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

Almost a year after Nestle Toll House cookie dough was linked to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, the company has found Salmonella contamination in a sample of chocolate morsels made at its plant in Burlington, Wisconsin.

Nestle spokeswoman Laurie MacDonald told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper that the positive test in chips occurred several weeks ago at the plant. She says there is no recall or Salmonella outbreak associated with the finding, which prompted a cleaning of the plant and many additional tests that produced negative results.

Cyndi Armstrong, public health nurse for the Western Racine County Health Department, said Nestle informed her department of the positive test on Thursday morning.

In 2009, Nestle's recall of Toll House cookie dough became one of the biggest food safety stories of the year. E. coli O157:H7 -- usually found in raw beef -- had not previously been associated with refrigerated dough.

Nearly 70 people across the country were sickened in the outbreak before it was brought under control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 25 people were hospitalized and seven developed HUS E coli, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, the leading cause of E. coli deaths.

The E. coli problem in cookie dough reappeared last month at Nestle's plant in Danville, Virginia, but it was caught before a recall was necessary. At the time, Nestle said it was switching to heat-treated flour in hopes to control the bacteria. National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing victims from the 2009 outbreak.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the Nestle E. coli FAQs:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How much does it cost and who pays for it?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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by Attorney Fred Pritzker

The recent multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products is still under investigation by state and federal health authorities.  At this stage of the investigation, there is no solid hypothesis as to how cookie dough became contaminated with a pathogen generally found in the feces of cattle. In all my years investigating and representing victims of foodborne illness, this particular E. coli O157:H7 outbreak may be the most baffling. There simply is not an obvious source of contamination like we have seen with other meat or produce related E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks. One very real possibility, however, is that cross-contamination at some stage of the manufacturing process contaminated the cookie dough on a very large scale.

Cross-contamination is not just a concern for commercial food producers – it poses a risk to every consumer in their kitchen and local grocery store. Consumers need to be vigilant about the food they feed their family, and take time to think about the consequences of using the same utensils and surfaces to prepare potentially dangerous raw food and ready to eat food. Often we do not think about the potential hazards of cross-contamination, yet E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella infections can be lethal. By following these useful food safety recommendations you can greatly reduce the chances your family becomes ill because of cross-contamination.  

When shopping:

• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery-shopping cart.
• Place these foods in plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods.
• It is also best to separate these foods from other foods at check out and in your grocery bags.
• Ask your grocer or butcher about their sterilization process for utensils and meat cutters that touch raw meat.

When refrigerating food:

• Place raw meat, poultry, and seafood in containers or sealed plastic bags to prevent their juices from dripping onto other foods. Raw juices often contain harmful bacteria.
• Store eggs in their original carton and refrigerate as soon as possible.

When preparing food:

• Wash hands and surfaces often. Harmful bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops. To prevent this:
• Wash hands with soap and hot water before and after handling food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers; or handling pets.
• Use hot, soapy water and paper towels or clean cloths to wipe up kitchen surfaces or spills. Wash cloths often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, and counter tops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next item.

Cutting boards:

• Always use a clean cutting board.
• If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Once cutting boards become excessively worn or develop hard-to-clean grooves, you should replace them.

Marinating food:

• Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
• Sauce that is used to marinate raw meat, poultry, or seafood should not be used on cooked foods, unless it is boiled just before using.

Fruits and vegetables:

• Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt and grime.
• Remove and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.
• Because bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of fruit or vegetables, be careful not to contaminate these foods while slicing them up on the cutting board, and avoid leaving cut produce at room temperature for many hours.

When serving food:

• Always use a clean plate.
• Never place cooked food back on the same plate or cutting board that previously held raw food.

Attorney Fred Pritzker represents E. coli victims nationwide.  He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or by submitting our free consultation form.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Pritzker Olsen Attorneys has begun its own investigation and is compiling information for a possible Nestle cookie dough lawsuit in connection with the ongoing, 28-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has been associated with raw Nestle cookie dough.

Throughout the day, more and more state and federal health agencies are coming out with additional correlation between the outbreak -- which has sickened at least 66 individuals -- and Nestle Toll House cookie dough. In Minnesota, for instance, all six people who were sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli said they ate raw Nestle cookie dough before getting sick.

And we now have our first clue as to what the source may be.  The Danville News in Danville, Virginia, is reporting that Nestle has stopped some production in the plant that makes a majority of the prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough. All varieties are affected by a Nestle cookie dough recall announced earlier today. Federal health authorities have warned consumers not to consume the product raw and not to use it for baking until further notice.
 
The Danville News:

“Nestle USA has stopped production in half of its Danville plant following a Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration investigation that the company’s cookie dough may be connected to a recent E. coli outbreak   “The Danville facility makes the majority of our Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough,” said Roz O’Hearn, spokeswoman for the company.”

The outbreak has been described by the FDA as including 66 confirmed illnesses of the same molecular subtype. Twenty-five of the victims have been hospitalized and seven have developed severe complications known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Pritzker Olsen has already been in contact with potential victims of the outbreak and is accepting cases from all states involved in the recall, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Kansas, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, California, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida and Michigan.

As one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in fooborne illness litigation, Pritzker Olsen has collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

If you believe you or a loved one has contracted E. coli O157:H7 from eating Toll House Cookie Dough, E. coli lawyers at the firm are ready to assist you. There is no charge for consulting with our firm. If we agree to represent you, we are paid a percentage of the money we collect for you. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing.

To talk to a Nestle recall lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or use one of our online forms to submit your information for a free case consultation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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