An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Portland, Oregon is associated with ground beef sold at meat counters in three New Seasons Market stores. Three people in the metro area are sick after eating New Seasons Market ground beef purchased at those outlets. All are recovering from their illness, according to a press release by the Oregon Health Authority. The company is also issuing a recall.
The recalled fresh ground beef was sold at the company’s North Lombard, North Interstate, and Cedar Hills store locations. The product comes in 5%, 10%, and 20% fat content varieties. The beef is ground at the stores before sale. The ground beef was purchased between October 19, 2019 and October 23, 2019. If you purchased these products, throw them away in a sealed container, even if you planned to cook them. The potential for cross-contamination or undercooking is too great.
Oregon Health Authority identified the outbreak after lab tests conducted at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory found that an identical strain of E. coli O157:H7 was present in all three of the patents. New Seasons Market has suspended sale of these products while the investigation continues.
You can contact food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented many patients sickened with E. coli O157:H7 infections over the years, said, “No one should get seriously sick just because they purchased ground beef from a grocery store.”
The symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection include a mild fever, severe and painful abdominal and stomach cramps, and diarrhea that is typically bloody and/or watery. Symptoms usually start 3 to 10 days after a person is exposed to the pathogen. Most people do seek medical care with this illness, since the symptoms are so severe and alarming.
In some people, especially children under the age of 5, this illness can spawn a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. This complication typically requires hospitalization. There is no word on the patient age range or if anyone has been hospitalized in this outbreak in the press release.
