E. coli O157:H7 Found in Hazelnuts
E. coli O157:H7 matching the hazelnut E. coli outbreak strain has been found in shelled hazelnuts taken from the home of a Minnesotan who became ill, the Minnesota Department of Health said. The laboratory result was the first microbiological confirmation associating in-shell hazelnuts distributed by D. DeFranco and Sons with an outbreak that has sickened three people in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.
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Based on purchase information associated with the positive hazelnut sample, the health department traced the product to a December 9, 2010, shipment from DeFranco, based in Los Angeles, California. Late last week, DeFranco recalled in-shell hazelnuts sold in bulk bins at grocery stores along with Cello bags of Sunripe brand hazelnuts and mixed nuts containing hazelnuts with sell-by dates of June 30, 2011. Click here for detailed hazelnut recall information.
Minnesota is one of at least four states investigating the outbreak in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initial association between hazelnuts and the outbreak was based on food history questionnaires that showed six of seven victims having eaten bulk hazelnuts. Traceback efforts are ongoing to determine where in the supply chain the nuts became contaminated.
If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak and has questions about a possible hazelnut E. coli lawsuit, call an attorney at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form. A lawyer at the firm will provide a free case consultation and explain how E. coli litigation works. Our firm is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning.
