The law firm of Pritzker Hageman has filed the first Arizona lawsuit in the I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 - hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak on behalf of a child. The lawsuit was filed on March 23, 2017 (Case : 1:17-cv-02233) in the United District Court Northern District of Illinois. The client in this case, minor child M.R., contracted a nearly-fatal E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating contaminated soy nut butter manufactured and sold by The SoyNut Butter Company. That infection developed into the complication hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which destroys the kidneys and can cause serious injury. The lawsuit alleges that the child, who attends a day care facility in Flagstaff, Arizona, consumed some of the SoyNut Butter in early January. On or about January … [Read more...]
Four Arizona Children Sickened with E. coli O157
Four children in Arizona are sickened with E. coli O157 infections that "appear to be linked" to soynut butter-containing products from "The SoyNutButter Company," according to a news release from the Arizona Department of Health. The Arizona Department of Health Services is recommending that consumers avoid eating "I.M. Healthy" brand soynut butter and soynut butter-containing products. Dr. Cara Crist, director of the department, said in a statement, "Our disease detectives are working on the state and local level to rapidly identify the source of this outbreak. As we determine suspected food sources that may be linked to E. coli, our state lab will test those products to determine if there’s a match." The four children who are sick in Arizona live in Maricopa and Coconino … [Read more...]
Salmonella Javiana Outbreak in Maricopa County AZ Sickens 50
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has released a PDF report on their investigation into a Salmonella Javiana outbreak that sickened at least 50 people in July and August, 2016. There are 40 confirmed cases and 10 probable cases. Thirty-three (66%) of the cases reported eating at Restaurant A, with exposure dates from July 16 to August 18, 2016. Forty other restaurants or fast food establishments were reportedly patronized by patients. Three had more than one person reporting eating there within the week before illness onset with two cases each. Findings from the investigation did not reveal a single source of contamination, but unfried shrimp was suspected as a possible vehicle for contamination based on a case control investigation. Environmental samples were taken. … [Read more...]
Outbreak Associated with Phoenix Pappadeaux Restaurant Over
A food poisoning outbreak associated with Pappadeaux Seafood Restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona is over, Jeanene Fowler, acting Public Informations Officer for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. She did not confirm the bacteria that is associated with this outbreak, but news sources state that it was a Salmonella outbreak. The county is closing its investigation into the outbreak and official documents will be available within a few weeks. Officials would not confirm how many people were sickened after eating at the restaurant, when their illnesses began, or if anyone was hospitalized as a result of their illness. A lawsuit was filed against this restaurant on September 27, 2016. However, restaurant inspection reports posted on the Maricopa … [Read more...]
Law Firm Files Salmonella Lawsuit Against Pappadeaux in Phoenix
A lawsuit has been filed against Pappas Restaurants Inc., owners of Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen in Phoenix, Arizona, on behalf of a client who ate there in August 2016. The suit was filed in the United States District Court of Arizona (Case 2:16-cv-03253-GMS). The lawsuit alleges that their client ate tilapia, shrimp, and crab cakes at that restaurant on or about August 14, 2016, and became violently ill two days later. She was admitted to Abrazo Scottsdale Campus hospital on August 20, 2016. While there, she was tested for Salmonella and a stool test came back positive for Salmonella Javiana, according to the complaint. The client spent five days in the hospital. Some of those infected with this type of food poisoning, such as this client, must be hospitalized because their … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Cucumber Outbreak Grows to 671 Sick
The Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has grown to include 671 people sick in 34 states. Three people have died from their infections, and 131 people have been hospitalized. Alabama was added to the list of states with ill persons. This is an increase of 113 cases since the last update on September 22, 2015. Now, 51% of ill persons are children younger than the age of 18. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (13), Arizona (112), Arkansas (9), California (164), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (22), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Minnesota (34), Missouri (10), Montana (14), Nebraska (5), Nevada (13), New Mexico (30), New York (5), North Dakota (3), Ohio (2), … [Read more...]
Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 558
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their investigation into the Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to imported cucumbers. Since the last update on September 15, 2015, 140 new illnesses have been reported. Now at least 558 people in 33 states have been sickened in this outbreak. One hundred twelve people have been hospitalized as a result of their infections, and three people have died. Those who died lived in Arizona, California, and Texas. Fifty-two percent of ill people are children under the age of 18. The new states involved in this outbreak are Iowa and South Dakota. A recall by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, which imported the cucumbers, has been issued. The FDA has discovered that the cucumbers were produced at Rancho Don Juanito de R.L. de … [Read more...]
Arizona Children Hit Hard in Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak
The Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico has sickened 66 people in Arizona; 75%, or 49, are children age 17 or younger. (The CDC has the Arizona case count at 60.) About 35% of cases in that state have been hospitalized. Arizona is one of 27 states that are part of this huge outbreak, which has sickened 285 people in 27 states. The hospitalization rate in this outbreak is high. Overall, nineteen percent of those sickened have been hospitalized because of their illness; and one person has died. We don't know if this high hospitalization rate is because the Salmonella bacteria are antibiotic-resistant, or because many of those sickened are children, who typically suffer more complications with food poisoning. The median age in this outbreak is 15. About 32% … [Read more...]
Windmill Winery AZ Salmonella Outbreak: 38 Sick
The Salmonella outbreak at Windmill Winery in Florence, Arizona has now sickened at least 38 people, according to Pinal County public health officials. The outbreak is linked to two events held at that venue on March 18 and 19, 2015. At least four people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. The catering operation, called Kiss the Chef, Catering, that provided the food was operating illegally, according to authorities. Thomas Schyer, director of the Pinal County Public Health Services District said, "the kitchen was not authorized to be cooked in." In addition, the winery operators had exceeded their legally allowable level of food preparation. Schyer continued, "all are serious violations of the Pinal County Environmental Health Code and Arizona state statute." The … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Windmill Winery in Florence, Arizona
Pinal County has temporarily suspended the food license permit of Windmill Winery in Florence, Arizona after a Salmonella outbreak. The illnesses are linked to a wedding that took place there on March 19, 2015. Some members of the wedding called the county and told them that several people were sickened after the event, and that at least four people were hospitalized. An investigation by the Pinal County Public Health Services District (PCPHSD) found that the operators at Windmill Winery had exceeded their "legally allowable level of food preparation and used a non-permitted caterer." PHPSD Director Tom Schryer said in a statement, "all are serious violations of the Pinal County Environmental Health Code and Arizona state statute. Our inspection and preliminary review of the … [Read more...]
