E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker is investigating the recall of Trader Jose’s Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, a Trader Joe’s product, and the related outbreak of E. coli O157:H7.
“We are collecting information about the specific food source of this outbreak,” said Pritzker, who recently won $4.5 million for an E. coli victim who also developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and also a confidential amount for an elderly woman who had such severe hemorrhagic colitis that she needed to have a colectomy (part of her colon removed). “We think that the initial source was a leafy green,” he added.
It is not necessary to find the initial food source to file a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s and Glass Onion Catering (the processor and distributor of the salad), but finding that source is important for the outbreak victims and to prevent further illness.
Epidemiologic and traceback investigations linked the outbreak to both Trader Jose’s Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken and another Trader Joe’s salad, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken. These and other salads were recalled by Glass Onion Catering, and Trader Joe’s issued a consumer update to let customers know exactly which Trader Joe’s salads were affected by the recall.
According to Trader Joe’s three of its salads have been recalled: Trader José’s Mexicali Brand Salad with Chili Lime Chicken (SKU 97216), Trader Joe’s Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken (SKU 99050) and Trader Joe’s Classic Greek Salad (SKU 83579). The recall only involves salads with “USE BY” dates of 10/01/13 through 11/15/13.
To date there are confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157 in Arizona, California and Washington. The implicated Trader Joe’s Field Fresh Chopped Salad was only sold in Northern California and Nevada (Reno and Carson City). The implicated Trader Jose’s Mexicali Salad was sold throughout California and also in the states of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
