Bravo Farms Cheese E. coli Update
There could be one more federal update on the Bravo Farms Cheese E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 38 people in Arizona, Colorado, California, New Mexico and Nevada, but this is what we know so far.
- Opened and unopened packages of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese sold and sampled at Costco stores have tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7 -- a rare strain that has not been seen before by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Bravo Farms of Traver, California, expanded its recall November 23 to include all cheeses after tests also found the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in cheese samples.
- Since mid-October, the number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (19), CA (3), CO (11), NM (3) and NV (2). There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths. Patients range in age from 1 to 85 years and the median age is 16 years.
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing various victims of this cheese E. coli outbreak and has established a claims center for members of the public to receive free case consultations for litigation purposes. The number to call is 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web site.
Pritzker Olsen has filed a lawsuit through its local counsel in Arizona on behalf of a family of four who contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after consuming Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese at the Costco store located in Glendale, Arizona, on October 15, 2010. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Bravo Farms Cheese, LLC and Costco Wholesale Corporation.
The Costco and Bravo Farms lawsuit alleges that the family suffered gastroenteritis, including severe cramping and diarrhea, from the Gouda cheese, which investigators have linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 33 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
The cheese E. coli lawsuit seeks compensation for the family for medical expenses, travel expenses, wage loss, pain, suffering, emotional distress and other damages.
