Filbert E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak MN WI MI
A filbert E. coli outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan has sickened seven people with confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections traced to a California wholesaler D. DeFranco & Sons. DeFranco's recall of hazelnuts was announced Friday for hazelnut and mixed nut products distributed from November 2, 2010, to December 22, 2010. Recalled product was shipped to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
All confirmed case patients in this outbreak reported eating in-the-shell filberts, most purchased in bulk bins at grocery stores. Also included in the recall are Sunripe Hazelnuts, Sunripe Large Hazelnuts in one-pound. packages, and Sunripe Mixed Nuts in two-pound and four-pound packages, all with a sell-by date of June 30, 2011. Click here for a combined list of filbert E. coli recall stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan where product was delivered.
The three Minnesota cases occurred in men over age 50 in Hennepin, Redwood and Stearns counties. The three Wisconsin cases occurred in La Crosse and Brown County and included a child and two adults. None of the Wisconsin case patients were hospitalized, but there have been E. coli O157:H7 hospitalizations elsewhere in this outbreak. The Minnesota Department of Health said two Minnesota filbert E. coli case patients were hospitalized for a time, but have recovered.
Routine monitoring by the health departments in the respective states identified E. coli O157:H7 cases with the same DNA fingerprint. The individuals became ill between December 20, 2010, and January 28, 2011. The California Department of Public Health helped trace the filberts to DeFranco.
If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, you may be curious about a potential filbert E. coli lawsuit. E. coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., are conducting their own investigation of the outbreak and will answer questions about victims' rights to compensation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing our online contact form. Our law 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 over the years for victims of food poisoning.
