in national newspapers and on television as an expert on the topic.

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Wisconsin's last big Campylobacter outbreak caused by raw milk occurred in 2001 and warranted special attention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the current WI raw milk outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni, officials are investigating where the unpasteurized milk came from that sickened at least 13 people. State law prohibits the sale of raw milk. More illnesses are expected to be confirmed soon and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is urging anyone who has raw milk to discard it.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys recalls the 2001 Wisconsin Campylobacter outbreak as a large one. According to the CDC, 75 people living in Northwestern Wisconsin were victimized by contaminated milk produced on a Grade A organic dairy farm in Sawyer County.

The farm had 36 cows and distributed unpasteurized milk from the herd to people who bought into the farm's cow leasing program. The farm also gave away unpasteurized milk to tour groups. At the time, health investigators discovered that 70 of the 75 victims had consumed raw milk from the dairy farm and four others were mothers of children who were sick from it.

According to a CDC review of the outbreak, the victims ranged in age from 2 to 63 and none of them came down with Guillain-Barre' Syndrome, a complication of Campylobacter infection that can cause paralysis.

The CDC review of the 2001 raw milk outbreak said unpasteurized milk is an important vehicle for Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Brucella, Salmonella and Listeria. The review also stated that Wisconsin would try to prohibit cow leasing programs for the sake of food safety and public health. 

"Persons who drink unpasteurized milk and milk products might believe that these products taste better, provide greater nutrition than pasteurized products, and/or decrease the risk of for various medical conditions,'' the CDC wrote. "However, the benefits of consuming unpasteurized milk and milk products have never been validated scientifically.''

If you or a loved one has been sickened in the current Campylobacter milk outbreak in southeastern Wisconsin and want to protect your legal rights, call a Campylobacter attorney at Pritzker Olsen, 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We are involved in practically every major outbreak of food poisoning and have collected tens of millions for victims.

To receive a free case consultation from one of our lawyers, follow this link to our consultation contact forms and submit one of the forms online.  

 

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 The state of Wisconsin is investigating to find the source of raw milk that has led to 13 confirmed cases of Campylobacter jejuni, a pathogen that has the potential to cause serious illness and even death.

More cases are expected to be confirmed soon, as there are other people sick in households where people are confirmed victims of the Campylobacter food poisoning. Tests are pending.

The announcement was made by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The onset of illnesses in this Campylobacter outbreak range from Aug. 14-20.

With Campylobacter, infections can be passed from one person to another.

Raw, or unpasteurized milk cannot be legally sold in the state of Wisconsin because of the chronic health risk posed by bacterial contamination -- usually stemming from the cow's feces or other animal feces. People get around the law sometimes by selling shares in a cow used for raw milk production. The theory is that if you own your own cow, you can do what you want with the milk.

State officials are cautioning residents in the southeastern area of Wisconsin, where the outbreak is occurring, to discard any unpasteurized milk they may have in their refrigerators.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys has represented victims of Campylobacter who have suffered serious illness, including Guillain-Barre' Syndrome, a nerve cell condition that causes muscle weakness and in some cases paralysis. We urge any ill person who drank raw milk or believes they may have contracted Campylobacter from someone else to see a doctor.

Our law firm is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and we are one of the few groups of lawyers in the country who practice extensively in the area of food poisoning. Over the years we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims. A Campylobacter lawyer at our firm is ready to help you at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free case consultation from one of our attorneys via the internet, complete one of our online contact forms.

Campylobacter symptoms start with muscle pain, fever and headache. Those symptoms are followed by diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea. The first symptoms usually occur two to five days after infection.

The disease is one of the most common of all foodborne illnesses and healthy adults can often endure it without medical treatment. But young children, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk for complications that could require hospitalization.

 

 

 

 

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A Texas company has recalled 207 pounds of smoked and fully cooked beef brisket that was distributed to Department of Defense commissaries in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The product was made August 11 by Lone Star Brisket Co. of Thorndale, Texas. Routine testing by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) detected Listeria monocytogenes, which prompted the recall. The FSIS said it has not received any complaints of illness related to the recalled products.

The product under recall is called Texas Star Meat Co. Smoked Beef Brisket fully cooked (and sliced). They come in two- to three-pound individually wrapped packages with Establishment Number 27340 stamped on the USDA mark of inspection.

Listeria monocytogenes occurs in food less often than other pathogens, but its consequences can be severe. Young children, the elderly and others who have compromised immune systems can suffer infections that lead to death. Listeriosis also can cause miscarriage and stillbirth in women who are pregnant.

If you or someone you know has become sick after eating brisket recalled by Lonestar, see a physician immediately. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen attorneys has represented Listeria victims and has years of experience representing victims of all types of food poisoning. Our firm has collected tens of millions from companies that have sickened people with adulterated and contaminated food.

For more information or to talk to a Listeria attorney, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free case consultation via the Internet, complete one of our forms online.  

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Getting poisoned by Salmonella or Campylobacter is not just a short-term health concern.

That's what a medical team in Denmark has concluded in a study that found these pathogens to increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease, for 15 years or more after a person suffers from an initial infection of either diarrheal illness.

The risk is particularly high for patients who are hospitalized for treatment of Salmonella or Campylobacter, according to Dr. Henrik Nielsen from Aarhaus University Hospital in Aalborg, Denmark, and his colleagues. Their findings are published this month in the journal Gastroenterology.

The Danish medical team compared the risks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) between 13,148 patients with documented gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella or Campylobacter and 26,216 uninfected, healthy controls.

Over the course of seven and a half years, IBD was diagnosed in far more gastroenteritis patients (107 or 1.2 percent) than healthy control subjects (73, or .5 percent). The increased risk persisted throughout the 15-year observation period.

Reuters Health summarized a key finding: "After accounting for a variety of factors that might influence the risk, stomach bug patients had nearly a threefold increased risk of developing IBD over the entire study period, and nearly a two fold increased risk in the first year after infection.''

The study underlines what food poisoning experts at Pritzker Olsen attorneys have known for a long time: Diarrheal illnesses that people contract through no fault of their own from food contaminated with harmful bacteria is nothing to be taken lightly.  Our lawyers continually see how people suffer long-term health consequences from E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and other adulterants in food, not to mention Hepatitis A -- which is typically spread by unsanitary practices of an infected person handling food in a restaurant.

If you or someone you know has suffered food poisoning at the hands of a meat producer, (including the Cargill E. coli outbreak),  food retailer, restaurant or caterer, protect your rights and call a food poisoning attorney. Pritzker Olsen lawyers can be contacted at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Or, to receive a free case consultation via the Internet, submit your information online.

 

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Health officials in the Quad City Region of Illinois say the McDonald's Hepatitis A outbreak has grown to include 30 cases.  To contact Pritzker Olsen about a a McDonald's hepatitis A lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the free consultation form for review by Attorney Fred Pritzker.  We represent food poisoning victims throughout the United States.

All the illnesses are related to people who visited the McDonald's restaurant in Milan, Illinois, in early or mid-July, officials told Quad-City Times health reporter Dierdre Cox Baker. Sixteen cases are in Rock Island County, four are from out of state and the rest are in the Illinois counties of Mercer, Henry and Warren. Scott County, Iowa, also has at least one confirmed case of Hepatitis A from the McDonald's outbreak.

The outbreak reportedly got started from at least one employee of the McDonald's in Milan. She was diagnosed with the virus in June and went back to work. The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office investigated and reported this week that Trinity Regional Health System and Metropolitan Medical Laboratory failed to promptly report confirmed cases of Hepatitis A to public health officials early in the outbreak.

According to the Quad-City Times report, there was an additional delay in acting on the outbreak because a Rock Island County Health Department employee was on vacation.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen has represented Hepatitis A patients who became ill from eating at restaurants where the virus was spread. Our firm is accepting cases from the McDonald's Hepatitis outbreak in western Illinois and we have a long, proven track record of winning compensation for victims of food poisoning. Hepatitis A is typically spread when an infected restaurant worker doesn't wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet. The root problem is often related to lax management of sanitation policies and food safety protocols and restaurant owners can be held liable.

In the Milan McDonald's outbreak, the Rock Island County Health Department has innoculated 5,324 people against Hepatitis A. If you have been affected by this outbreak, a food safety lawyer at Pritzker Olsen can be contacted at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). To receive a free Hepatitis A compensation consultation, go to our online consultation form and enter your information for our review. If we agree to take your case, we don't get paid unless you do.

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Public health officials in Memphis say that preliminary tests show that more than two dozen people were infected with Salmonella after eating food served by a local barbecue restaurant.

The Memphis Salmonella outbreak spiked when more than 150 people from throughout the region and different parts of the country gathered for a picnic July 10 at Shelby Farms as part of the three day 2009 Harston Family Reunion. The picnic was catered by A&R Bar-B-Q, 3721 Hickory Hill Road in Memphis. That restaurant has been closed since Saturday for retraining of its employees, a health department review and a self-examination.

National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, who is representing family members sickened in the outbreak, told Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter Ryan Poe that multiple individuals were hospitalized for treatment. Pritzker, founder of the Pritzker Olsen law firm, has been telling newspaper and television reporters in the region that he will follow the health department's investigation and weigh legal options for the victims.

The outbreak is not necessarily limited to attendees of the Harston Family Reunion. Anyone sickened in the outbreak can contact Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free), or by email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com or via online consultation form.

Nicole Lacey-Hall, a spokeswoman for the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, told the Commercial Appeal that food samples from A&R on Hickory Hill have been sent in for laboratory testing in an attempt to pinpoint the source of the Salmonella outbreak. The samples included spaghetti, pork, chicken and cole slaw.

Pritzker's law firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm is involved in practically every major outbreak of food poisoning and has collected millions on behalf of victims.

Pritzker Olsen currently represents the families of three women who died late last year and early this year in the peanut product Salmonella outbreak caused by a Georgia peanut plant owned by Peanut Corp. of America. Some healthy adults can withstand Salmonella without medical treatment, but the disease can be a serious health threat to young children, the elderly and people who have weakened immune systems. 

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FOX13 out of Memphis interviewed Attorney Fred Pritzker for their story on the Salmonella outbreak associated with the A&E Bar-B-Q located at 3721 Hickory Hill, Memphis, Tennessee.  Mr. Pritzker is representing a victim of the outbreak.

(There is a short commercial before the news report because we have embedded the video in the form required by FOX13.)

 For more information, please see A&E Bar-B-Q Lawsuit.

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Tuesday is the last day for free hepatitis A shots through the Rock Island County Health Department.

The county has administered more than 5,200 shots of vaccine or a drug called immune globulin since investigators associated an outbreak of hepatitis A in western Illinois to the McDonald's restaurant in Milan.

By the latest count, the Illinois McDonald's hepatitis A outbreak has sickened at least 26 people, including 11 who were hospitalized. Fifteen of the confirmed cases have been in Rock Island County -- the host of the hepatitis A vaccination clinic.

The shots on Tuesday are at the public health department headquarters at 2112 25th Ave., Rock Island. They are meant for individuals who ate at the Milan McDonald's on July 13 or 14. Those who were at the McDonald's restaurant before then may be beyond the time period for the vaccine to be effective.

Health Reporter Dierdre Cox Baker of the Quad-City Times wrote that a second dose of shots will provide additional protections, but those will not be provided free of charge. Follow-up clinics will be staged in six months or individuals may get the second round of shots from other health care providers.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm that has years of experience representing victims of foodborne illness who became ill from eating at a restaurant.

Pritzker Olsen has collected millions for those who have survived outbreaks of hepatitis A, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria,  Campylobacter and other foodborne diseases. To reach a hepatitis lawyer at the firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our forms online to receive a free case consultation.

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The McDonald's hepatitis outbreak in western Illinois could have been a product of shortcomings at a local medical center and the restaurant itself in Milan, Illinois.

The Illinois McDonald's outbreak of hepatitis A has sickened at least 24 people, including 11 who were hospitalized. Upwards of 5,000 others have been vaccinated against the disease at a cost to Rock Island County of $159,000 and growing.

On Friday, as national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys continued to hear from those affected by the outbreak and investigate claims, a bevy of news-breaking announcements were made. If you or a loved one are victims of the Illinois McDonald's hepatitis outbreak, contact a hepatitis A lawyer at Pritzer Olsen. The toll-free number is 1-888-377-8900, or write to us online using a free case consultation form. Our law firm has recovered tens of millions for victims of food poisoning and we represent victims in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness.

Here's a brief breakdown of the latest developments that help to explain how two McDonald's employees continued to work in food-handling jobs despite being infected with hepatitis A -- a disease commonly transmitted by diseased restaurant employees who don't wash their hands properly after going to the toilet. The reporting comes from the Quad-City Times and QCOnline.com.

• Rock Island County Environmental Health Director Paul Guse released health department inspection records that showed non-cooperation by the Milan McDonald's after various 2008 inspections found food safety problems.
• The Milan McDonald's received a letter in February from  Rock Island County public health officials warning that an outbreak of foodborne illness could occur if compliance wasn't forthcoming. The letter said the restaurant was identified as being below desired compliance levels and posing an increased risk for foodborne illness.
• McDonald's owner Terry Murphy was warned in early 2009 that inspections may be increased to as often as four times a year based on the inspection results of 2008. Guse said the restaurant had shown progress since March.
• Murphy issued a statement saying he took immediate action when notified July 13 about outbreak concerns by the county health department . Murphy said the health department did not release the names of the two infected employees to him until the evening of July 15 -- when he closed the restaurant for three days of deep cleaning and employee screening for hepatitis A.
• Trinity Regional Health System -- the place where a Milan McDonald's employee was diagnosed with hepatitis A in mid-June -- said a human error resulted in a long delay in reporting the illness to public health officials in Rock Island County, as required.
• Kathy Cunningham, Trinity's vice president of operations, said an audit found three previous instances of the same problem -- under-reporting of infectious diseases to the county health department. Cunningham said the hepatitis outbreak has led to a comprehensive review of all practices regarding public reporting of certain diseases to health officials.

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An employee at the Milan, Illinois, McDonald's restaurant has gone public with her story that she told a manager at the restaurant in late June that she had been diagnosed with hepatitis A. But the restaurant remained open until last week, when it was ordered closed by the Rock Island County Health Department in connection with a possible McDonald's hepatitis A outbreak. In other words, the outbreak that sickened at least 20 people in western Illinois and sent thousands of others in for hepatitis vaccinations was utterly preventable. That's what national food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, founder and president of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., writes in his opinion piece printed below. If you or a loved one has become sickened in this outbreak, contact Fred at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete one of our online forms to receive a free case consultation. 

By FRED PRITZKER

I represent survivors of foodborne illness, including clients sickened with hepatitis A at restaurants.

Hep A is an acute liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) that lasts from a few weeks to several months. Although it does not lead to chronic infection, it causes significant and debilitating symptoms and requires precautionary measures to prevent its spread to family members.

In a restaurant setting, hepatitis A is transmitted by consuming food or drinks contaminated with fecal matter.  This usually occurs when a restaurant worker sickened with hepatitis A goes back to work while still contagious and fails to properly wash his or her hands while preparing food served to paying customers like you.

In most cases, this is utterly preventable disease. Workers exhibiting symptoms of hep A should not work until cleared by a physician. Restaurant managers should not allow symptomatic employees on the premises.

Thus, it's particularly distressing to see reports of a hepatitis A outbreak involving a Milan, Illinois, McDonald's in which an estimated 10,000 patrons have been potentially exposed to the hepatitis A virus. Worse, according to WQAD television, an employee of the Milan McDonald's was diagnosed with hepatitis A in mid-June and told her manager at McDonald's on June 25 that she had hepatitis.

The Illinois McDonald's has claimed publicly that it didn't learn of the diagnosis until July 13, following which the restaurant was finally closed for cleaning and its employees screened for hepatitis.

I've recently written about proposed new food safety rules designed to reduce the incidence and severity of foodborne illness outbreaks -- including this one it would seem. Outbreaks generally are not due to bad policies and procedures, but rather gross failure to properly enforce them.

McDonald's is one of the best run food companies in the world. Its employee handbooks specifically instruct employees what to do:

• Call in if you are ill. Don't come to work when you are suffering from diarrhea or vomiting. You are at a higher risk for transferring bacteria to food or others.
• If you start to feel ill, tell your manager. Good heallth is important throughout your shift. You are at a higher risk for transferring bacteria to food or others.

But all the best policies and procedures won't make a restaurant safe if management personnel ignore the rules or fail to enforce them. Sadly, the only real incentive is public approbation and financial loss. Apparently, the health of its customers is not incentive enough. 

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State and county health officials in western Illinois are preparing to provide hepatitis A vaccinations and an immune drug called globulin to portions of the population in connection with a possible McDonald's hepatitis A outbreak.

Jim Bohnsack, county board chairman in Rock Island County, told Quad Cities Times health reporter Dierdre Cox Baker that the county health department ordered the McDonald's in Milan, Illinois, to be closed in connection with the outbreak investigation. McDonald's employees were screened for the virus on Thursday, the same day the restaurant closed. It has remained closed "until further notice,'' according to signs on the building.

Bohnsack also said the county will seek to have the Milan McDonald's pay for hepatitis A vaccinations and globulin.

The Milan McDonald's restaurant, on U.S. 67, is being investigated in connection with an outbreak of hepatitis A that has infected at least 19 people, including 11 who required hospitalization, the QC Times reported. Most of the cases are in Rock Island County.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is interested in helping any possible victims of the outbreak, including employees of the Illinois McDonald's where hepatitis A may have been spread. Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We represent hepatitis A victims around the country.

In restaurant outbreaks of hepatitis A, It is usually spread by a worker who didn't wash his or her hands after going to the toilet, but a deeper cause usually traces back to the lack of strict policy or a restaurant owner's failure to remove infected employees from the job until they are well. Restaurants are ultimately responsible for any harm caused by the food they serve.

A simple $50 shot could have prevented this hepatitis A outbreak that may be connected to McDonald's. Pritzker Olsen has long advocated that all restaurant workers be given the hepatitis A vaccine to keep these outbreaks from happening.

To contact a hepatitis A lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact us online. To receive a free case consultation, complete one of our online forms.

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By FRED PRITZKER

Minneapolis, July 15, 2009 -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that Nestle is back in business making and selling refrigerated cookie dought following the Nestle outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with this popular and no doubt profitable product.

As of July 10, 2009, CDC reported that 76 people from 31 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. As of that date, 35 people had been hospitalized, including 11 with a serious complication call HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. No one has died.

The decision to start selling the product again was made despite the fact that E. coli O157:H7 was found in an unopened package of cookie dough. This strain was not the same as the outbreak strain cultured from stool samples from outbreak survivors -- meaning, most likely, that Nestle cookie dough had a least two separate strains of the deadly pathogen.

Following the June 19, 2009, warning from the FDA not to eat these products, the plant that produced them was shut down, tested and cleaned. According to today's FDA update, part of which is reprinted below, Nestle switched suppliers for the main ingredients and is now back in business producing refrigerated cookie dough:

"However, after a plant shutdown, an investigation, and a cleanup, Nestle is now using main ingredients from new suppliers and is making the cookie dough again. These newly made products are not part of the ongoing recall and are not associated with any illness outbreaks or known contamination. Consumers can identify the newly made products by looking for labels with shields that say "new batch" on them; these batches are not part of the current recall."

It's ironic that by switching suppliers and making a two-word label change, Nestle gets a "do-over'' while the outbreak victims are stuck with a long recovery, medical bills, lost wages and a terrible memory of an illness they will never forget.

It would also have been nice if Nestle and the FDA at least paid lip service to the ordeal and suffering caused by this product and offered to pay, at a minimum, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by victims.

  

The writer is president and founder of Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm representing some of the victims of the Nestle E. coli cookie dough outbreak. Mr. Pritzker has been a long-time critic of America's food safety system and a repeat witness to wrongful corporate behavior during food poisoning outbreaks and other public health threats caused by manufacturers. His firm has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of foodborne illness and it is continuing to accept cases from this outbreak. To talk to Fred or reach another E. coli  lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our online consultation forms for a free case consultation.

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Investigators from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently found two cleanliness flaws at the cookie dough plant in  Danville, Virginia, that spawned the multi-state Nestle E. coli outbreak.

The four investigators signed a report July 9 that said the workmanship of certain hopper valves "does not allow proper cleaning.'' The hoppers hold dry ingredients in the cookie dough prep room.

The same team observed ice build-up on overhead pipes on June 18. The pipes, which transport a processing aid to mixers on four production lines, dripped condensation onto a metal rake used by workers to scrape cookie dough from the mixer into a trough for transport to the filling line. The observation was: "Lack of appropriate design to enable manufacturing systems to be maintained in an appropriate sanitary condition.''

The flaws were listed as "observations'' and Nestle is being given a chance to object to them or implement corrective action before the FDA would make any decision about compliance of food safety rules.

Meanwhile, these and other Nestle plant inspection records are being reviewed by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys as part of its own investigation into the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 72 people in 30 states. The firm's review of previous inspection records at the Danville plant found four areas of concern uncovered at the plant in 2006 and a steadfast refusal by Nestle over the past several years  to disclose internal records about consumer complaints.

In 2004, FDA investigators found headings for two consumer complaints about cookie dough:One for a foreign object in the dough and another involving insects found in the cookie dough.

"The firm refused to offer details on these complaints,'' the inspection report said.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in foodborne illness litigation. Our firm already is representing some victims in the Nestle recall and cookie dough outbreak and is continuing to accept new cases. To contact an E. coli  lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call toll-free 1-888-377-8900 or complete one of our online forms for a free case consultation from an attorney.

The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that at least  two different strains of E. coli O157:H7 have been associated with Nestle refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and consumers have been warned not to eat the product in any variety. But so far, health investigators haven't been able to pinpoint where the contamination originated inside the Danville production facility.

FDA's plant inspection reports dating to 2004 do not show the plant out of compliance, but the 2006 inspection found four "deficiencies'' that were discussed with Nestle. According to the FDA report, these were:

• Three live ant-like insects along a wall of the powdered sugar dump station in the cookie dough manufacturing area.
• Dirty stainless steel equipment and utensils in a bin marked as "clean'' in the cookie dough cleaning area.
• Clear liqid dripping from an overhead line in the liquid egg receiving bay.
• Equipment not functioning to properly remove trays of cookie dough on one production line.

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A U.S. Food and Drug Administration official says health investigators have nearly exhausted all leads and may not ever find out what caused cookie dough in the Nestle E. coli outbreak to become contaminated with the pathogen.

ABC's ace reporter Brian Hartman quoted the official, Dr. David Acheson, in a story that also said at least three types of E. coli O157:H7 are now associated with the Nestle outbreak. At least 72 people in 30 states are victims of the outbreak, which has included at least 10 cases of HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication of E. coli O157:H7 infection.

Hartman found insiders who said FDA tests of cookie dough found inside Nestle's plant in Danville, Virginia, showed the presence of E. coli -- but not the type that matched the outbreak strain.

There had been similar results from E. coli tests on Nestle cookie dough recovered previously from a victim's home. Including the outbreak strain of E. coli found in victims, that's three different types of E. coli associated with the cookie dough.

Acheson told ABC that there is no evidence of product tampering.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys continues to accept cases from the Nestle outbreak. Despite the lack of a matching test result, there is strong epidemiological evidence that the cookie dough is what caused so many people to become so sick in so many states. A large number of victims told health investigators they had eaten raw Toll House cookie dough before getting infected. It was on that basis that Nestle agreed to recall ALL VARIETIES of its ready-to-bake Toll House cookie and brownie dough.

ABC reported that Nestle's Danville plant, which has been shut down for inspection and micro-cleaning, is getting ready to reopen for dough-making with all new ingredients.

Pritzker Olsen is one of America's leading food poisoning law firms. Our lawyers are involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and we have collected millions for E. coli and HUS survivors by holding corporations, restaurants, grocery retailers, produce growers and meatpackers accountable for adulterated food.

To learn more about our firm or to talk to an E. coli lawyer, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online for a free case consultation.

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Since 1996 there have been more than 100 human infectious disease outbreaks involving animals in public settings reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2000, two E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks at animal shows in Pennsylvania and Washington prompted the CDC to issue guidelines to acknowledge the risk factors: Direct animal contact and inadequate hand washing.

The latest major outbreak at an animal show was the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. The show ran from Jan. 10-25, 2009, drawing 650,000 attendees. When it was over, there were 29 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 (19 primary and 10 secondary), including nine hospitalizations and two individuals with HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication most often in children that attacks their red blood cells and kidneys. The victims from the outbreak lived in seven counties along Colorado's front range.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is representing survivors of this outbreak and is accepting additional cases. Recently, an update on the outbreak investigation was made public by the health agencies that conducted the probe.

According to the investigation update, the outbreak strains of E. coli were found in four samples taken from floor sweepings and mats on which animals stood on the third floor "Feed the Animals Exhibit.'' In the update, the definition of a case is described as one that was confirmed through stool sample; onset of illness since January 10; and with a genetic fingerprint matching one of two outbreak strains of E coli.

 E. coli O157:H7 at petting zoos is a well-known and preventable danger. In 2005, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians issued a document entitled "Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Setting.'' It was endorsed by a number or organizations, including the CDC. The document was updated in 2009 and it appears the National Western Stock Show failed to follow a number of these measures.

If you or someone you love contracted  E. coli 0157:H7 as part of the NWSS outbreak, contact an E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen. Our firm is one of America's most experience foodborne illness law firms and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli, Salmonella and other infectious diseases.

If you would like to learn more about us, visit us on the web, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or email firm president Fred Pritzker at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com. In addition, you can receive a free case consultation online by completing one of our 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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By FRED PRITZKER
As Americans prepare for 4^th of July cookouts, we once again are faced with recalls due to beef contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly pathogen.

Late last week, the U.S.Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the agency in charge of the safety of our meat supply, announced a  JBS Swift beef recall of 41,000 pounds. The meat cuts -- commonly used for making store-packaged hamburger at the retail level -- was produced at the JBS Swift Beef Co. plant in Greeley, Colorado.

On Sunday, the recall was expanded to include 380,000 more pounds of beef.  Yet five days after the original recall we still do not know the location of all this beef, or where it was sold.

That's because JBS Swift will not release the names of where the product was shipped, and the FSIS either cannot track, will not track, or will not tell the public where this tainted meat was sold.  In a day and age when you can track a personal package from your computer, minute-by-minute, you would think five days after a serious recall the public could know where potentially deadly meat ended up.

Thankfully, one-by-one, many stores are recalling meat that was reprocessed and repackaged by various distributors and stores. Yet none of this information is available from JBS Swift or from the FSIS website in readily accessible fashion.  Rather, it is being gathered by individual citizens concerned for the public’s safety. For the benefit of all potential victims of this E. coli outbreak, national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys has assembled a list below of stores known to have recalled beef due to this outbreak.

The list likely will be expanding by the day, if not the hour.  You may obtain more information on the specific recalls by clicking on the links below. If you shop at one of these stores, and you think you may have E. coli O157:H7, go to a doctor immediately.  At the doctor, make sure you ask for a stool sample.  That is the best way to determine if you have E. coli O157:H7.  Then contact an experienced E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen by calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). For a free case consultation online, please complete one of our electronic forms. Here's the partial list of stores compiled so far by Pritzker Olsen:

• Bloom and Food Lion Stores in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia – Beef cuts and ground beef.
• CostCo- Steaks, ribs, ground beef.
• Food 4 Less in Illinois and Indiana  - Ground beef.
• Fry's Food and Drug Stores - Ground beef.
• Hannaford Bros. Co. - Beef cuts and ground beef.
• Kroger - Ground beef.
• Price Chopper - Ground  beef and beef loin bottom sirloin steaks.
• Roundy's Supermarkets Inc., Pick 'n Save, Copps and Rainbow stores – Beef cuts and ground beef.
• Smith's Food and Drug Stores in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming  - Ground beef.
• Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. - Ground beef
• WinCo Foods LLC stores in Idaho and Oregon - Boneless bottom round roast, steak, carne asada, ground beef.
  
  The writer, Mr. Pritzker, is founder and president of Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm with offices in downtown Minneapolis. To contact Fred, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).

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State and federal health officials are expanding their investigation into the Nestle E. coli outbreak by examining the supplier of flour to Nestle's cookie dough plant in Danville, Virginia.

The Danville News quoted Food and Drug Administration spokesman Stephanie Kwisnek as saying the flour supplier will be looked at with help from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Earlier this week the FDA confirmed a finding of E. coli  O157:H7 in a previously unopened package of Nestle Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough obtained at the Danville plant. Further tests are being conducted to determine if the organism matches the outbreak strain of E. coli that has sickened at least 72 people in 30 states. The tainted sample was produced February 10, 2009.

If you or someone you love has been sickened with E. coli after swallowing raw Nestle cookie dough or simply from baking with the dough in your kitchen, contact an E. coli attorney at national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. The firm has collected millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and has the resources, experience and skill to represent you against a large multi-national company such as Nestle.

To contact an E. coli attorney at our firm, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our online forms to receive a free case consultation from a lawyer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  34 patients in the Nestle E. cookie dough outbreak have been hospitalized and ten of those victims developed HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure that is the leading cause of E. coli deaths.

Nestle has halted production of cookie dough at its Danville plant, where federal and state investigators are still probing the cause of the outbreak. The company recalled 300,000 cases of cookie dough from the marketplace, or 3.6 million packages.

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National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen Attorneys is receiving hundreds of calls and emails from people concered about E. coli O157:H7 exposure from the Nestle Toll House cookie dough outbreak. Here are some important facts to keep in mind.

The symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infections vary for each person, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101 degrees).

• These symptoms may represent a life-threatening infection. If you have symptoms, especially bloody diarrhea, you should get immediate medical attention.
• The only practical way to diagnose E. coli O157:H7 is by stool sample. Without a stool sample, confirming the presence of E. coli, it is difficult to prove you are part of this outbreak. Therefore, if you believe you have symptoms related to E. coli O157:H7, you need to receive medical attention and get a stool test.
• Get a stool test as soon as possible after your symptoms commence. If you wait too long, the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria may be shed from your body and the test will be negative even though you had the bug.
• Also, if you are prescribed antibiotics, the medication may kill off the E. coli, in which case your test will be negative.
• This is important: Non-specific supportive therapy, including hydration, is important. Antibiotics should not be used to treat this infection. There is no evidence that treatment with antibiotics is helpful, and taking antibiotics may increase the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. Antidiarrheal agents like Imodium may also increase that risk. Thus, if you receive antibiotics, it may cause you harm and make it impossible to detect the E. coli O157:H7.
• If you have remaining Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products that have been recalled in this outbreak, do not throw them out or return them to the grocery store. Here's why: lab testing of the product may confirm the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Therefore, seal the unused Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products in a plastic bag, mark the bag so it is not used or consumed accidentally and continue to store it in your refrigerator until it is tested.
• Call us right away if you have E. coli O157:H7 symptoms and you test positive for it or if you have strong reason to believe a negative test does not rule out E. coli O157:H7 (i.e., you were put on antibiotics before stool testing was done.)

Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is one of the most experienced and trusted food safety law firm in the United States and has represented foodborne illness survivors in virtually every major E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.

For a free consultation about your E. coli O157:H7 case, please call us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900. To contact an E. coli attorney online, please complete one of our forms.

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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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Federal and state health investigators have associated an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in 28 states with consumption of raw, prepackaged Nestle cookie dough.

The company has announced a Nestle cookie dough recall affecting all varieties. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are warning Americans not to eat the product, which is sold under the Nestle Toll House brand.

The products involved in the voluntary recall include all varieties of Nestlé refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough. Nestle has published a complete list of recalled packages.

A number of the 66 people who have been sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli reported eating the pre-mixed dough uncooked. But the FDA said cooking the dough is not recommended, either, because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces.

E. coli  O157:H7 is a potentially deadly organism that sheds a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness, especially in young children, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include vomitting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea, often with bloody stools.

Individuals who have recently eaten prepackaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

Of the 66 confirmed cases, 25 people were hospitalized, including seven individuals who developed a severe complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported.

National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys has already been in contact with potential victims of the current outbreak and represents E. coli O157:H7 victims from a previous outbreak. The firm is involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning over the the years. It is in the process of compiling information for a possible lawsuit related to the Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak.

Firm founder and president Fred Pritzker has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. food safety system and an advocate for change. One of the firm's clients, Jeffrey Almer, testified before Congress this year about the pain and suffering that accompanies food poisoning. Jeff and his siblings lost their mother in the peanut butter Salmonella outbreak that erupted earlier this year. Pritzker Olsen represents the Almer next of kin and the families of two other women who died in the outbreak. The law firm has filed a wrongful death lawsuit  in the case against Peanut Corp. of America.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 after eating Nestle cookie dough, call an E. coli lawyer at Pitzker Olsen. The firm is ready to assist you at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online using one of our free case consultation forms.

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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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It appears as though the processing plant belonging to Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Illinois, has prior experience in a recall of ground beef related to an outbreak of  E. coli O157:H7.

Valley Meats LLC is the USDA-licensed meat processing plant that on Thursday recalled 48 tons of frozen beef patties and refrigerated ground beef as part of an investigation into an E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Health officials are investigating whether the death of a 7-year-old Cleveland girl from E. coli O157:H7 was part of the outbreak.

An initial investigation by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys uncovered the following press release information in the public archives of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Keep in mind that Valley Meats LLC lists the brand name J & B Meats on its current federal processing certificate:

Washington, Oct. 13, 2007: - J & B Meats Corporation Inc., a Coal Valley, Ill., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 173,554 pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.

The recall list in the 2007 press release included two-pound, three-pound and eight-pound boxes of frozen "Topps 100% Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers.''  The boxes were stamped with the unique USDA Establishment Number 5712 --  the same establishment number stamped on the packages of beef recalled Thursday by Valley Meats LLC.

The J & B recall of Topps hamburgers coincided with the large E. coli 0157:H7 recall of many more pounds of Topps beef patties by the Topps Meat factory in Elizabeth New Jersey. At that time, the Topps recall was the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history and it resulted in the plant going out of business. At least 40 E. coli illnesses had been associated with Topps burgers at the time of the recalls.

The same plant, with Establishment No. 5712, was the subject of two additional E. coli O157:H7 recalls in 2002 and 2003. In both outbreaks, J & B Meats Corp. was listed as operator and the recall involved frozen hamburger patties and packages of ground beef.

Records show the 2002 recall was for 63,000 pounds. Then, as now, the product was distributed to restaurants, hotels and other food service accounts.

A recall on May 30, 2003, happened after the State of Wisconsin investigated an E. coli O157:H7 illness from ground beef, records show.

Pritzker Olsen founder and president Fred Pritzker is calling on Valley Meats LLC and any restaurants that may be involved in the current E. coli outbreak to agree to pay the medical bills and lost wages of victims and their families. Pritzker also called on the responsible parties to issue a formal apology.

To contact an E. coli 0157:H7 lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online for a free case consultation.

Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically all major outbreaks of foodborne illness and has recovered  millions of dollars for victims  of E. coli infection and related Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, or HUS .

E. coli O157:H7 infections are especially dangerous for young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. HUS is a complication of E. coli that is the leading cause of E. coli deaths.  

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Alfalfa seeds from Italy have been associate with a multistate Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. After preliminary epidemiology regarding the ongoing outbreak of illness from Salmonella Saintpaul in people who had eaten alfalfa sprouts was shared with the supplier of the seeds, the supplier made the decision to voluntarily withdraw certain alfalfa seeds from the market.  According to an FDA alert, the recalled alfalfa seeds include the following:

[Seeds] in 50-pound white bags that are either paper or woven from a synthetic material, and the lot numbers in question begin with “032,” followed by a hyphen and three more digits. The bags carry a computer-generated white or yellow label, on which is printed “Distributed by Caudill Seed Company., 1402 W. Main St., Louisville KY 40203” and the lot number.

CDC Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak Information

CDC is providing updated information on the alfalfa sprouts Salmonella outbreak.  Here is the most recent information from the CDC (last modified April 27):

Since mid-March, 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul have been reported from 7 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Michigan (17), Minnesota (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (2), Utah (1), and West Virginia (2). Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may be reported from other states. No deaths have been reported.

FDA Recommendations for Growers and Retailers

The FDA alert to growers, retailers and other businesses regarding the alfalfa seed recall provides recommendations for businesses:

Retailers, restaurateurs, and personnel at other food-service facilities should ask their suppliers to verify that the alfalfa sprouts or seeds being provided do not come from an affected lot before buying or serving them. Suppliers who can verify that their products were not sourced from the affected lots may wish to notify their customers; likewise, retailers, restaurateurs, and food-service facilities who have verified the sources of their alfalfa products may wish to notify their customers.
Seeds from the affected lots, lot numbers beginning with 032, and sprouts grown from them, should be safely discarded, as should other products that contain the sprouts, such as sprout blends.

Growers who have used seeds from the potentially contaminated lots should clean all equipment and other surfaces that came into contact with them. They should also safely discard any water that came into contact with the sprouts, and disinfect receptacles or equipment that came into contact with the water.

FDA has long-standing guidance for the sprout industry and continues to urge growers to follow this guidance, which can reduce the risk of contamination with Salmonella and other bacteria (available on the FDA web site at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html). FDA also urges retailers to use sprouts obtained from growers who follow the FDA guidance.

FDA Warning to Consumers Not to Eat Raw Alfalfa Sprouts

Although the FDA, CDC and state and local health officials have found at least one source of the sprouts Salmonella, FDA has not revised its warning to consumers not to eat raw alfalfa sprouts:

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, until further notice because of a risk of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination.  As soon as the source of the contamination is identified, FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened after eating alfalfa sprouts.  For more information about the legal implications of this alfalfa seed recall, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the free consultation form. 

More information: Alfalfa Sprouts Lawsuit, Salmonella Lawyer, Food Poisoning Lawyer.

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Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing people sickened in a mutistate Salmonella outbreak linked to raw alfalfa sprouts.

This outbreak continues to widen, and the FDA and CDC are recommending that consumers not eat raw alfalfa sprouts, including sprout blends containing alfalfa sprouts, which have been linked to widespread Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination. Other types of sprouts have not been implicated at this time.

According to an FDA announcement:

The investigation indicates that the problem may be linked to contamination of seeds for alfalfa sprouts. Because suspect lots of seeds may be sold around the country and may account for a large proportion of the alfalfa seeds currently being used by sprout growers, and cases of illness are spread across multiple states, FDA and CDC are issuing this general advisory.

FDA will work with the alfalfa sprout industry to help identify which seeds and alfalfa sprouts are not connected with this contamination, so that this advisory can be changed as quickly as possible.

CDC, FDA and state and local authorities in six states have associated this outbreak with eating raw alfalfa sprouts. Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia have reported 31 cases of illness with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Saintpaul to CDC. Most of those who became ill reported eating raw alfalfa sprouts.  Some reported eating raw sprouts at restaurants; others reported purchasing the raw sprouts at the retail level.

The illnesses began in mid-March. Cases are still being reported, and possible cases are in various stages of laboratory testing, so illnesses may appear in other states. No deaths have been reported. The number of infected people may be higher than currently reported because some illnesses have not yet been confirmed with laboratory testing.

The CDC and FDA recommend at all times that persons at high risk for complications, such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems, not eat raw sprouts because of the risk of contamination with Salmonella or other bacteria. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as meningitis and bone infections.

Initial investigation results trace the contaminated raw alfalfa sprouts to multiple sprout growers in multiple states. This suggests a potential problem with the seeds used, as well as the possible failure of the sprout growers involved to appropriately and consistently follow the FDA Sprout Guidance issued in 1999 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sprougd1.html. The guidance recommends an effective seed disinfection treatment immediately before the start of sprouting (such as treating seed in 20,000 parts per million Calcium hypochlorite solution with agitation for 15 minutes) and regularly testing the water used for every batch of sprouts for Salmonella and E coli O157:H7 contamination.

This outbreak appears to be an extension of an earlier outbreak in 2009. In February and March, an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections occurred in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota. This outbreak was linked to raw alfalfa sprouts, and the outbreak strain was indistinguishable from that of these recently reported cases.  A separate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections was also linked to sprouts in 2009. In the 1990s, a number of outbreaks related to sprouts led FDA to issue its guidance. Experience over the past decade has shown that the likelihood of Salmonella in sprouts can be minimized when recommendations from FDA’s Sprout Guidance are followed.

Preventive controls are very important in the growing of alfalfa sprouts. FDA reminds sprout growers to be vigilant in their food safety practices and strongly encourages sprout growers to follow the Agency’s Sprout Guidance. Additionally, the United Fresh Produce Association has advised all of its members to follow FDA’s guidance on sprouts. FDA appreciates that the produce industry has reinforced this message and reminds retailers that it is prudent to sell sprouts from growers who follow FDA's recommendations.

There are a number of parties that may be liable for illnesses related to this Salmonella outbreak:

• The grower of the alfalfa sprouts
• The processor
• The distributor
• A restaurant, deli, cafeteria or other eating establishment

Many of the victims of this outbreak consumed the Salmonella-contaminated sprouts at restaurants.  Generally, restaurants are liable for any illnesses associated with their food, even if the the food was contaminated with Salmonella before it got to the restaurant.

Compensation for victims of Salmonella outbreaks may include the following:

• Medical Expenses (past and future)
• Lost income (past and future)
• Pain and suffering (past and future), including physical pain, suffering, emotional distress and disability

For more information and a free consultation, please contact our law firm: 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free consultation form.

 

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided what it says is its last formal update on the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to Peanut Corporation of America.

Since early September, 691 confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported in 46 states. Twenty-three percent of victims have been hospitalized and more confirmed cases are continuing to trickle in.

But the CDC said Tuesday that the number of new cases has declined substantially since December, when the outbreak peaked, and that it would no longer produce formal updates. Since the first report was issued January 8, the agency provided 24 updates. Subscribers included public health professionals, the media and food safety experts, including the peanut butter Salmonella lawyers at PritzkerOlsen Attorneys, a national food safety law firm representing victims of the outbreak.

According to the final CDC update, peanut butter and other peanut products recalled by the now-bankrupt Peanut Corporation of America went into at least 2,833 products made by food manufacturers throughout the country. The comprehensive recall list is available online in a Food and Drug Administration searchable database that is still being updated with new products recalled over Salmonella fears.

No national brands of peanut butter have been associated with the outbreak.

The four states with the most confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of Salmonella are Ohio (100), California (76), Massachusetts (48) and Minnesota (43). Three of the Minnesota cases turned fatal -- more than in any other state.

PritzkerOlsen represents the families of two of the Minnesotans who died in the outbreak, Shirley Almer and Doris Flatgard. The firm also represents the family of Nellie Napier, an Ohio woman who also died. All three were living in nursing homes at the time they were infected and PritzkerOlsen has filed a Salmonella wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) and King Nut Companies, an Ohio-based distributor of PCA peanut butter.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found Salmonella bacteria in an unopened package of Austin Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter -- a grocery and vend item made by Kellogg Company.

Kellogg announced the finding and urged consumers to destroy the product, which was already under a recall because Peanut Corporation of America had been a supplier of peanut paste used to make Austin and Keebler snack crackers.

Peanut butter and peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America at its plant in Blakely, Georgia, is suspected of causing an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that has sickened more than 470 people in 43 states. The plant has been closed pending investigation and the company has announced a sweeping recall.

Kellogg had recalled its Keebler and Austin brand snack crackers containing peanut butter as a precaution. The FDA finding elevated the concern.

Six deaths have been associated with the outbreak, including that of Shirley Mae Almer of Perham, Minnesota. Fred Pritzker, a leading food safety lawyer, has prepared papers for a Salmonella wrongful death lawsuit against Peanut Corporation of America on behalf of Mrs. Almer's heirs.

She died December 21, at age 72, after falling ill with a Samonella infection. Minnesota health officials matched her illness to bacteria in tub of peanut butter at Mrs. Almer's nursing home. The King Nut creamy peanut butter had been made by Peanut Corporation of America. A Minnesota state laboratory also matched the bacteria in the King Nut peanut butter tub to the same strain of Salmonella in the outbreak.

Pritzker Law is representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks all over the United States. Our law firm has a national reputation in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Lawyers in the firm have been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is keeping a list of products recalled due to the Salmonella threat. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning consumers not to eat products containing peanut butter until a final list is completed or a food manufacturer reports that a specific product containing peanut butter or peanut paste is safe to eat. 

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established a special web page to list all product recalls associated with the peanut butter Salmonella outbreak that has been associated with six deaths and more than 470 illnesses in 43 states.

Joining Kellogg Company with recalls of products containing potentially adulterated ingredients are HyVee Inc. of West Des Moines, Iowa; Perry's Ice Cream of Buffalo, N.Y.; and McKee Foods.

Fred Pritzker, whose law firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation, has initiated a Peanut Corporation of America lawsuit for the heirs of Shirley Mae Almers, whose death helped lead Minnesota health investigators to the apparent source of the 4-month-old outbreak.

Peanut Corporation of America has since announced a broad product recall and temporarily closed its South Georgia peanut butter and peanut paste facility where Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria has been confirmed to exist in unopened containers that came from the plant. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to investigate for an exact match to the outbreak strain of Salmonella.

Minnesota officials found a genetic match between the outbreak strain and Salmonella they found in an open container of King Nut creamy peanut butter that was in use at Mrs. Almers' long-term care facility .

The Minnesota finding led investigators from all over the country to look at Peanut Corporation of America and Ohio-based King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter made at the South Georgia plant. Pritzker told the CBS affiliate WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities that Mrs. Almer, who died Dec. 21, was the "canary in the coal mine'' for scientsts investigating the outbreak. The wrongful death lawsuit is being filed in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis.

                                                   Investigation and Recalls        

 The FDA and CDC have said peanut butter sold at grocery stores for home use has not been associated with the outbreak.The peanut butter in question was sold to commercial food service accounts like nursing homes or used as an ingredient in other foods. Therefore, federal officials have warned consumers not to eat crackers, cookies, candies, ice cream, cakes and other products containing peanut butter or peanut paste as ingredients until a complete list of unsafe items is created.

Food companies that used Peanut Corporation of America as a supplier are checking to see if their products were made with peanut butter or peanut paste that has been recalled.

Kellogg Company was the first food company to announce a recall -- Keebler and Austin snack crackers containing peanut butter. Kellogg also has recalled 7 million snack packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter cookies.

On Sunday, McKee Foods recalled two Little Debbie peanut butter snack crackers made for McKee by Kellogg.

Other recalls have been made by Perry's Ice Cream of Buffalo, N.Y., and HyVee Inc. of West Des Moines, Iowa. HyVee's recall includes Lunchbox Reeses Pieces cookies and Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces cookies. 

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In a fast-moving investigation of a deadly, ongoing  peanut butter Salmonella outbreak, state and federal health investigators are finding more and more evidence pointing to a Georgia peanut processing plant as the source of the problem.

The plant in Blakely, Georgia, has been shut down by its owner, Peanut Corporation of America, as more studies are conducted. On Friday, the company expanded a product recall to include all peanut butter made at the facility since August 8 and all peanut paste made there since September 26.

A total of six deaths have been associated with the outbreak: Two in Minnesota, two in Virginia, one in Idaho and one in Catawba County, North Carolina.

Leading food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker of Minneapolis has initiated a Salmonella wrongful death lawsuit  on behalf of the heirs of one of the victims, Shirley Mae Almer of Minnesota. The proceedings in Hennepin County District Court will be against Peanut Corporation of America and Ohio-based King Nut Companies, a distributor of peanut butter produced at the idled plant.

Pritzker, whose firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness, was quoted on ABC news affiliate KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities as saying . "This is a much more ominous situation than for you to go to your cupboard and look to see peanut butter. Most people won't know if they ate it in this outbreak."

Mrs. Almer, 72, was fighting cancer and living in a long-term care faciliity in Brainerd, Minn., when she consumed a piece of toast layered with King Nut creamy peanut butter in December.  She died Dec. 21. State health officials would later confirm that Salmonella Typhimurium contained in peanut butter at her nursing home was a genetic match to the outbreak strain that has sickened at least 453 people in 43 states.

The other Minnesotan whose death has been associated with the outbreak is Clifford Tousignant, 78, who also was living in Brainerd at a long-term care facility.

                                                               Investigation Update

Dr. Stephen Sundlof of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Center and Dr. Robert Tauxe of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided an update of the outbreak investigation. Here are highlights from their press conference and other details:

• The outbreak is still considered very active and the number of cases will increase.
• The investigation is complicated because potentially contaminated peanut paste made at the Georgia plant was sold to many food companies as ingredients for baked goods and other products -- so the range of products making people sick has not yet been identified.
• Officials believe it is safe to eat  brand-name peanut butter bought at grocery stores. The contaminated peanut butter was sold to commercial food service accounts such as nursing homes, hospitals, school cafeterias and other institutions.
• State investigators in Georgia and Connecticut have isolated Salmonella bacteria in unopened tubs of peanut butter produced at the Blakely plant and are testing it to see if it matches the outbreak strain.
• Minnesota officials already have matched Salmonella from an open container of King Nut peanut butter to the outbreak strain.
• The virulence of the outbreak strain is typical -- serious but not more serious than normal.
• The Salmonella bacteria is lying dormant in the contaminated peanut butter and coming to life and multiplying once consumed.
• The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has opened an inquiry and has requested inspection reports and other records from the plant in Georgia.
• Kellogg Company has announced a formal recall of Keebler and Austin brand snack crackers containing peanut butter as well as certain baked goods. The recall includes snack-size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter cookies. The Georgia plant was one of Kellogg's suppliers of peanut paste.

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Pritzker, whose law firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation, has experience in practically all major food poisoning outbreaks.

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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is investigating an E. coli outbreak that has been associated with a Jimmy John’s in Boulder, Colorado. Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) began investigating the Colorado E. coli outbreak in September when 7 students and a sorority adviser at the University of Colorado at Boulder became ill. All 8 had eaten Jimmy John’s subs.

The Colorado Health Department is now investigating 3 additional cases that have surfaced in Boulder and 3 cases elsewhere in Boulder County.

Alicia Cronquist, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told KUSA-9News:

“It's pretty clear to us that many of the cases in Boulder County are connected to the same sandwich shop. What's not clear to us is how the other cases around the state are linked to that. We suspect that they all ate some kind of common food item, but we're investigating to determine which one it is.”

Although the Boulder cases have been associated with Jimmy John’s, the health department is continuing its investigation to determine what sickened the three people that do not reside in Boulder. E. coli isolates from those three cases have the same genetic fingerprint as E. coli isolates from the 11 Boulder cases, meaning the illnesses were caused by the same source. 

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Snohomish County health officials are investigating at least 6 cases of E. coli that may be related.   According to the Seattle Times:

Dr. Gary Goldbaum says that while at least six cases have been confirmed, health officials still don't know what caused people to become ill.

The public heath agency alerted doctors Friday afternoon that it was investigating a possible cluster of E. coli cases.

A Washington E. coli outbreak in June was associated with lettuce.  That outbreak sickened at least 9 people.

 

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Health officials have found the source of the Amarillo, Texas IHOP Salmonella outbreak, the warming bath that the restaurant used to keep the syrup warm. Health officials found the outbreak-strain of Salmonella in a culture taken from the warming bath. Interviews with IHOP employees revealed that syrup pitchers were not rinsed, washed or sanitized before refilling, and some of the 25 people sickened in outbreak were IHOP employees in charge of refilling syrup containers.

The warm water bath in which the syrup pitchers soaked was an ideal growing environment for the Salmonella bacteria. The Salmonella in the water contaminated the outside of every syrup pitcher that soaked in the water. Employees and diners then touched the Salmonella on the outside of the syrup pitchers, and people became ill, some severely.

Our law firm, Pritzker Law, is representing some of the victims of this Salmonella outbreak linked to the Amarillo IHOP. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our online form for a free consultation.

News Source: KFDA-News Channel 10

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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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Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is investigating an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least eight people, seven of them students at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).  The investigation began September 23rd.

Health officials have not determined the source of the outbreak, but initial investigations indicate that on-campus dining is not related to the illness. BCPH staff is working closely with CU and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to identify the source of the outbreak and any additional cases among students and the public.

News reports have indicated that most of the students sickened are members of the same sorority.  This suggests that the source of the outbreak is water or food associated with the sorority.  Contact our law firm regarding liability and compensation in an E. coli case.

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The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has identified Aunt Mid’s Produce Company as the distributor of iceberg lettuce consumed by six Illinois residents during late August to mid-September who have been diagnosed with E coli 0157.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has also identified Aunt Mid’s Produce Company as one of the wholesale processors who sold institutional-sized iceberg lettuce to establishments which served 26 people who were diagnosed with the same strain of E coli.

IDPH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory to test persons suspected of being linked to this Illinois E. coli outbreak and to trace-back where the lettuce came from. Aunt Mid’s Produce Company has voluntarily suspended any processing and sale of its iceberg lettuce product line throughout the United States.

For information on the legal rights of E. coli victims, distributor liability and an Aunt Mid's lawsuit, please contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900 or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

 

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Health officials have associated cases of E. coli O157:H7 with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold to restaurants and institutions by Aunt Mid's Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor.  Health officials have indicated that additional distributors may be involved in this E. coli outbreak.

To date, 26 of the E. coli cases are from Michigan, including 7 students at Michigan State University (MSU) and 3 students at the University of Michigan.

“Our top priority at the Michigan Department of Community Health is to protect the public,” said Dr. Gregory Holzman, chief medical executive for MDCH. “We appreciate all of the assistance from Aunt Mid’s. They have been very helpful in this investigation. We want to ensure that the public’s health and well-being is protected. Even though the investigation is ongoing, available evidence is strongly pointing to iceberg lettuce."

Liability in an E. coli lawsuit can be complex.  Contact attorney Fred Pritzker with questions about who is responsible for paying compensation to the victims of the outbreak.

 

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As we predicted, beef tri-tip is the source of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened attendees of a BBQ Benefit in Forest Ranch, California. The BBQ Benefit took place on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Fire Station 24. 

Beef processors have recalled millions of pounds of beef products in the last several months. These recalls were all allegedly due to unsanitary conditions in processing plants. In one case, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service concluded that Nebraska Beef Ltd., a beef processor that had recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef, had production practices that were insufficient to effectively control E. coli bacteria. "The products subject to recall may have been produced under unsanitary conditions," the government said.

Health officials have not reported names of the processor, distributors or retailer of the contaminated tri-tip associated with this E. coli outbreak in Forest Ranch, California. These parties are all potentially liable to the victims of this outbreak for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and other damages.  We are representing several victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to beef products. Contact us for E. coli lawsuit information.

According to the Butte County Public Health Department, at least 18 people were sickened, 4 of them seriously. 

Two people are still hospitalized, one of them a six-year-old child. As happens to many children who contract E. coli infections, the child has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, brain damage and damage to other organs. As attorneys who represent people with HUS and families of people with HUS who have died, we have witnessed the pain and suffering and emotional distressed caused by this illness. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently spent two days in an intensive care unit with a family whose loved one was in a HUS-associated coma.

If you are a victim of this outbreak or a parent of a victim, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.  Even if you do not hire us to represent you, we understand that it can be helpful just to have the opportunity to have some questions answered.

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Saturday, September 13, 2008, the community of Forest Ranch, California gathered for a benefit barbecue for volunteer fire Station 24 and Station 23. What attendees did not know was that deadly E. coli bacteria had contaminated some of the food. According to Butte County health officials, at least 13 people were sickened, 4 of them seriously. 

Two people are still hospitalized, one of them a child. E. coli infections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, brain damage and damage to other organs. We are representing E. coli victims who developed HUS and have recently recovered compensation for families of E. coli victims who died after developing HUS. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently spent two days in an intensive care unit with a family whose loved one was in a HUS-associated coma.

Most of the E. coli outbreaks in the last several months have been linked to beef products. One of the outbreaks was linked to beef tri-tip. One of the food items served was beef tri-tip sandwiches. Health investigators have not yet associated this outbreak to the beef tri-tip sandwiches or any other food source. Interviews and tests should shed light on what caused this outbreak. If the beef tri-tip is the source of the E. coli outbreak, the processor, distributor and retailer of the meat may be liable for any injuries caused by the contaminated meat. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker for more information about liability for E. coli-associated illness.

The following is an upbeat report of the benefit barbecue in Forest Ranch found on the Forest Ranch Community Association Web site that is dated September 19, 2008, days before health officials reported the E. coli outbreak associated with the event:

Saturday morning, the air was filled with anticipation as members from the community and Station 24 and Station 23 came together to set up for the Benefit BBQ. . . Inside Station 24, members of the Women's Club were arranging pies, cakes, cookies. . . Members of Mountain Joy Bible Fellowship were busy in the kitchen getting the food ready for the day. Many folks who came enjoyed the Tri-tip sandwiches, hot dogs, chili, BBQ Chicken Breast, veggie burgers and salad. The magic hour of noon came and the event was on underway.

With the Butte County Health Department, we encourage people to wash their hands to help prevent secondary spread of E. coli.

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(Updated information: According to news reports, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said at least one sample of the raw milk from Hendricks Farms & Dairy that was submitted by a consumer who got sick, has tested positive for Campylobacter.)

Since September 1, at least seven confirmed cases of Campylobacter have been associated with drinking raw milk from Hendricks Farm & Dairy in Franconia, PA, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The people sickened live in unrelated households in Pennsylvania and in a neighboring state. Other individuals in these households have also experienced similar gastrointestinal illness, but they have not tested positive for Campylobacter.

In response to this Campylobacter outbreak, the state Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has suspended Hendricks Farm and Dairy's raw milk permit and instructed the farm’s owner to stop selling raw milk for human consumption until the permit is reinstated. The only product affected by this suspension is the farm's fluid raw milk.

Raw milk has been associated with foodborne outbreaks throughout the country. If you contracted Campylobacter (campylobacteriosis) after consuming raw milk, contact our office for information about a lawsuit to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), e-mail attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), with the aid of 3 CDC staff, interviewed an additional 310 people over the weekend who ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK, from August 15 through August 17.  Over 200 people who ate at the restaurant on these dates contracted E. coli 0111 infections.  One 26-year-old man, a gospel singer, died and several children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and are on dialysis.

So far more than 1,300 persons who ate at the restaurant have been interviewed as part of the OSDH investigation. The OSDH is interviewing both those who became sick as well as those who did not after eating at the Country Cottage in an attempt to identify the distinction between what might have been a popular food choice versus a valid association with food selection and illness.

The OSDH and the CDC are doing an epidemiological analysis of the interview data. In addition to studying the possible association of illness to specific food items, the OSDH has conducted environmental sampling of food preparation and serving surfaces at the restaurant, as well as some food sampling. Laboratory results are still pending on environmental and food samples.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) said today it has determined the need to interview about 320 additional persons as part of its ongoing investigation into the source of an E. coli 0111 outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma.  The E. coli 0111 outbreak has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley:

In our efforts to establish if there is an association with particular food items and illness, we will be interviewing more persons to find those who ate at the Country Cottage and did not become ill. In an investigation of this scope, it is as important to collect information on those who did not get sick as those who did become ill. We’ve determined that our statistical database does not adequately represent those who ate at the Country Cottage but did not become ill. This information is necessary so that we can make the distinction between what might have been a popular food choice versus a valid association with illness.

The OSDH also announced that the CDC is going to participate in the outbreak investigation:

“This outbreak is of great interest to CDC because it will add to knowledge on the range of disease that the E. coli 0111 organism can cause,” Bradley said. She said federal officials will conduct medical reviews to look at acute symptoms and complications of those who became sick due to the E. coli 0111 infection. They will also assist OSDH staff in telephone interviews.

At least 206 persons have become sick as a result of this E. coli 0111 outbreak, including 149 adults, 53 children, several of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening illness that can cause kidney failure, pancreatitis, liver damage, brain damage and damage to other organs. One person has died.

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Many of the persons who were hospitalized as a result of the Oklahoma E. coli O111 outbreak have recovered and are being released from area hospitals. State health officials believe the total number of persons hospitalized at the peak of the outbreak exceeded 50; about 27 are currently hospitalized.

At least 206 persons have become sick as a result of the outbreak including 149 adults, 53 children, and four whose ages have not yet been confirmed. Cases range in age from 2 months to 88 years. One person has died.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) investigation is focused on the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK. Most of the people who became ill reported eating at the restaurant from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23. The 26-year-old man who died in this outbreak also reportedly ate at the Country Cottage before becoming ill. 

Health officials have not found the source of the outbreak.  As OSDH officials continue their investigation of this outbreak, they are sampling and testing food preparation and serving surfaces in the Country Cottage restaurant for any E. coli 0111 contamination. They are also still interviewing people who may have eaten at the restaurant from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23.

OSDH did not find E. coli in the restaurant's well water, which means the source of the outbreak was most likely a food item.

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An Oklahoma E. coli 0111 outbreak has sickened over 200 people.  The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has linked the outbreak to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma.  Last week, news reports indicated that the source of the outbreak may have been the restaurant's well water.  Today, the OSDH reported "that laboratory analysis of water samples taken from a private well on the property of the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK, has found no disease-causing bacteria."

“The well water is not the source of this outbreak,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley. “We are continuing our efforts to conduct microbiological testing of food preparation and serving surfaces in the restaurant, and we continue to interview cases, as we try to establish an association with those who became ill and a potential source.”

At least 206 persons are sick as a result of the outbreak including 149 adults, 53 children, and four whose ages have not yet been confirmed. One person has died, a 26-year-old man, and several children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

“This appears to be the largest E. coli 0111 outbreak ever reported in the U.S.,” Bradley stated. “The complexity of this outbreak and the necessity to be extremely thorough in our investigation means we still have more questions than answers.”

Although health investigators have interviewed more than 500 persons, they have not yet determined the source of this Oklahoma E. coli 0111 outbreak.

For information about restaurant liability and an E. coli 0111 lawsuit, please contact our law firm: call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli litigation cases.

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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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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has issued an update of what appears to be an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has been associated with the Country Cottage restaurant in Lotus Grove, Oklahoma.  (Update: On August 28, 2008 the OSDH reported that the E.  coli involved in this outbreak is 0111 and not O157:H7.) The Country Cottage "E. coli" outbreak may have sickened over 50 people.  According to the OSDH, "At least 17 cases have been hospitalized and 40 or more cases are under investigation. One person has died."

This is up from the 14 hospitalized cases and "20 or more potential cases" reported yesterday.

Although health officials have not determined the source of the illness, epidemiological evidence has determined that "a large number" of the people sickened and the person who died ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK.

Oklahoma health laboratory officials continue to analyze specimens taken from ill persons to try to determine if the diagnosis is E. coli O157:H7 infections. (Again, as of 8/29/08 the diagnosis is E. coli 0111.) Signs and symptoms of these Country Cottage "E. coli" cases include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramping.

Our law firm has been contacted by people sickened in this Country Cottage "E. coli" outbreak. It is imperative for both medical and legal reasons for people experiencing symptoms of E. coli to seek medical attention. If you or your child is diagnosed with E. coli, you should immediately contact us regarding the additional testing that needs to be done to connect your or your child’s case of E. coli to this outbreak.

Our law firm represents people sickened in E. coli outbreaks linked to restaurants. We recently recovered compensation for victims of an outbreak linked to a restaurant even though health officials never found the source of the outbreak. Contact us about restaurant liability.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) published a press release today regarding the outbreak of diarrheal illness that has been associated with the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK.  The following is the press release: 

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is investigating an outbreak of severe diarrheal illness among residents of several northeastern Oklahoma communities. At least 14 cases have been hospitalized and 20 or more potential cases are under investigation. One person has died.

Disease investigators from the OSDH, Tulsa Health Department, and several northeastern Oklahoma county health departments are looking at all likely sources, including restaurants and specific food sources. Early investigation indicates a large number of persons who became ill ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, OK. The restaurant is working closely with the OSDH to assist in the investigation. No source has been identified.

State public health laboratory officials are conducting confirmatory testing of specimens to try to determine the diagnosis.

Persons who have become ill are from a number of communities including Bixby, Pryor, Sand Springs, Locust Grove, Broken Arrow, Peggs, Tulsa, and McAlester.

Signs and symptoms of these cases include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramping. Fever is generally mild to absent. Persons who believe they have symptoms of this illness should contact their health care provider immediately.

 

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One person in Oklahoma has died from what appears to be E. coli food poisoning. At least 14 others have been hospitalized with symptoms of E. coli. The Oklahoma State Department of Health is also investigating at least 20 other cases of diarrhea that may be E. coli.  A large majority of the people sickened ate at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

This situation is tragic for everyone. The culprit in this case may be beef. Millions of pounds of beef products have been recalled recently, most if it by one processor, Nebraska Beef, Ltd., a company with a history of sanitation violations.

Although beef is the most common source of E. coli outbreaks, other foods can be the source of E. coli infections, including but not limited to leafy greens and unpasteurized apple cider and milk.

One of our recent E. coli wrongful death cases involved spinach. Another E. coli wrongful death case our law firm is handling involves a restaurant where a goat was slaughtered in the restaurant kitchen.

Legally, E. coli outbreaks involving restaurants can lead to a finding of liability on the part of the restaurant, a distributor, a processor and/or others. We investigate all possibilities and thoroughly discuss the options with our clients. Our goal in all of our E. coli cases is to recover compensation for our clients.  

E. coli victims may seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering and other damages.  In E. coli wrongful death cases, family members receive any money recovered in a settlement or jury verdict. These cases are governed by specific wrongful death laws. In cases involving sickness but not death, family members may also recover amounts for losses suffered, including but not limited to loss of income and loss of consortium. It is important to hire an E. coli lawyer who will take the time to listen to the victim and the victim's family and be able to communicate the extent of the losses to a judge and jury.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this Oklahoma E. coli outbreak and their families. If you would like a free E. coli litigation consultation, please contact our law firm:

• Call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) and ask to speak to one of our lawyers, all of whom have E. coli litigation experience
• Email our lawyers
• Submit our online form for a free E. coli litigation consultation

 

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Health officials have associated raw milk from Alexandre Family EcoDairy Farms, a Del Norte County, California dairy with an outbreak of Campylobacter . The Del Norte County Department of Public Health has confirmed 3 cases of Campylobacter infection and is awaiting the results for 12 additional cases.

One woman sickened in this outbreak has developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the body damages its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and, in some cases, paralysis and death.

Because selling raw milk is illegal in California, dairies sell shares in a cow and distribute raw milk from the cow to "owners." The dairies often have the "owners" sign contracts where the "owners" agree to hold the dairies harmless if someone is sickened by the raw milk.

If you signed one of these "hold harmless" agreements and contracted Campylobacter after consuming the raw milk, you may still have grounds for a lawsuit against the dairy.  Contact our law firm for a free Campylobacter case review. 

 

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 The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has determined that the production practices employed by Nebraska Beef, Ltd., on June 24 were insufficient to effectively control E. coli O157:H7. According to FSIS, the products subject to the expansion may have been produced under insanitary conditions. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has expanded its August 8 recall of beef products to 1.36 million pounds due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. According to the USDA-FSIS announcement:

The total amount of product subject to recall is approximately 1.36 million pounds. The expansion of approximately 160,000 pounds and the clarifying information include:

• Primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on June 24, whose shipping containers and labels bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" inside the USDA mark of inspection and the company name "Nebraska Beef Ltd" The products may or may not bear a green sticker.
• Primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on July 8, whose shipping containers and labels bear the establishment number "EST. 19336" inside the USDA mark of inspection, the company name "Nebraska Beef Ltd." as well as a 2-inch plain, circular green sticker on one side of the shipping box.

This recall is an expansion of the recall that was prompted by an E. coli outbreak linked to Nebraska Beef and Coleman Natural Foods that has 31 confirmed cases on 12 states and Canada.  We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef and are representing several families. For a free E. coli case review, please contact attorney Fred Pritzker, managing partner for our E. coli litigation practice: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or fhp@pritzkerlaw.com

 

 

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Thank you, Annys Shin of the Washington Post, for your update on the E. coli outbreaks linked to Nebraska Beef and the Whole Foods Market and Coleman Natural Foods connection:

Nebraska Beef, an Omaha meat packer, has been linked to two separate outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in the past two months. The first triggered a ground beef recall by Kroger's supermarkets. The second outbreak kicked off a ground beef recall by Dorothy Lane Market, a small chain in Ohio. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider these two separate outbreaks because they involve two genetically distinct strains of O157:H7.

Whole Foods initiated the recall after Massachusetts health officials investigating a cluster of E. coli illnesses discovered all seven victims had bought meat at Whole Foods. The chain pulled ground beef from some of its stores on Wednesday. The Nebraska Beef recall was announced late Friday night.

. . . The strain found in the Whole Foods customers matches the strain found in the Dorothy Lane customers and the one found in a sample of Nebraska Beef meat, according to USDA. Dorothy Lane and Whole Foods both bought meat from Coleman Natural Foods which temporarily used Nebraska Beef to process its meat.

What this means legally for Whole Foods Market and Coleman Natural Foods is that they will most likely be sued, perhaps by our law firm. 

Innocent people contracted a violent illness because they consumed contaminated meat that went through a number of hands to land on their plates. Every company involved in the processing, distribution and sale of the contaminated meat is a potential defendant in a lawsuit seeking medical expenses and compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of income and other damages. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker for more information.

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 An E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in at least 12 states and Cananda has been associated with Nebraska Beef, Ltd. beef products that were sold under the Coleman brand.  As a result, Nebraska Beef recalled 1.2 million pounds of ground beef.

We have contacted a number of the states involved in this outbreak, and the investigation is ongoing.  To date, states involved in this outbreak include the following: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Nebraska Beef produced the recalled products on June 17, June 24 and July 8, 2008. The shipping containers and product labels bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the brand “Coleman Natural.” However, these products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing and will likely not bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” on products available for direct consumer purchase.

On July 3, Nebraska Beef recalled 5.3 million pounds of beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26. This recall also involved some Coleman brand products.   This recall was prompted by an E. coli outbreak that sickened people in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Utah. Read more about the previous Nebraska Beef recall.

We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef.  Read more about the Nebraska Beef lawsuit.

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S&S Foods LLC., a California company, is recalling approximately 153,630 pounds of frozen bulk ground beef because the beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. 

The recalled ground beef was sold in 30 pound boxes and was intended for food service and institutional use. The frozen, bulk ground beef was shipped to distribution centers located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Some of the ground beef has been linked by DNA fingerprinting to an E. coli outbreak at Goshen Scout Reservation in Virginia, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal that included statements by Laura Reiser, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service agency spokeswoman:

Reiser said the only known E. Coli cases connected to the meat are from the camp. State health officials said there are 25 confirmed cases among people who attended camp between July 20 and 26. Two campers who attended last week were also infected, and more than 80 people have shown symptoms since the outbreak, said Christopher Novak, an epidemiologist with the Virginia Department of Health.

At least one Scout, a Northern Virginia resident, remains hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication that can occur when the E. coli toxin enters the bloodstream and that can lead to kidney failure, Novak said.

A box of meat from the Goshen Scout Reservation, near Lexington, had an "establishment number" corresponding to an S&S plant, Reiser said, and E. coli in the meat has been genetically matched to bacteria found in samples taken from some campers. That and other evidence led the agency to recommend the recall, Reiser said.

"Virginia tested products and provided us the information, and then we have our illness investigation, and between all that, we can say, 'Yes, these illnesses [at Goshen] are associated with this product," Reiser said.

J. Michael McMahan, an environmental health supervisor with the state Health Department, said Virginia health officials obtained the box of meat July 28, one day after the department first received reports of ill campers.

In this case, we got extremely lucky that we got a box of product left we could test," McMahan said. "That's really fairly unusual in an outbreak."

The contaminated meat went from the hands of S & S Foods, a California company, to Cargill, a Minnesota company, to a single food service customer, whose name was not released by Cargill. The food service provider for Goshen Scout Reservation was Sodexo, a worldwide food service provider.

The contaminated meat traveled from California to Virginia and landed in meals eaten by boy scouts, 25 of whom have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. One scout is still in the hospital and has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

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The CDC has reported that one case in Georgia is now part of the multi-state E. coli outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components.  The first cases reported in this outbreak were in Michigan and Ohio.  On July 15, the CDC reported that Indiana, Kentucky and New York each had one confirmed case.  With Georgia added to the list, there are now 6 states involved in the outbreak.

Our law firm has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of this E. coli outbreak.  To contact us regarding this lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

The Georgia case is one of 8 E. coli cases in Georgia that have been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia. According to the Moultrie Observer:

“This is not a new case,” Southwest Georgia Public Health District Health Director Jacqueline Grant said. “What is new is that the CDC has now determined that it fit their case definition for the outbreak that began in Michigan and Ohio.”

Late Tuesday, Grant said the CDC announced that New York, Kentucky and Indiana each had a lab-confirmed case of bacterial infection that matched the clusters in Michigan and Ohio that had been traced to beef sold in Kroger supermarkets. With the inclusion of Georgia, six states are now linked to the outbreak.

“The number of lab-confirmed E. coli cases associated with the Colquitt County outbreak remains at eight, with four presumed cases,” Grant said. “That number has not changed. The lab-confirmed cases are undergoing additional testing to determine whether they also match the multi-state case definition. Testing results are expected later this week.”

The Colquitt County cases are the only cases related to the national outbreak found in Georgia by disease investigators, Grant said. All confirmed and presumed cases involve people who ate at the Barbecue Pit, located at 311 First Ave. S.E. in Moultrie from mid-June through July 3.

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