May 8, 2007 | Posted By Pritzker | Ruohonen | Comments | print this article

Minnesota E. coli Outbreak Linked to Lunds and Byerly's Ground Beef

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 7 people, 2 children and 5 adults, have contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating ground beef sold at Minnesota Lunds and Byerly's grocery stores.  Lunds and Byerly's have recalled all ground beef sold at the stores after April 7. 

Lawyer Fred Pritzker, a Minnesota lawyer who practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation, is monitoring the situation.  He has gained a national reputation in this area and has been interviewed by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications.  In recognition of his accomplishments, he was selected by other lawyers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named, once again, a "Minnesota Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine. 

To contact Fred Pritzker, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, call 612-3388-0202 or e-mail Fred Pritzker.

Below is the Minnesota Department of Health press release regarding the E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef (hamburger) sold at Byerly's and Lunds.  Pritzker | Ruohonen is reprinting it here (with comments) as a public service.
E. coli O157:H7 cases linked to ground beef purchased at Lunds or Byerly’s stores since mid-April:

May 8, 2007 - State health and agriculture officials are investigating seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Minnesota residents associated with eating ground beef purchased from Lunds or Byerly’s stores since mid-April.

Routine monitoring by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) found that the cases of illness were all caused by E. coli O157:H7 with the same DNA fingerprint. All of the cases had purchased the ground beef from one of four Lunds or Byerly’s stores in the west metro area since April 12. The people became ill between April 21 and 28 after consuming the meat.

The cases include two children and five adults. Three of the cases were hospitalized, but all have been discharged.

“The stores currently involved include Byerly’s St. Louis Park, Byerly’s Minnetonka, Byerly’s Chanhassen and Lunds Edina. However, we can’t be certain that meat from other stores is not involved, since all of the beef used for ground beef for Lunds and Byerly’s stores comes from a single processing facility,” said Heidi Kassenborg, Acting Director of the Dairy and Food Inspection Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Ground beef that was purchased after April 7 from a Lunds or Byerly’s store, whether still in the refrigerator or freezer, should not be used, but should be discarded or returned to the store, officials said. [Note from Pritzker | Ruohonen: If someone has eaten any of the ground beef, DO NOT THROW THE GROUND BEEF AWAY.  If someone who has eaten the beef contracts an E. coli O157:H7 infection, the leftover meat could be evidence.  If you or a family member becomes ill, contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohononen at 1-888-37-8900 or 612-338-0202 as soon as possible.]
“Thorough cooking kills E. coli bacteria. However, we know that some of this meat was contaminated so it is safer to eliminate the risk altogether by recommending that people not consume the meat,” said Kirk Smith, Supervisor of the Foodborne Ilness Unit with MDH.
As a precautionary measure, Lunds and Byerly’s have voluntarily removed many varieties of ground beef from all of their stores and are cooperating fully with the investigation.

Lunds and Byerly’s customers are urged to return or destroy fresh ground beef purchased at any of their stores since April 7, 2007. [Note from Pritzker | Ruohonen: Do not return or destroy any ground beef until you are sure no one became ill after eating it (see above).]This includes ground beef purchased fresh then frozen at home. It includes fresh beef patties, fresh or frozen meatloaf and ground chili meat.

Organic fresh ground beef, frozen beef patties, beef purchased in the Lunds or Byerly’s deli and beef sold in Lunds or Byerly’s restaurants is not affected.

Officials are concerned that this product is still in consumers’ homes as more people are purchasing meat for the outdoor grilling season.

Food safety experts recommend cooking any ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F., or until the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Also, avoid contaminating other foods with any E. coli bacteria that may be present in the meat by:
  • Washing hands, utensils, and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat before they touch other food.
  • Putting cooked meat on a clean platter, rather than on the one that was used to hold raw meat.
Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include stomach cramps, which can be severe, and diarrhea. Diarrhea begins as loose, watery stools, with stools often turning bloody within 1-3 days. E. coli O157:H7 disease sometimes leads to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure. People typically become ill two to five days after eating contaminated food. E. coli disease should not be treated with antibiotics, which can cause additional complications.

People who have developed those symptoms after consuming this product should contact their physician. 
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