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

Pritzker Olsen, P.A. has been retained to represent the family of a five-year old boy from Auburn, Maine who contracted hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as a result of eating ground beef tainted with E. coli O157:H7. The boy’s illness, for which he was hospitalized for three weeks, has been affirmatively linked to the Fairbank Farms outbreak, which resulted in the recall of approximately 545,699 pounds of ground beef products because of potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

According to a November 13, 2009 story in The New York Times, Fairbank Farms succumbed to pressure from its beef suppliers and inexplicably stopped testing all of its ground beef ingredients. According to the company, those procedures are now being re-evaluated. Unfortunately, that move comes too late for our client, as well as for the two people who have died and the people who have been sickened in the outbreak.

As national food safety attorney Fred Pritzker notes, “the needless suffering of the people sickened in this outbreak only serves to underscore the need for more stringent testing in the meat industry.” Pritzker supports the legislation currently under consideration to require regular testing in meat plants.

To contact Pritzker Olsen law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online form for a free consultation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Fred Pritzker, founder and president of national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, has no mercy for food manufacturers and restaurants that distribute and serve food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 or other lethal pathogens. His strident opinions are borne out of the experience of seeing too many people die or become permanently disabled from food poisoning. The latest victim is 7-year-old Abigail "Abby" Fenstermaker of Cleveland, Ohio. Friends of Brian and Nicole Fenstermaker, the parents, have organized a community fundraiser for the evening of Friday, May 29, at The Clevelander bar and restaurant near Jacobs Field. For more information, click here. To reach Mr. Pritzker, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or email him at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com

By FRED PRITZKER

On May 21, 2009, Valley Meats LLC, of Coal Valley, IllInois, recalled 95,898 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. This action followed an investigation by Cleveland, Ohio, health officials who identified two eateries that possibly served burgers tainted with E. coli O157:H7.

Three Cleveland area residents who became ill in April apparently had eaten at  two establishments, the VFW Hall in North Olmstead and Deekers Side Tracks in Mentor, Ohio. A 7- year-old Cleveland girl died from E. coli O157:H7-related complications (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome – HUS).

This devastating loss was utterly preventable and points to a food safety system breakdown on many levels.

Federal, state and local law prohibits the sale of adulterated food. If Valley Meats LLC distributed and sold meat products contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 it means the company violated laws that have been on the books for more than a hundred years and failed to properly test and detect lethal pathogens before the products left its facility.

It also means the restaurants that served this poisoned food similarly violated the law. Whether the meat was adulterated when it entered the restaurant, there is no question and no doubt that with proper cooking and handling, any pathogen in the food could and should have been killed off before it caused harm.

Coincidental to this tragedy and illustrative of it, preliminary data published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that the estimated incidence of E. coli O157:H7 infections did not change significantly when compared with the preceding 3 years. In fact, the percentage of ground beef samples yielding E. coli O157:H7 actually doubled in 2008 compared to 2007. What’s more, none of the target goals established by the federal government in its food safety initiative, Healthy People 2010, were met.

I am one of the few and most experienced food safety lawyers in the United States. I have represented foodborne illness survivors in virtually every major foodborne illness outbreak during the last several years.

In virtually every one of those cases, people were sickened or killed not because laws were lacking or technology was insufficient, but rather because of three primal deficiencies:  ignorance, sloth and greed.  As the Cleveland case illustrates, the companies responsible for this outbreak were either too stupid, too lazy or too greedy or a combination of all three, to prevent the lifelong losses that occurred.

Right now, my law firm represents wrongful death victims of the Peanut Corporation of America Salmonella outbreak that occurred when company officials knowingly shipped Salmonella-laced peanut products.

Within the last week we learned that another nut processor, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., in California knowingly shipped Salmonella-positive nuts for six months.
These outbreaks and the Cleveland case indicate a shocking lack of responsibility and accountability.

It is only fitting that such wrongdoers be held accountable for the harms and losses they caused. But in these cases that means more than just a collection of insurance proceeds. It means actual accountability – the kind that comes from criminal prosecution and payment of punitive damages that actually punish wrongdoers and serves as a deterrent to prevent future outbreaks.

Without such deterrence, we can expect more of the same. 

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Abby Fenstermaker was a healthy and happy little girl from the Cleveland area who turned 7 years old on April 25.

Less than four weeks later, she was dead from complications of an E. coli O157:H7 infection that may have come from hamburger contaminated by the manufacturer. 

Friends and family of Abby's parents have begun a memorial fund in her name to collect at least $10,000 to help pay for a flood of bills. Anyone can contribute and a community event is scheduled this coming Friday, May 29, at The Clevelander Bar and Restaurant. 

In loving memory, a night for Abby. The number to call to offer your help is 216-832-6178.

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Matt Carroll, director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health, told the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper that the two eateries investigated by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service were the VFW Hall in North Olmsted and Deekers Side Tracks, a sports bar and dance club in Mentor.

The newspaper said health officials removed beef burgers from the two establishments, prompting Thursday's recall of 48 tons of frozen hamburger patties and refrigerated ground beef by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Ill.

The company has said its products were sold to restaurants and other foodservice accounts, not retail stores. The recalled meat, produced March 10, was sold to distributors in 11 states. The E. coli exposures happened in April. All of the hamburger meat recalled was sold in 10-pound, 20-pound and 40-pound packages stamped with USDA Establishment Number 5712.

Test results are expected next week to determine if the 7-year-old girl who died Sunday of an E. coli O157:H7 was sickened by the same strain of the micro-organism as the three others who were made ill. The two who were hospitalized have recovered from their original symptoms.

The little girl who died was a student at Westpark Comunity Elementary School in Cleveland. School Principal Macey Baldizzi said in a statement Friday, "I want to thank all our Westpark Community Elementary families for supporting the school and being so very respectful of our one family during their time of loss. The family deserves privacy, and they deserve the time to grieve."

National food poisoning law firmPritzker Olsen Attorney issued a pair of press releases Friday calling for Congress to act on a proposed food safety bill that would improve meat inspection and strengthen regulations to help keep deadly pathogens out of the U.S. food supply. The firm also called on Valley Meats LLC and any restaurants involved in the outbreak to pay medical bills, lost wages and other expenses for families who have suffered.

Pritzker Olsen has years of experience representing E. coli victims and their families. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for its food poisoning clients and is dedicated to educating the public about food safety issues. For more information, call the firm to speak to an E. coli lawyer at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online for a free case consultation. 

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Food safety bills in Washinton are regularly introduced with much fanfare and then sent to committee, where they languish and die. With high-season for food poisoning already upon us, national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys issued a press release Friday asking  Congress to get moving. The call to action was spurred by an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois that may have caused the death of a 7-year-old girl in Cleveland.

PRESS RELEASE

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Business Wire) May 22, 2009 - In light of the recent deaths from Salmonella and E. coli food poisoning, including the recent death of an elementary school girl in Ohio. Pritzker Olsen, P.A., a national food safety law firm, is calling for quick passage of H.R. 875, a food safety bill introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro on February 4, 2009.

On May 17, 2009, a 7-year-old girl from Cleveland  died of an E. coli infection. According to health officials, her death may be part of a multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with the consumption of ground beef produced by Valley Meats LLC, a USDA-licensed processor of beef based in Illinois. Prompted by this outbreak, Valley Meats recalled over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products on May 21, 2009, due to possible E. coli contamination. The recalled ground beef had been distributed for use in restaurants and food service facilities. This case highlights the need for strong, enforced food safety laws from farm to fork.

“Eating a hamburger should not be a high-risk activity,” said Pritzker Olsen attorney Eric Hageman. “Parents need to know that the food they serve their children is safe to eat.”

If the major provisions of H.R. 875, outlined below, are enacted and new regulations are promulgated and enforced, tragic deaths like that of the little girl in Cleveland will be prevented.

H.R. 875 – Major Provisions

• Establishment of the Food Safety Administration (FSA). Now the USDA-FSIS oversees the meat industries, and the FDA oversees other food products.
• Authority for the FSA to promulgate strong, effective regulations, enforce those regulations, force the recall of products, adequately inspect and obtain pertinent records. Giving federal health officials the authority to force companies to recall products is critical to prevention of foodborne illness. It can take weeks after a food source of an outbreak is suspected for the manufacturer to recall the product. People can get sick and die while these companies drag their feet.
• Authority for the FSA to establish a beefed-up inspection program. The anemic food inspection programs in the United States are a significant factor contributing to the rise of huge, multi-state foodborne outbreaks.
• Requirement that imported food must meet the new standards as food manufactured in the United States. With global food sources becoming an ever-growing part of the food system, this is critical. In addition, we would like to see a much higher percentage of imported food being inspected by federal health officials.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). Pritzker Olsen has offices at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402. 

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An E. coli outbreak associated with ground beef has sickened people in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania and may have killed a seven-year-old girl in Cleveland, Ohio. One day after the outbreak was announced, national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys issued a press release calling on the meat processor and any restaurants involved in the outbreak to agree to pay medical bills and lost wages for victims and their families.

PRESS RELEASE

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Business Wire) May 22, 2009 -- According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, 96,000 pounds of frozen hamburger patties and refrigerated ground beef have been recalled by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Illinois, in association with an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7  Illnesses have been reported in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois, and the ground beef in question was distributed nationwide after it was produced March 10.

The Ohio Department of Health has stated that three E. coli O157:H7 infections have been confirmed, and Cleveland's health director has said a fourth case involving the E. coli death of a 7-year-old girl is being investigated as possibly related. At least two restaurants in Ohio's Cuyahoga County also are being investigated as possibly linked to the outbreak, officials have said.

"We are calling on Valley Meats and any restaurants involved in the outbreak to act responsibly and pay for the medical expenses and lost wages of those who contracted E. coli infections,'' said Fred Pritzker, founder and president of national food poisoning and food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys."While other legal issues, including compensation for pain and suffering, are pending. The families deserve that peace of mind.''

Pritzker also stated that he believes restaurants should do more to ensure that meat suppliers are following state of the art techniques to keep deadly pathogens out of the food supply. "It is really up to restaurants to demand that the meat they prepare for customers is produced under the safest possible conditions," Pritzker said. "Restaurants have the market power to change dangerous practices."

Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically all major outbreaks of foodborne illness and the firm has recovered millions of dollars for the families and victims of E. coli and related Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, or HUS. Currently, Fred Pritzker is representing the families of three women who died of Salmonella poisoning in Minnesota and Ohio in the outbreak caused late last year by Peanut Corp. of America.

"These women and their families have suffered immeasurably. No amount of money could fully compensate them for their loss, but pursuing the companies responsible is the best way of helping prevent anyone else from going through what they did,'' Pritzker said.

Pritzker Olsen is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. Attorneys at the firm have been quoted as experts in this area by The Associated Press, The New York Times, CNN, CBS News, Fox News and many regional newspapers and broadcast stations. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/section-foodborne-illness/ecoli/valley-meats-ground-beef-recall-lawsuit.html  or contact Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free).  Pritzker Olsen has offices at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 

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On Sunday, a seven-year-old girl died from an E. coli infection that may be linked to an E. coli outbreak associated with consuming ground beef produced by Valley Meats LLC.  In response to this outbreak, the company recalled over 95,000 pounds of ground beef products that had been sold to restaurants and food service accounts.

When ground beef tests positive for E. coli O157:H7, it means cow feces got ground in with the meat. There are sanitation measures that meat producers can take to prevent this. When E. coli-contaminated ground beef is distributed, it means the producer did not test the meat for E. coli or sent it out even though it did test positive for E. coli. When ground beef (usually hamburgers) cooked by a restaurant transmits E. coli to a customer, it means the restaurant did not cook the meat adequately because E. coli can be killed with heat. 

This little girl’s death was preventable, and the companies that are responsible should pay.  Contact E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Olsen, a national E. coli litigation law firm, for information on compensation for E. coli victims and their families: 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form for review by an attorney.

In addition to fighting for the best possible compensation package for E. coli victims and their families, our attorneys support changes in law and policy that will help prevent E. coli outbreaks. 

When Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) called needing a family member of a food poisoning victim to testify before Congress, we arranged to have one of our clients go to Washington and tell Congress about his mother who died from Salmonella poisoning. Congress and the population in general need to know that we have a food safety crisis in this country and that people are dying. 

We are asking all of our readers to contact their federal legislators to tell them we don’t want any more seven-year-olds to die because they ate ground beef or any other food product.

Continue Reading...

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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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A 7-year-old Cleveland girl has died from an E. coli O157:H7 infection that may have stemmed from contaminated ground beef recalled Thursday by an Illinois company.

The recall of 48 tons of frozen patties and refrigerated ground beef applies to meat produced March 10 by Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Illinois. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the recall was prompted by an epidemiological investigation by state health officials in Ohio who found genetically matched isolates of E. coli O157:H7 in three people who were not related.

One was a 3-year-old girl, one was a 24-year-old man and the third was a 71-year-old man. Two of the victims were hospitalized, but all three recovered, the Ohio Department of Health reported. The FSIS said other matching E. coli O157:H7 infections were found in Pennsylvania and Illinois, but the agency didn't say how many.

Hours after the recall was announced, news broke of a potential fourth victim in Ohio -- the 7-year-old girl. Here's what reporters Leila Atassi and Harlan Spector reported for The Plain Dealer's web site in Cleveland:

"Health officials did not identify the girl or provide details of the circumstances that led to her death. But Cleveland Health Director Matthew Carroll said the case might be the latest in a cluster of E. Coli infections traced to Valley Meats LLC, of Coal Valley, Ill.''

Lisa Abraham of the Akron Beacon Journal said two restaurants in Cuyahoga County are part of the investigation, but health officials haven't named them because it's not certain they are linked. The report said the recalled hamburger made by Valley Meats was for sale to restaurants and food service accounts.

According to the recall notice, the potentially contaminated beef was distributed nationwide under a dozen generic brands and the following name brands: 3S, Grillmaster, J&B, Klub, Thick 'N Savory and Ultimate. All packages are stamped with USDA establishment number 5712.

National food poisoning and food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is monitoring the outbreak and urging anyone who believes they may have become ill from ground beef produced by Valley Meats to immediately see a physician. Symptoms of E. coli include diarrhea (often bloody), severe cramps, possible nausea or vomiting and possible mild fever.

Pritzker Olsen is involved in practically all major outbreaks of foodborne illness and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli O157:H7 and other deadly pathogens. Earlier this year, the firm was chosen to represent the Ohio family of Nellie Napier, an 80-year-old resident of Medina County who died of Salmonella infection linked to Peanut Corp. of America.

To contact an E. coli O157:H7 lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or write to us online for a free case consultation.

 

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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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According to the Virginia Department of Health, ground beef may be the source of the E. coli outbreak associated with Goshen Scout Camp.  According to the Wall Street Journal, "the number of people who contracted the E. coli infection has grown to at least 18, with two boys in the most serious condition."  The serious condition is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause renal failure, pancreatitis and central nervous system damage.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is devastating.  Attorney Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for our E. coli cases, recently spent two days in intensive care with a family whose loved one was in a coma because of E. coli-related HUS.

The Wall Street Journal story provides additional information about the Goshen Scout Camp E. coli outbreak:

Christopher Novak, a Health Department epidemiologist, said about 30 employees were investigating the outbreak, interviewing Scout troops and taking stool samples from those with symptoms.

Novak said a possible source was food in foil-packaged meals that included ground beef and vegetables. The camp staple, typically cooked over a fire by Scouts, is not problematic if cooked long enough and at the right temperature, Novak said.

Those who were infected with E. coli 0157, a harmful strain of the bacterium, were a mix of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and two people from Maryland, officials said. The sick children ranged in age from 10 to 16, and about 10 required hospitalization, Novak said.

Six of those were treated and released, Novak said. Of the remaining four, two had hemolytic uremic syndrome, which occurs when the toxin produced by the bacterium enters the bloodstream, he said.

The "camp staple" referred to by the Wall Street Journal is "grubby stew," ground beef and vegetables wrapped in foil and cooked in a campfire.

If ground beef is the culprit, test should reveal whether this outbreak is connected to the outbreaks around the country linked to Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components.  We have filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef on behalf of an E. coli victim, and we are other families whose loved ones have been sickened by ground beef made with Nebraska Beef products.

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Updated CDC information on the multistate outbreak of E. coli now includes the state of Utah and more confirmed cases in Georgia.  The outbreak now has affected 7 states: Georgia (4 cases), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20), New York (1), Ohio (21), and Utah (1).  The illnesses began between May 27 and July 1, 2008, resulting in 27 hospitalizations and one case of a type of kidney failure caused by E. coli known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Investigators first traced the outbreak strain to contaminated ground beef purchased at Kroger retail stores located in Michigan and Ohio. Kroger has recalled all of its ground beef products that may have been contaminated.  Kroger’s supplier was then found to be Nebraska Beef, who originally recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef on June 30, but then expanded the recall on July 3 to include approximately 5.3 million pounds of ground beef components produced between May 16 and June 26.

The cases in Georgia were traced back to the Barbecue Pit restaurant in Moultrie, Georgia, which also had used ground beef components from Nebraska Beef. 49 confirmed cases have been linked to the outbreak, with Nebraska Beef as the common denominator for supplying contaminated ground beef components.

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The multistate E. coli outbreak that originally affected residents of Michigan and Ohio has now spread to four more states.  According to the CDC, there have been 45 confirmed cases linked to this outbreak, 20 in Michigan and 21 in Ohio, which now includes one case in each of the following states: Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, and New York.  In all instances, illness began between May 27 and June 24.

According to the CDC,

Twenty-three persons have been hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Twenty-six (58%) patients are female. Patients range in age from 4 to 78 years with a median age of 19 years.

Ground beef samples from several patients were found to match the outbreak strain of E. coli. The ground beef was connected to Kroger retail stores in Michigan and Ohio, prompting Kroger to recall ground beef sold at their Michigan and Ohio stores. On June 30, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. (Kroger’s supplier) recalled half a million pounds of ground beef. One July 3, the Nebraska Beef recall was expanded to include 5.3 million pounds of beef products.

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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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According to the CDC, the E. coli outbreak that has been linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components now involves 5 states: Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20 according to the CDC and 22 according to the Michigan Department of Community Health), New York (1), and Ohio (21). The illnesses began between May 30 and June 24, 2008. Patients range in age from 4 to 78 years with a median age of 20 years.

Twenty-one ill persons have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. One patient has developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), an illness that can develop from an E. coli O157:H7 infection. HUS can cause kidney failure (renal failure) and damage to other organs. 

Health officials have linked Kroger ground beef to this outbreak.  According to the CDC:

State health and agriculture departments tested ground beef recovered from several patient residences that was purchased at Kroger® retail stores in Michigan and Ohio. Molecular fingerprinting testing conducted by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Health and Agriculture Laboratories, in collaboration with PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from these ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157.

CDC's OutbreakNet Team conducted a multi-state case-control study in collaboration with health authorities in Ohio and Michigan to epidemiologically examine exposures that would be related to illness. The data indicate a significant association between illness and eating ground beef purchased at one of several Kroger® Company stores in Michigan and Ohio. CDC has provided these results to the USDA-FSIS and public health agencies in Michigan and Ohio.

On June 25, 2008, a recall was announced for ground beef sold at Kroger® Co. Stores in Michigan and Ohio. On July 3, the Kroger® Co. expanded the June 25th recall to include ground beef products from Kroger® establishments outside of Michigan and Ohio.

Kroger used Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components to make the Kroger ground beef involved in this outbreak. According to the USDA:

Nebraska Beef, Ltd., was identified as a common supplier to those stores in addition to two federally inspected establishments where FSIS obtained a positive ground beef sample that was matched to the outbreak strain.

On June 30, 2008, a recall of 531,707 pounds of ground beef components from Nebraska Beef Ltd. was announced. On July 3, 2008, the Nebraska Beef recall expanded to include all beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26, 2008, totaling approximately 5.3 million pounds.

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

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Microbiological evidence has linked ground beef taken from the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people, probably more. According to WCTV news:

Ground beef taken from the Barbecue Pit, the restaurant that has been the common thread in a Colquitt County disease outbreak, has tested positive for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157, says Southwest Georgia Public Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

"We received confirmation that ground beef samples tested positive," Grant said.

. . . There are eight lab-confirmed cases of E. coli and four presumed cases to date in the Colquitt County disease outbreak, which began in late June. All confirmed and presumed cases involve people who ate at the Barbecue Pit, located at 311 First Ave., S.E. in Moultrie.

According to the Southwest Georgia Public Health District, the ground beef was made with Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components have also been linked to an outbreak that has sickened at least 43 people in Ohio and Michigan. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled beef trim and other ground beef components.  The Nebraska Beef recall involves 5 million pounds of ground beef components.  

We have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a victim of the E. coli outbreak associated with Nebraska ground beef components and Kroger ground beef. For information about this Nebraska Beef and Kroger lawsuit and E. coli litigation, please contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit the firm’s free, E. coli-case consultation form.

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According to a Southwest Georgia Public Health District news release, the Barbecue Pit, a restaurant in Moultrie, Georgia may be linked to an E. coli outbreak that may have sickened at least nine people in Colquitt County, Georgia. Six people have confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7, and three other patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that can cause kidney failure (renal failure) and that is often associated with E. coli infections.

“All of the patients with lab-confirmed cases of E. coli have recalled eating there [at the Barbecue Pit],” said Southwest Georgia Public Health District Deputy Health Director Brenda Greene.

Two of the people with hemolytic uremic syndrome also ate at the Barbecue Pit, according to Greene.

“The two patients with HUS are considered probable and we have some other tests pending that are possible cases of E. coli. Patients are still seeking medical treatment for symptoms that suggest the infection remains active,” said Greene.

According to Green, “We do not have all the evidence needed to clearly point to any one item as the source of the infection.” Even if a specific food is not implicated in this outbreak, restaurants are strictly liable for illnesses and death caused by the food they prepare. Our law firm has had several cases where a restaurant was held liable even though a specific food item served at the restaurant was not pinpointed as the source of the outbreak. 

If health officials determine that a specific food item served at the restaurant was the source of the outbreak, the supplier and manufacturer of that food item, the restaurant and others may all be found liable for illness and death.

According to the Moultrie Observer, this E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Barbecue Pit may have been caused by ground beef and may be connected to an E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio that has been linked to Kroger ground beef, the components of which were supplied by Nebraska Beef, Ltd, which has recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef components due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (Nebraska Beef recall):

“A specimen sample from one of the patients resulted in a match to the same strain of E. coli bacteria in disease outbreaks in Michigan and Ohio, and those illnesses are linked to ground beef,” Greene said. “The National Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and state epidemiologists agree that ground beef may be a source of the infection in Colquitt County.”

Ground beef is used in some of the dishes served in the Barbecue Pit, a Moultrie restaurant that has voluntarily closed as disease investigators attempt to find the source of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157 contamination. A common thread among patients with confirmed cases of the disease is that they ate at the restaurant.

If ground beef is connected to this Georgia outbreak, it would be possible to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of income and other damages from the supplier of the ground beef components [for example, Nebraska Beef, Ltd.], the processor of the ground beef, the distributor of the ground beef, the seller of the raw ground beef, the Barbecue Pit and others. A law firm with E. coli litigation experience should be consulted.

Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of one of the victims of the Ohio E. coli outbreak.  We are a national law firm and represent E. coli victims throughout the United States.  To contact our law firm about an E. coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email Fred Pritzker or submit our firm's free E. coli case consultation form.

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As of this morning, there are 40 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 associated with Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd., the company that supplied the beef trim, etc. that went into the Kroger ground beef. In response to this outbreak, Kroger recalled an “undetermined amount” of Kroger ground beef on June 25, 2008 because the ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. On June 30, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. recalled approximately 531,707 pounds of beef trim and other ground beef components because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Note: Our law firm is representing one of the victims of this outbreak.  Please see our press release about the imminent Kroger lawsuit.

On July 1, 2008, Kroger expanded its ground beef recall as follows (from the Kroger website, www.kroger.com):

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has informed The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) that Nebraska Beef, based in Omaha, Neb., has been identified as the supplier of ground beef products linked to E. coli illnesses in Michigan and central and northern Ohio. The illnesses were reported between May 31 and June 8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not reported any additional illnesses related to this outbreak. [Note from Pritzker Law: There have been additional illnesses reported by Michigan and Ohio. There are now 19 confirmed Ohio E. coli cases and 21 confirmed Michigan E. coli cases.]

Kroger has expanded the voluntary recall the Company initiated last week for Kroger stores in Michigan and in central and northern Ohio (Columbus and Toledo areas). [Read the June 25 Kroger Recall.]

Based on the latest information from the USDA, Kroger is expanding the recall to include ground beef products in Styrofoam tray packages wrapped in clear cellophane or purchased from an in-store service counter from the stores described below.

There are various “sell by” dates on the ground beef being recalled due to different Nebraska Beef production dates.

The following chart explains the range of “sell by” dates that customers should check:

Fred Meyer May 21-July 5

QFC May 21-July 5

Kroger stores May 21-July 3 *

(*except Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Knoxville, Tenn. and Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic division, which includes stores in North Carolina, Northeastern Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn. are not involved in the recall of ground beef in Styrofoam trays or from in-store service counters.)

Kroger Mid-Atlantic May 19-June 6

Fry’s May 21-July 3

Ralphs May 21-July 3

Smith’s May 21-July 3

Baker’s May 17-June 4

King Soopers June 20-July 3

City Market June 20-July 3

Customers who shop at Hilander, Owen’s, Pay Less, and Scott’s should follow the “sell by” dates listed above for Kroger stores.

In addition to the ground beef described above, Kroger is recalling Private Selection Natural ground beef sold in 16 oz. packages that were in the self-service meat case. The “sell by” dates for this product is July 11 through July 21, 2008. The product was available at all Kroger stores (including Kroger Mid-Atlantic and stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn.) and Dillons, Fred Meyer, Baker’s, Smith’s and Fry’s.

What Customers Should Do:

Kroger is asking customers to carefully check the ground beef they have at home in their refrigerators and freezers. If they have any products covered in this recall, they should return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement.

[Note from Pritzker Law: If someone has been sickened by the ground beef, DO NOT DISPOSE OF OR RETURN THE PRODUCT. Test may have to be done on the product, the results of which may be used as evidence in a Kroger E. coli lawsuit.]

What Kroger Is Doing:

Kroger has expanded the recall due to new information provided by the USDA. This information links product produced by Nebraska Beef to the illnesses. As a precaution, Kroger is removing all ground beef supplied by Nebraska Beef during the dates provided by the USDA.

The following items are not included in this recall: ground beef sold in sealed tubes in one, three or five-pound packages and frozen ground beef patties sold in the frozen food section of its stores.

Kroger has already begun notifying customers about this recall by placing signs in stores in meat departments. Kroger is also using its register receipt notification system that alerts customers about recalls of products they may have purchased.

Kroger has instructed every store involved in the recall to discard the ground beef products in question and thoroughly clean and sanitize all equipment used to prepare ground beef for sale.

We commend Kroger for taking measures to prevent further illness; however, any measures taken by Kroger does not alter the company’s responsibility to its customers who were sickened in this outbreak. If you or your child has been diagnosed with E. coli, please contact our law firm.

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Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Nebraska Beef, Ltd. in an Ohio E. coli case that is part of a Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef ground beef components.  The Ohio and Michigan outbreak may be connected to a Georgia E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia.

EXPANDED NEBRASKA BEEF, LTD. RECALL: In response to the Michigan and Ohio outbreak, Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has expanded its recall to over 5 million pounds of ground beef components (Expanded Nebraska Beef Recall) and Kroger has recalled an "undetermined amount" of ground beef products.sold at a number of stores, including Kroger stores (Kroger recall).

The supplier of the Kroger ground beef linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 35 people in Michigan and Ohio was Nebraska Beef, Ltd., an Omaha, Nebraska firm. In response to the outbreak, Kroger recalled an "undetermined amount" of Kroger ground beef products. (Read about the Kroger recall.)  Nebraska Beef has recalled 531,707 pounds of ground beef components because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The potentially-contaminated ground beef components were distributed to a number of states, meaning cases of E. coli O157:H7 in other states may surface that are connected to the Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef.   

The recalled Nebraska Beef ground beef components were sold to firms that processed the components into ground beef. This means that one contaminated component could have contaminated thousands of pounds of ground beef. The ground beef processors who used the recalled Nebraska ground beef components need to recall any ground beef products that may have been contaminated with the recalled ground beef components.

Our law firm has been retained to represent 20-year-old Zachary Everhart from Pickerington, Ohio, one of the victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger ground beef.  In a recent interview on WBNS 10TV, Mr. Everhart had this to say, “It was very painful, actually severe abdominal pains for probably a duration of four days.” The WBNS story states:

Everhart said that in addition to having his medical bills paid for, he wants to send a message to those who sell, prepare and process ground beef to pay closer attention to how they clean the food they sell.

 We are privileged to represent Mr. Everhart.  (Read about our recent Kroger lawsuit filed on behalf of Zachary Everhart.) To contact our law firm about legal representation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email Fred Pritzker.

Recalled Nebraska Beef Products

The following Nebraska Beef products have been recalled:

• Combo bins of "Coleman 75/25 Trim." The shipping containers bear the case code "38097," and were produced on June 17. These products were sent to an establishment in Colorado for further processing.
• Combo Bins of "Coleman Plate Navel Combo." The shipping containers bear the case code "38044," and were produced on June 17 and 24. These products were sent to an establishment in Texas for further processing.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10260," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Chuck." The boxes bear the case code "10263," and were produced on May 19. These products were distributed to wholesalers in New York.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Knuckle." The boxes bear the case code "46140," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois and New York.
• 60-pound boxes of "Nebraska Beef, Beef Clod." The boxes bear the case code "13060," and were produced on June 9. These products were distributed to wholesalers in Illinois.

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Rochester Meat Company, a Rochester, Minn., firm recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recall was prompted by 6 cases of E. coli O157:H7, five in Wisconsin and one in California.

According to the USDA-FSIS announcement regarding the recall, the meat was sold in bulk to restaurants and food service institutions, but the announcement did not name any of the restaurants or food service institutions where the recalled meat may have been served.  (Read more about the Rochester Meat Company recall.)

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Six cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been associated with ground beef produced by Rochester Meat Company, a Minnesota firm. In response to this E. coli outbreak, the firm has recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. 

This outbreak was discovered through an investigation initiated by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and the California Department of Public Health into the six cases of E. coli O157:H7, five in Wisconsin and one in California.

According to a USDA-FSIS announcement, the recalled Rochester Meat Company ground beef products were produced on October 30, 2007, and November 6, 2007. They were shipped to distributors nationwide for further distribution to restaurants and food service institutions. These products were not available for purchase by consumers in retail establishments.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of E. coli poisoning—bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and sometimes mild fever and vomiting—get medical attention. E. coli poisoning can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening illness that can cause kidney failure and damage to other organs. Getting medical attention is also important for legal reasons. Ask your doctor to test specifically for E. coli O157:H7.

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Over the holiday weekend the USDA-FSIS announced the recall of 95,925 pounds of ground beef produced by American Foods Group, LLC, that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recall is linked to an investigation into two illnesses by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The affected ground beef was processed at an American Foods Group plant in Green Bay, Wisc., on October 10, 2007 and was sent to retail stores and distributors in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

The shipping label bears the establishment number "Est. 18076" inside the USDA inspection mark, but that information won't help consumers know if they have the recalled product in their freezers, because the recalled ground beef was further processed and repackaged. The USDA is urging consumers to contact retailers to ask if they received any of the recalled products.

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The following from a story in USA Today highlights another problem with USDA policies and the need for more regulation of the beef industry:

The federal government may move to keep meat off the market until its tests confirm the meat doesn't have harmful bacteria, a step that officials say could have prevented some of this year's 53 meat recalls.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates meat and poultry, may require meat producers to hold product that's been routinely tested by the government until test results come back, says Kenneth Petersen, assistant administrator for the USDA. "It's not in anybody's interest to do all of these recalls." [Why “may”? If this will prevent people from getting seriously ill from E. coli, it should be done.]

Ten of this year's recalls, largely small ones with no associated illnesses, resulted from routine USDA testing, recall records show. The USDA tests thousands of products annually for bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7, before the meat leaves plants.

Companies can legally ship meat ahead of test results, which take a few days. Most tests are negative. When tests are positive and meat has been shipped, recalls follow. "They made a business decision that turned out to be the wrong one," Petersen says. [This should not be considered a business decision--it is a food safety decision.]

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Why did Kayla Boner, an athletic 14-year-old girl, die after contracting an E. coli infection and then developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in October? Health officials have not yet found the source of the E. coli infection. According to a story on DesMoinesRegister.com, Kayla’s mother believes it was Totino’s pizza:

At first, she associated Kayla's illness with a recent recall of two pizza brands, Totino's and Jeno's. Kayla ate Totino's pepperoni pizza regularly, Boner said, and she now wonders whether the recalled pizza - which has been associated with E. coli infections in 12 states - is the reason her daughter died.

General Mills recalled about 5 million Totino’s and Jeno’s pizzas on November 1 because several people had contracted E. coli infections after eating the pizzas. The E. coli outbreak linked to Totino’s and Jeno’s pizza is one of several E. coli outbreaks in the last few months.  Most of the outbreaks have been linked to ground beef products, and over 28 million pounds of ground beef products have been recalled due to possible E. coli contamination.  If the genetic fingerprint of the E. coli bacteria that killed Kayla does not match any E. coli bacteria involved in outbreaks linked to ground beef, it is still possible that the source of her E. coli infection was ground beef. Not all ground beef is tested for E. coli, and before Kayla became ill, USDA did not get genetic fingerprints of all ground beef that tested positive for E. coli.  Ground beef cannot be ruled out as a source of Kayla’s E. coli infection until another food source is found. For the sake of Kayla’s family and friends, we hope the source is found because they need to know what killed her. 

Another disturbing aspect of this case is that E. coli-related HUS does not usually kill healthy teenagers. In fact, most E. coli infections contracted by teenagers do not develop into HUS. Why did Kayla’s infection develop into HUS? Why did she die from it? One part of the answer may be that the E. coli O157:H7 strain that killed Kayla was unusually virulent. This brings us back to needing to find the source. We hope UDSA’s additional genetic fingerprinting of E. coli isolates found in ground beef and other meat products during routine testing will help health investigators pinpoint the source of more E. coli infections.

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Stop and shop has issued 2 recalls of beef due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.  The recalled beef is part of the larger, nationwide recall of 1,084,384 pounds of ground beef products by Cargill.  The following beef products have been recalled by Stop and Shop:

1. Stop and Shop Meatloaf Mix: On November 8, Stop and Shop recalled Stop and Shop meatloaf mix in 1.25 lb packages with a use by/sell by dates of 10/31 and 11/2.  The recalled Stop and Shop meatloaf mix was sold at the following Stop and Shop stores: stores in New Jersey; stores in New York; Connecticut west of Route I-91, store 612, 11 Glenridge Rd. Glenville, Connecticut; Store 616, 161 West Putman Ave. Greenwich, CT; store 646, 1937 West Main Street, Stamford, CT; and store 698, 2146 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT.
2. Stop & Shop Fresh Ground Beef and Ground Beef Patties: On November 3, Stop and Shop recalled ground beef and ground beef patties with use-by/freeze-by dates of Oct. 19, Oct. 31, and Nov. 3. As stated above, the Stop & Shop recall is part of a larger nationwide recall by Cargill Meat Solutions, which is a supplier of Stop & Shop fresh ground beef and ground beef patties.  Approximately 63,000 pounds of Stop & Shop fresh ground beef and ground beef patties with use-by/freeze-by dates of Oct. 19, Oct. 31, and Nov. 3 are implicated in Cargill's recall.

To contact E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consulation form.

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New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs has reported finding recalled Topps hamburgers in seven stores in Hudson County:

Bargain World (aka Stop 1 Food Mart)
715 New York Avenue, Union City

Lucky Food Center (aka Boca Chica Mini Market)
6501 Park Avenue, West New York

Wayne Gusto Meat Market
190 Ocean Avenue, Jersey City

Super Good Luck Grocery
91 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City

8 New Brothers Super World
61 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City

La Mia Grocery
503A Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City

BergenLine Supermarket
8107 Bergenline Avenue, North Bergen

The recalled Topps frozen hamburgers found at these stores are part of a 21.7-million-pound recall, one of the largest in U.S. history. This recall got far more publicity than most because of its size and because 40 cases of E. coli O157:H7 were associated with the recalled hamburgers, and yet these stores had not pulled the recalled frozen hamburgers out of their freezers. If Super Good Luck Grocery wants to live up to its name, it had better get recalled food products out of its store.    

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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a joint investigation between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the FSIS has found that Ranchers Beef, Ltd., a Canadian firm, is the likely source of the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company. Ranchers Beef, Ltd. provided trim to the Topps Meat Company. While the firm, which had been located in Balzac, Alberta, ceased operations on August 15, 2007, some product remained in storage and was collected and tested by CFIA as part of the joint investigation of the Topps recall and as part of CFIA's own investigation into 45 illnesses in Canada from E. coli O157:H7.

"We appreciate the assistance from our food safety partners in Canada. This piece of information helped us to determine a likely source of contaminated product which led to the September 29 Topps Meat Company expanded recall," stated under secretary for food safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "We have a long history of cooperation and collaboration with CFIA."

PulseNet provided verification to FSIS that the PFGE pattern of E. coli found on Ranchers Beef trim matched those from patients who were ill and from positive tests conducted by the New York Department of Health on product (both intact packages and open packages from patients' homes) that was later recalled by the Topps Meat Company on September 29. PulseNet is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) searchable database of all PFGE patterns from patients and food products in the United States.

As of October 26, CDC reported 40 illnesses under investigation in 8 states, with 21 known hospitalizations. The latest onset of illness is September 24, 2007. This summer was the first time this rare PFGE pattern had been seen in North America.  Read the CDC update on the Topps E. coli outbreak on our website.

As the result of the Topps Meat Company recall investigation, FSIS had delisted Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, on October 20, 2007. No product from that firm has been eligible to come into the U.S. since that date.

Today, FSIS notified industry to hold all boneless beef manufacturing trim from Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, or raw products produced in whole or in part from these products until the joint investigation is completed. The Agency has also today issued a Notice to inspection program personnel in the field to retain these products.

On October 23, FSIS announced new, ongoing and upcoming actions to protect public health against the risk of E. coli O157:H7, including expanded testing, including testing of imported trim at the border. On October 19, FSIS notified countries that export beef to the U.S. of new policies and programs and is working with them to ensure they implement the same or equivalent measures to protect the public from E. coli O157:H7 risks.

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In late September Topps Meat Company recalled almost 22 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties that had been produced over a one-year period due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. According to Dr. Kenneth Petersen, USDA-FSIS Assistant Administrator, Office of Field Operations, FSIS has “nailed down” the facts and believes the contamination was a product of inadequate testing, unsafe grinding procedures, and inadequate training of FSIS meat inspectors:

• Topps cut back on the testing of meat for E. coli O157:H7. Two years ago, before cutting back on testing, Topps was only receiving beef parts for processing that had tested negative for E. coli O157:H7. In addition, Topps was doing monthly testing of incoming product as a separate check.
• Topps began grinding product that had tested negative for E. coli O157:H7 with product that was not tested. According to Dr. Peterson, “And so that doesn't mean that product that wasn't tested wasn't negative, but it means they don't know the status of it and so, over time, it introduces the opportunity certainly for contamination to go into their product. And when that kind of thing happens, we're going to have significant questions about obviously what they're doing. But that's the kind of situation that would lead you to have a one-year recall.”
• FSIS inspectors were at the plant one or two hours a day, but did not cite the company for inadequate testing or unsafe grinding procedures. According to Dr. Petersen, “Did we here in headquarters sufficiently communicate to those inspectors that, here are the kind of things you should be looking for when you look at these programs? You know, when a plant says, we have these controls in place, what kind of documentation exactly should they be looking at?  And so in relooking at our training, we're giving them better clarity on what they should exactly be looking for so that these things don't get missed.”  

To read the full FSIS transcript regarding action on E. coli O157:H7 and Topps, please click here.

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Yesterday, Dr. Richard Raymond, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, spoke to reporters regarding the department’s E. coli O157:H7 actions. The following is an excerpt from the transcript with comments and explanations:  

Dr. Richard Raymond: Since January there have been 15 recalls related to E. coli in beef this year, eight of those have been associated with human illnesses. In comparison, in 2006 there were only eight related recalls and none of those were related to human illnesses and in 2005 there were only five E. coli related recalls. So obviously something has changed.

. . . We are announcing today that we will begin testing more domestic and imported ground beef components.  [These components are beef trim and other meat parts, such as hear muscle and weasand meat (the smooth muscular lining which surrounds the oesophagus from the larynx to the paunch). Are you hungry yet?]. FSIS will begin testing these materials that are used as components in raw ground beef, in addition to the beef trim that is already tested, which is the primary component of ground beef. [The heart muscle, weasand meat, etc. has not been tested in the past.] FSIS is also requiring countries whose beef is imported to the U.S. to conduct the same sampling or at least an equivalent measure. [The USDA-FSIS (Food Safety Inspection Service) has not been testing imported beef trim. American consumers should be outraged that this has not been happening.]

One area where I feel we have made progress is in getting recalls done more rapidly. [Reality check: The recall of almost 22 million pounds (initially over 300,000 pounds) of Topps hamburgers began 18 days after FSIS confirmed E. coli O157:H7 in a Topps hamburger.   40 people have confirmed E. coli infections from Topps hamburgers.] FSIS now takes into account a broader, more complete range of evidence when evaluating whether to seek a recall or whether to take regulatory action. This gives the agency a credible approach to more rapidly taking action when certain types of evidence are available. In two recent cases, FSIS acted upon epidemiological evidence that linked illness to opened, FSIS-inspected product found in consumers freezers. There was more than 1 million pounds of ground beef recalled as a result of that and this would not have happened prior to looking at our recall procedures.

But we still acknowledge that we can and must do better. We are looking at training and staffing patterns to ensure inspection program personnel and supervisors are doing their jobs correctly. That they are held accountable, that they have appropriate workloads and appropriate supervision. [FSIS inspectors were at the Topps plant an hour or two per day and did not cite the company for failing to adequately test the beef, using grinding practices that were unsafe, and other problems. Did they know they were supposed to cite the company and choose not to do so, or were they poorly trained? We believe a federal investigation into what happened at the Topps plant is needed.]

Based on the challenges posed by E. coli O157:H7 and what we have learned from recent recalls, I believe that we need to take additional time to strengthen our system and the data that supports it before moving forward with risk based inspection in processing.  

. . . In the spring of 2007, concerns were expressed about the FSIS practice that allowed inspection program personnel to discard raw ground beef samples for product that was going to be diverted to cooking or destroyed, after testing positive by the industry. This essentially removed this raw product from the marketplace. This practice was followed because cooked or destroyed product did not pose a human health risk for E. coli O157:H7 when the plant had found it to be positive and either discarded it or cooked it. [What is meant here is that when a raw ground beef sample tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, FSIS threw away the sample without getting a DNA fingerprint of the E. coli that could be used to link the contaminated meat to a case of E. coli in a consumer. The illogical justification behind this was that the beef was going to be cooked or destroyed by the processor or other party in possession of the meat. But some of  this raw ground beef still did get into the market. The hundreds of E. coli cases with “unknown sources” each year were most likely attributable to this, and the FSIS had to know this.] 

FSIS implemented a new policy on September 28, 2007, under which FSIS inspection program personnel send samples to FSIS labs for testing irrespective of the company's test results. While the previous practice did not pose a human health risk [yes it did], this new approach will allow us to increase the number of Pulse-Field Gel samples that will be entered into PulseNet. [Perhaps now more people who suffer from E. coli infections will be able to get justice and hold the responsible parties accountable.]

Finally, I want to emphasize again, how important it is to me personally to base agency actions on the need to protect the public's health. As I have often said I did not move to Washington to oversee recalls, but instead to prevent food borne illnesses. Even one illness is too many. With the actions we are going to outline today for you, I believe we are on the right track to bringing those E. coli numbers back down to where historically they have been for the past two or three years. [The goal should be elimination of E. coli O157:H7 in the food chain. This is a realistic goal because E. coli O157:H7 is preventable—it is merely a matter of keeping cow manure out of meat and off of produce.]

To read the full FSIS transcript, please click here.

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The number of people with confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with Topps frozen hamburgers continues to rise as health investigators compare the “DNA fingerprint” patterns of E. coli O157 strains found in ground beef with “DNA fingerprint” patterns of E. coli O157 strains isolated from ill persons.  There are now 40 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection with PFGE patterns that match at least one of the patterns of E. coli strains found in Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties. People sickened in this Topps frozen hamburgers E. coli outbreak reside in 8 states: Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (9), New York (13), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (12).

Twenty-nine (88%) of 33 patients with a detailed food history consumed ground beef. The remaining 12% most likely contracted secondary infections from people who ate contaminated hamburgers. 

Seven illnesses have confirmed associations with recalled products because the strain isolated from the person was also isolated from the meat in their home. This illustrates the importance of not disposing of or returning recalled meat (or any food product) until you are sure no one has been sickened by it. Contaminated food product can be used as evidence.

Thus far, two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the leading causes of kidney failure. HUS can cause permanent injury or death. In an unrelated case, a 20-month-old girl just died this week of E. coli-related HUS. She contracted an E. coli infection and 7 days later was dead. To say it is tragic seems inadequate.

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In the news today is Senator Charles Schumer’s call for improved federal oversight of meat safety. From the Associated Press:

"The USDA has become a toothless tiger when it comes to keeping our meat clean and safe," Schumer told a news conference in Manhattan's meatpacking district. "Ensuring the safety of our meat and poultry requires immediate action."

. . . Schumer said he would reintroduce legislation that would give the USDA the power to temporarily shut down meat processing plants that repeatedly fail inspections for E. coli bacteria and expand the agency's authority to trace and recall contaminated food.

. . . "The better we inspect and protect our food supply, the safer we are against bacteria that can come both from unsafe plants and from people looking to cause harm and wreak havoc by tainting our food supply," Schumer said. "We need to be more vigilant than ever, and that applies to everything from airline security to food safety."

The staggering amount of recalled ground beef has given politicians something to get on a soapbox about, but we need less talk and more action. On September 12 we wrote about some of the food safety bills that are before Congress. All of them were read and referred to committee, where they continue to sit, some since the beginning of this year. Since September 12, more food safety bills have been introduced. At some point our federal legislators need to get out of the limelight and get down to work to make some of these bills law.

Source: "Schumer Calls for Tougher Meat Inspection Standards," Associated Press and Newsday, October 14, 2007 <http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--schumer-meatrecal1014oct14,0,5008480.story>
 

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3 E. coli cases in Tennessee have been linked to Cargill hamburger patties sold at Sam’s Club. According to a story on KnoxNews:

Two Knox County children . . .  also are being treated at UT Medical Center for E. coli-related illnesses.  In a news release late Monday night from the Knox County Health Department, the . . .  E. coli cases “have been positively linked to the ground beef recall.”

The family has said they believed the children contracted the illness from Cargill-brand hamburger patties purchased at Sam’s Club before a recent recall. They were not aware of the recall until after the children became ill.

The . . . children and a Knox County 14-year-old who has recovered from E. coli with the same “DNA fingerprint,” said Dr. Tim Jones, state deputy epidemiologist.

The E. coli outbreak linked to Cargill hamburgers purchased from Sam’s Club now has confirmed victims in Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and E. coli cases in other states are being investigated.  In response to this outbreak, Cargill recalled about 845,000 pounds of hamburger patties.

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On October 6, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation recalled approximately 845,000 pounds of frozen hamburger patties because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The frozen ground beef patties were produced on various dates from Aug. 9 through Aug. 17, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments, restaurants and institutions nationwide.  

To date, people in Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin have confirmed cases of E. coli that are associated with the recalled Cargill hamburger patties. The E. coli O157:H7 strain involved in this outbreak is particularly dangerous and an unusually high number of people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). One Minnesota woman is in a coma. Two children in Tennessee also are hospitalized. Another child in Tennessee is in critical condition with an E. coli infection. Health officials are awaiting test results to determine whether the child’s E. coli infection is associated with Cargill hamburgers.

Health officials believe a large amount of the recalled Cargill hamburgers may still be in consumers’ freezers. Please distribute the USDA-FSIS Cargill recall information below to friends and family:

Each label bears the establishment number "Est. 924A" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Products distributed to retail establishments, including Sam’s Club, and subject to recall:

• 6-pound boxes of "American Chef's Selection Angus Beef Patties 18-1/3 Pound Patties." Each package bears a case code of "7703100" and various package codes of Best If Used By dates of "02/05/08," "02/06/08," "02/12/08," and "02/13/08."
  

Products distributed to restaurants and institutions and subject to recall include:

• 20-pound boxes of "Grille Works Seasoned Sirloin Steak Beef Patties." Each package bears a case code of "7700296" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 20-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703003" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 20-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703008" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 10-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703092" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 20-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Black Angus Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703132" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 20-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Black Angus Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703133" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 10-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Black Angus Beef Patties with Seasoning." Each package bears a case code of "7703139" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 20-pound boxes of "TNT Thick 'n' Tender Black Angus Ground Beef Patties." Each package bears a case code of "7700922" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 32.4-pound boxes of "100% Black Angus Ground Beef Patties." Each package bears a case code of "7700932" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."
• 36.0-pound boxes of "100% Black Angus Ground Beef Patties." Each package bears a case code of "7700983" and a package code "packed/chilled by 08/15/07."

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There have been two new recalls of ground beef:

1. J & B Meats Corporation Inc. has recalled approximately 173,554 pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was sold to Sam’s Club and other retail establishments under the Topps and Sam’s Choice brands. More information on the Topps and Sam’s Choice ground beef and E. coli outbreaks associated with Sam’s Club hamburgers can be found on our website, www.pritzkerlaw.com.
2. Arko Veal Company has recalled approximately 1,900 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was distributed to restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. There have been no reports of illness.

If you or your child has been diagnosed with E. coli, the likely source of the E. coli is ground beef. In addition to these recalls, over 27 million pounds of ground beef have been recalled in the last few months. To determine the source of the E. coli infection and pursue those responsible, it is critical for you to have DNA fingerprinting done on the E. coli that sickened you or your child. Please contact attorney Fred Pritzker for information regarding DNA fingerprinting, E. coli lawsuits, or any other legal matter related to your or your child’s E. coli infection. Our toll-free number is 1-888-377-8900, or contact one of our E. coli lawyers by submitting the firm’s online consultation form.

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We contacted the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services today regarding the E. coli outbreak linked to Sam’s Club hamburgers. There are now 4 people in Wisconsin with E. coli infections associated with Sam’s Club hamburgers (up from 1):

• All 4 have laboratory-confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections
• They all ate “American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties” from Sam’s Club
• DNA fingerprinting has been done, and all 4 were sickened by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 strain that sickened 4 children in Minnesota who also ate “American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties” from Sam’s Club

Three Wisconsin counties are involved in the outbreak: Milwaukee (2), Outagamie (1), and Waukesha (1). The first onset of illness began on September 23, 2007. The 2 Milwaukee County cases may be associated with a cook out at Marquette University.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services is recommending that anyone who purchased "American Chef's Selection Angus Beef Patties" from Sam's Club (Item Number 700141) after August 25, 2007 should return the product to the nearest Sam's Club or throw it away.  However, if someone has eaten any of the hamburgers from the box, you should wait to return or throw away the remaining hamburgers until you are sure no one has been sickened, 10 days after consumption. Additional hamburger products from the same producer, Cargill Meat Solutions, were also recalled.

Attorney Fred Pritzker is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. We are also representing the families of people who died from E. coli-related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), including a Wisconsin family. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli after eating Sam’s Club hamburgers, please contact us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form for review by an attorney.We are a national law firm and represent victims of E. coli outbreaks throughout the United States.

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Nationally recognized E. coli litigation lawyer Fred Pritzker, is investigating cases of E. coli associated with Topps hamburgers. If you have been diagnosed with an E. coli infection and/or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), please contact the firm toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form. 

Genetic fingerprinting has identified 35 cases of E. coli O157:H7 associated with Topps hamburgers. The new information from the CDC is as follows:

Investigators compared the “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains found in ground beef with “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains isolated from ill persons. As of 12 PM (ET) October 9, 2007, 35 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been identified with PFGE patterns that match at least one of the patterns of E. coli strains found in Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties. Ill persons reside in 8 states [Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (8), New York (11), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (10)]. Twenty-one (91%) of 24 patients with a detailed food history consumed ground beef. Three illnesses have confirmed associations with recalled products because the strain isolated from the person was also isolated from the meat in their home. The first reported illness began on July 5, 2007, and the last began on September 23, 2007. Among twenty-four ill persons for whom hospitalization status is known, fifteen (63%) were hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Fifteen (45%) patients are female. The ages of patients range from 1 to 77 years; 52% are between 15 and 24 years old (only 14% of the US population is in this age group).

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According to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, an 18-year-old Wisconsin woman has contracted an E. coli infection associated with the E. coli outbreak linked to Cargill hamburgers that were sold by Sam’s Club under the American’s Chef brand. The Wisconsin woman is a resident of Milwaukee County. In addition to this Wisconsin woman, 4 children from Minnesota have been sickened in the Cargill hamburger/Sam’s Club hamburger E. coli outbreak. Two of the Minnesota children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome as a result of the E. coli O157:H7 infections. 

Health officials are investigating at least 4 other cases of E. coli O157:H7 that may be associated with the Cargill hamburger/Sam’s Club hamburger E. coli outbreak. To connect a case of E. coli O157:H7 to the outbreak, the DNA fingerprint of E. coli isolated from the patient has to match the DNA fingerprint of the outbreak E. coli.

If you have been diagnosed with E. coli and your case is associated with the Cargill hamburger/Sam’s Club hamburger E. coli outbreak, contact E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker by calling toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submitting the firm’s online consultation form. 

There has been so much E. coli contamination of ground beef in the last few months (over 27 million pounds recalled) that any case of E. coli should be looked at as possibly associated with contaminated ground beef.  If you are diagnosed with E. coli, contact an E. coli lawyer at our office for a free consultation.

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Frozen hamburger patties distributed throughout the nation to retailers, institutions and restaurants may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  

• On September 29, 2007, USDA-FSIS announced a recall of 21.7 million pounds of Topps hamburger patties due to an E. coli outbreak that, to date, has 32 cases of E. coli with matching DNA fingerprints. According to the CDC: Ill persons reside in 8 states [Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (7), New York (9), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (10)].



• October 6, 2007, USDA-FSIS announced the recall of 845,000 pounds of Cargill hamburger patties due to an outbreak of E. coli associated with Cargill hamburgers sold at Sam’s Club stores in Minnesota.

 

If you or your child has been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7, the likely cause is a recalled hamburger. For legal purposes, it is important that the correct tests and DNA fingerprinting be done. Please contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Law by calling free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form. Our firm is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. The firm is also currently representing the families of people who died from E. coli-related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

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Pritzker Law is currently representing victims of Minnesota E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. The firm is a Minnesota personal injury law firm with extensive experience with E. coli litigation, including cases involving hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). If your child has been sickened by hamburgers sold at Sam’s Club, contact attorney Fred Pritzker toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or at 612-338-0202. If you call after hours, our on-call attorney will contact you as soon as possible. The firm represents victims of E. coli outbreaks throughout the United States.

The Minnesota Department of Health issued a press release today regarding E. coli cases in Minnesota associated with American Chef’s beef patties sold at Sam’s Club stores in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, including Sam’s Club stores in Eagan, Maple Grove and White Bear Lake (other stores may also have sold contaminated hamburgers).  These cases are not connected to the E. coli outbreak linked to Topps beef patties. The following is from the press release:

[Minnesota] health and agriculture officials are investigating four cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Minnesota children associated with eating ground beef patties purchased from Sam’s Club stores in August and September.

All four cases were related to pre-made frozen ground beef patties purchased at Sam’s Club stores in the Twin Cities metro area. The people became ill between September 10 and 20 after consuming the meat. The brand name of the implicated frozen ground beef patties was “American Chef’s Selection Angus Beef Patties.”

All four cases were children. Two of the cases developed hemolytic uremic syndrome and were hospitalized. One case has been discharged and one remains hospitalized.  [For information regarding compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering, contact a lawyer at Pritzker Law toll free at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.  Compensation in an E. coli lawsuit should include amounts for future expenses and future pain and suffering.]

“The Sam’s Club stores currently involved include the Eagan, Maple Grove and White Bear Lake stores. However, we can’t be certain that meat from other stores is not involved, since the brand of implicated frozen ground beef patties was likely sold at other Sam’s Club locations,” said Heidi Kassenborg, Acting Director of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

American Chef’s Selection Angus frozen Ground Beef Patties that were purchased on or after August 26, 2007 from a Sam’s Club store, whether still in the refrigerator or freezer, should not be used, but should be discarded or returned to the store, officials said.  [E. coli is not killed by freezing temperatures, so any recalled Sam's Club hamburgers you have are potentially dangerous and need to be discarded or returned BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE SURE NO ONE HAS BEEN SICKENED.  The incubation period for E. coli is at most 10 days.  After that time, you should dispose of or return the recalled Sam's Club hamburgers.] 

“Thorough cooking kills E. coli bacteria. However, we know that some of this meat was contaminated so it is safer to eliminate the risk altogether by recommending that people not consume the meat,” said Kirk Smith, Supervisor of the Foodborne Illness Unit with MDH.

As a precautionary measure, Sam’s Club has voluntarily removed American Chef’s Selection Angus Frozen Ground Beef Patties from all of their stores and is cooperating fully with the investigation. MDA is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to determine the source of the product contamination.

Sam’s Club customers are urged to return or destroy any American Chef’s Selection Angus Ground Beef Patties purchased at any of their stores since August 26, 2007. Customers should return the product to any Sam’s Club immediately for a full refund. A receipt is not required.  [Again, if you have recalled Sam's Club hamburgers, do not return or discard them until you are sure no one was sickened.  If someone is diagnosed with an E. coli infection, contact Pritzker Law.] 

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include stomach cramps, which can be severe, and diarrhea. Diarrhea begins as loose, watery stools, with stools often turning bloody within 1-3 days. E. coli O157:H7 disease sometimes leads to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can include kidney failure. People typically become ill two to five days after eating contaminated food. E. coli disease should not be treated with antibiotics, which can cause additional complications.

People who have developed those symptoms after consuming this American Chef's hamburgers from Sam's Club should contact their physician.  [Contact Pritzker Law for information regarding testing that will need to be done to link your case of E. coli to Sam's Club hamburgers and/or the other recalled Topps hamburgers.]

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The CDC is reporting 30 cases of E. coli O157:H7 linked to Topps hamburgers:

Investigators compared the “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains isolated from ill persons. As of 12 PM (ET) October 4, 2007, 30 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been identified with PFGE patterns that match at least one of the patterns of E. coli strains found in Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties. Ill persons reside in 8 states [Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (7), New York (9), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (8)]. Twenty-one (91%) of 23 patients with a detailed food history consumed ground beef. Three illnesses have confirmed associations with recalled products because the strain isolated from the person was also isolated from the meat in their home. The first reported illness began on July 5, 2007, and the last began on September15, 2007. Among twenty-three ill persons for whom hospitalization status is known, fifteen (65%) were hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Fourteen (47%) patients are female. The ages of patients range from 3 to 77 years; 50% are between 15 and 24 years old (only 14% of the US population is in this age group).

To contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Law, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

For more information regarding the Topps hamburger recall and related E. coli outbreak, please see the following on our website:

• Topps hamburger recall and Topps hamburgers lawsuit information
• New Jersey E. coli cases and Topps lawsuit information
• New York E. coli cases and Topps lawsuit information
• Pennsylvania E. coli cases and Topps lawsuit information

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The following is the latest update from the CDC:

Several state health departments, CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. On September 29, USDA issued a notice about a recall of 21.7 millions pounds of frozen ground beef patties. [The September 29 recall was an expansion of a September 25 recall of 300,000 of Topps ground beef patties. See a list of recalled Topps hamburger products.]

Health officials in several states who were investigating reports of E. coli O157 illnesses found that many ill persons had consumed the same brand of frozen ground beef patties. Ground beef patties recovered from patients' homes were tested by state public health department and federal laboratories. Tests conducted by the New York State Wadsworth Center Laboratory and by a USDA-FSIS laboratory on opened and unopened packages of Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties yielded E. coli O157 isolates with several different “DNA fingerprint” patterns.

Investigators compared the “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains found in ground beef with “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains isolated from ill persons. As of 12 PM (ET) October 3, 2007, 29 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been identified with PFGE patterns that match at least one of the patterns of E. coli strains found in Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties. Ill persons reside in 8 states [Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (6), New York (9), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (8)]. Nineteen (90%) of 21 patients with a detailed food history consumed ground beef. Three illnesses have confirmed associations with recalled products because the strain isolated from the person was also isolated from the meat in their home. The first reported illness began on July 5, 2007, and the last began on September11, 2007. Among sixteen ill persons for whom hospitalization status is known, eleven (69%) patients were hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Thirteen (45%) patients are female. The ages of patients range from 3 to 77 years; 48% are between 15 and 24 years old (only 14% of the US population is in this age group).

[Our law firm has had several contacts from people who ate Topps ground beef patties and are now sick. We suspect that the number of confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 linked to Topps ground beef patties will continue to grow.]

Consumers who have frozen ground beef patties should determine whether they have the recalled product and discard it or return it to the place of purchase.  [IF SOMEONE HAS EATEN SOME OF THE TOPPS GROUND BEEF PATTIES, DO NOT THROW THEM OUT OR RETURN THEM. THEY MAY BE NEEDED FOR EVIDENCE. KEEP THEM FOR ABOUT 10 AFTER THE SOMEONE LAST CONSUMED SOME OF THE PATTIES. IF NO ONE DEVELOPS AN E. COLI INFECTION, THROW THEM OUT OR RETURN THEM. IF SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH E. COLI, CONTACT PRITZKER LAW IMMEDIATELY.]

Each recalled package bears the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection and has a sell-by date between “SEP 25 07” and “SEP 25 08.”

Attorney Fred Pritzker practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef, spinach, and lettuce. The firm is also representing the families of people who died due to E. coli-related hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). E. coli-related HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States and the primary cause of E. coli deaths in children and adults.  To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form for review by an E. coli lawyer.

 

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URGENT UPDATE TO THIS ENTRY: Topps Meat Company has expanded the recall of Topps hamburgers to approximately 21.7 million pounds of hamburgers due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  At least 30 people have reported illnesses associate with this recall.  There are 7 people in New Jersey with E. coli cases associated with this outbreak.  The recalled hamburgers were sold nationwide, the bulk to states in the Northeast.
 
We have just contacted the New Jersey Department of Health regarding the multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to Topps hamburgers (see a list of the recalled Topps hamburger products on our website).  Here is the information we got on the E. coli cases reported in New Jersey:

1. There have been 5 reported cases (7 cases as of Oct. 4)
2. The people sickened are between the ages of 4 and 19
3. 3 are female and 2 are male
4. 2 of the 5 were hospitalized
5. The investigation is ongoing
6. The New Jersey Department of Health considers these 5 cases "associated" with the Topps hamburgers E. coli outbreak and not "confirmed" cases

Pritzker Law is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation.  To contact E. coli lawyers at firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

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The Arizona Department of Health Services notified the public today that the expansion of the United Food Group hamburger recall (now 5.7 million pounds) may include hamburger repackaged by grocery stores.  The following Arizona grocery stores received hamburger (ground beef) from United Food Group and may have repackaged it under their store brand name.

Albertson’s
Basha’s
Fry’s
‘R’ Ranch Markets
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Save-a-lot
Smart and Final
Smith’s
Trader Joe’s

To date, there are six reported human cases of E. coli 0157 in Arizona linked to this outbreak; three in Maricopa, two in Yavapai, and one in Navajo Counties. These individuals became ill between May 2 and May 12, 2007. Their ages range from 6 – 63 years of age. Four cases could be contacted by public health, three required hospitalization and have recovered. No deaths have been reported due to this outbreak.

Pritzker law, a leading E. coli litigation law firm, has been contacted by victims of this outbreak. The firm is representing victims of another Arizona food poisoning outbreak. To contact Attorney Fred Pritzker, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online contact form. Read about E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the leading causes of kidney failure.

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Update to below: This recall has been expanded to include 5.7 million pounds of ground beef.

United Food Group LLC has expanded its June 3 recall of 75,000 pounds of ground beef to 370,000 pounds of ground beef due to E. coli cases in several states. The recalled products were shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. These distribution centers may have shipped the beef to additional states.

The original recall included ground beef processed at a California plant on June 20. The expanded recall includes ground beef processed at the same plant on June 13. 

Given the extensive nature of this recall, anyone who is or has been diagnosed with E. coli since June 13 should contact Attorney Fred Pritzker for help in determining if the E. coli infection is linked to the recalled ground beef. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online consultation form for review by an attorney at Pritzker law.

Continue Reading...

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Attorney Fred Pritzker is investigating an E. coli outbreak associated with ground beef sold at Arizona grocery stores, including Save-A-Lot. Arizona Health Laboratory tests have identified four E. coli 0157:H7 cases in Arizona that may be linked to recalled ground beef from a California plant.  Health officials said the E. coli O157:H7  DNA fingerprint in the four Arizona cases matches the illnesses and ground beef, but further confirmation is necessary to determine whether the ground beef is responsible.  

Every E. coli O157:H7 outbreak involves a genetically-unique E. coli O157:H7 DNA fingerprint. When a case of E. coli O157:H7 is linked to a food product like has been done with the 4 Arizona cases, those responsible are usually strictly liable for damages suffered by the people sickened. Compensation in an E. coli case can include medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering and other damages.

Of the four cases of E. coli in Arizona, two are in Maricopa County, and one each in Yavapai and Navajo counties. Two of the cases were hospitalized but recovered. Even if someone sickened in an E. coli outbreak is not hospitalized, that person has suffered injury and has a case against responsible parties. In this E. coli outbreak, responsible parties may include United Food Group LLC, Supervalue or another distributor of the recalled ground beef, Save-A-Lot or another Arizona grocery store, and others.

The Arizona Department of Health Services is urging residents who purchased ground beef to check the product for specific code information and discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.  If someone has eaten any of the ground beef, DO NOT RETURN IT OR DISCARD IT. You should seal it in a plastic bag, label the bag “Do not eat – 1-888-377-8900,” and put it in the refrigerator. You should watch for symptoms of an E. coli infection, which include watery or bloody diarrhea, cramps, and sometimes a low fever.  If someone is sickened, call Pritzker law toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies.

The ground beef products were produced on April 20 and were shipped to retail distribution centers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah. The labels of the products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All of the products bear a sell by date of "May/06/07," a freeze by date of "May/07/07" or a produced on date of "April/20/07." Products subject to recall include:

• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 73/27 fine ground beef."
• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 93/7 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 80/20 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 5-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 5-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 93/7 ground beef."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 96/4 ground beef."
• 3-pound chubs of "STATER BROS. MARKETS 73/27 ground beef."

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[Update to the information below:  On June 5, the Arizona Department of Health Services issued a press release announcing that 4 cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Arizona have been linked to the ground beef recalled by Supervalue's supplier, United Food Group LLC.  Supervalue's Save-A-Lot stores in Arizona are involved in this recall.  Attorney Fred Pritzker is currently representing several victims of a foodborne illness outbreak in Arizona and is investigaing this E. coli outbreak.  If you have been sickened after eating ground beef, contact Pritzker law at 1-888-377-8900.]

Supervalue has issued a recall of ground beef that was sold at Albertson's stores in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and at Save-A-Lot stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.  This Save-A-Lot and Albertson's recall was issued after United Food Group LLC, a supplier of ground beef sold at Save-A-Lot and Albertsons, recalled 75,000 pounds of ground beef.  

The ground beef subject to the recall is labeled with a sell-by-date between April 20, 2007 and May 7, 2007.  The following products are recalled:

       Moran's 73/27 1# Chub, UPC:  34779 60501
       Moran's 73/27 5# Chub, UPC:  34779 60000
       Moran's 96/4 2# Chub, UPC:  34779 96000
       Moran's 93/7 2# Chub, UPC:  34779 91000
       Moran's 73/27 3# Chub, UPC:  34779 60010
       Moran's 96/4 1# Chub, UPC:  34779 96194
       Moran's 90/10 Sirloion 1# Chub, UPC:  34779 21117
       Albertsons 90/10 Sirloin fresh hamburger patties.

The legal team at Pritzker law helps E. coli victims get compensation for their injuries.  Because special testing is required to link an E. coli victim to a food product, E. coli victims should contact the firm as soon as possible.  To reach E. coli lawyer 

Fred Pritzker

, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free online consultation form. 

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Update to the information below:  On June 5, the Arizona Department of Health Services issued a press release announcing that 4 cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Arizona have been linked to the ground beef recalled by United Food Group LLC.  Supervalue's Save-A-Lot stores in Arizona are involved in this recall.  Fred Pritzker is currently representing several victims of a foodborne illness outbreak in Arizona and is investigaing this E. coli outbreak.  If you have been sickened after eating ground beef, contact food poisoning attorney Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900.]

United Food Group LLC, a California firm, has recalled about 75,000 pounds of ground beef due to possible contamination with E. coli.  This is the second E. coli-related California ground beef recall in just over a month.  The first California ground beef recall occurred on April 20 and involved almost 108,000 pounds of ground beef.

The ground beef involved in this recall was shipped to retail distribution centers in  Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah.  The labels of the recalled ground beef bear the establishment number "EST. 1241" inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. All of the products bear a sell by date of "May/06/07," a freeze by date of "May/07/07" or a produced on date of "April/20/07." Products subject to recall include:

• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 73/27 fine ground beef."
• 10-pound casings of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 93/7 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "INTER-AMERICAN PRODUCTS 80/20 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 5-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 3-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 73/27 ground beef."
• 1-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural, 90/10 fine ground sirloin."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 93/7 ground beef."
• 2-pound chubs of "MORAN'S All Natural 96/4 ground beef."
• 3-pound chubs of "STATER BROS. MARKETS 73/27 ground beef."

The contaminated meat was sold at the following stores:  Albertson's in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and in Save-A-Lot Stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.  Other stores where the contaminated meat could have been sold at are:  Grocery Outlet, Fry's Save-Mart, Smart and Final, and Smith's and Stater Bros. stores.

Fred Pritzker, a leading E. coli litigation lawyer, is monitoring this recall.  To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.

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