Cincinnati JB Meats E. coli Outbreak
At least two Cincinnati E. coli hamburger illnesses have been tentatively associated with J.B. Meats, a local producer that has in turn recalled 72,800 pounds of ground beef patties due to possible contamination by the human pathogen E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products were sold to restaurants in the Cincinnati area over the past year, but the company did not immediately identify the restaurants.
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Cincinnati health officials notified J.B. Meats August 12 of an investigation of two E. coli O157:H7 illnesses, WLWT News 5 reported. The Cincinnati Health Department had discovered that the patients came down with their infections on July 20 and 21, four days after consuming ground beef possibly linked to J.B. meats, the station reported.
The company told WLWT that the recall is precautionary, stretching back one year from now and covering 5- and 10-pound clear packages of ground beef and ground beef patties in various size packages. All the recalled ground beef from J.B. Meats is in packaging stamped with the establishment number “EST. 1188” within the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.
E. coli O157:H7 is banned from ground beef under federal law because it readily survives if the meat isn't cooked evenly at a temperature of 160 degrees. In 5 to 15 percent of infections, patients develop life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP-HUS) -- conditions that routinely result in kidney failure but can also cause stroke, seizure, paralysis, heart problems and serious anemia. Children under the age of five are most at risk.
National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., is investigating the Cincinnati J.B. Meats E. coli outbreak and will scrutinize plant conditions and whether proper procedures were followed to protect against E. coli contamination. Restaurants, too, could be held liable in a Cincinnati E. coli lawsuit.
Individuals or families affected by this outbreak can receive free case consultations by submitting contact information or calling an E. coli lawyer at the firm at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE). Our firm has a national reputation for having spent so many years practicing extensively in the area of E. coli litigation and collection millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning. We also are actively involved in numerous efforts to prevent outbreaks and clean up the U.S. food supply.
