10 Hospitalized in RI Salmonella Outbreak
Rhode Island Salmonella outbreak investigators found DeFusco's Bakery storing pastry shells in used egg crates, which the RI Department of Health said could have exposed the shells to bacteria from contaminated raw eggs. As the investigation continues, HEALTH officials have now received reports of 25 people who are ill, inlcuding 10 who have been hospitalized. Many consumed cream-filled zeppoles from DeFusco's.
"The most likely cause of illness is consumption of zeppole pastries that came in contact with raw eggs,'' HEALTH said in a press release.
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The department is looking into the source of the eggs and its investigators have worked through the weekend testing food samples in order to pinpoint the cause of the outbreak, which has affected many parts of the state.
Attorney David Szerlag is available for a free consultation regarding a DeFusco Bakery Salmonella lawsuit in Rhode Island. He is part of the Salmonella litigation team at PritzkerOlsen, P.A., and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. He can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or via the firm's Salmonella contact page.
State investigators have learned that American Bakery Supplies, a distributor in West Warwick, purchased zeppoles from DeFusco's. The company then distributed the pastries to Roch's Market in West Warwick; Meal Works in Coventry; and Touch of Class Catering in West Warwick. Meal Works (a catering company) served these zeppoles at events at West Warwick Manor Senior Center, St John and Paul Church in Coventry, Sparrow Point (senior facility) in West Warwick, and Crescent Park Manor in Riverside. Any person of any age can suffer severe illness from Salmonella infection, but the elderly, young children and other people who have weakened or underdeveloped immune systems are most susceptible.
HEALTH published the following updated list of other locations that sold the cream pastries from DeFusco's production facility in Johnston. All DeFusco’s locations; Colvitto’s Bistro in Narragansett (note, yesterday's press release incorrectly listed the bakery's name as Calvitto's in Narragansett); Sal’s Bakery in Providence; and Focaccia World in Johnston. All five Crugnale Bakery locations in Providence, East Providence, North Providence, Cranston, and Cumberland also sold DeFusco’s zeppoles from March 16 through March 20.
