Food Poisoning Law Blog

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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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.]

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

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.

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.

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>
 

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, Stephanie Smith, is in a coma. Two children in Tennessee, John and Michaela McDonald, 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."

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 (see Cargill recall information).

Pritzker | Ruohonen 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.

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 an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen 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.

If you suspect you have an E. coli infection (bloody stools and severe abdominal pain), please read the information we have on our website regarding food poisoning and medical treatment. The primary thing you need to know is that you need to see a doctor and request to be tested for E. coli O157:H7.

Pritzker | Ruohonen 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 Pritzker | Ruohonen 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. If you would prefer, you can submit the firm’s online consultation form. An attorney will review the form and contact you.  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 | Ruohonen 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. Attorney Rich Ruohonen has recently chaired a legal seminar on pain and suffering issues.]

“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 | Ruohonen.] 

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 | Ruohonen 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.]

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 | RUOHONEN 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.”

Pritzker | Ruohonen 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.

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 | Ruohonen, 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 Pritzker | Ruohonen, 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.

Pritzker Ruohonen 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 | Ruohonen 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."

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.  Pritzker | Ruohonen 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 | Ruohonen 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.

Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading E. coli litigation law firm, 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.