An E. coli lawsuit, believed to be the first, was filed April 18, 2017 in the Massachusetts Superior Court against Chicken & Rice Guys, LLC by Pritzker Hageman, a national food safety law firm. Their client was diagnosed with an E. coli O157:H7 infection after allegedly eating food prepared by the restaurant chain that operates in the Boston area. There is an E. coli outbreak associated with that restaurant chain. At least 15 people have been sickened in the outbreak, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. Illnesses began to be reported to public health officials in early April. Ten patients in this outbreak, which is a very high percentage, have been hospitalized because they have been so sick. According to the complaint, on March 30, 2017, the plaintiff ordered … [Read more...]
Family of Boy Sickened in Beef E. coli Outbreak Files Lawsuit
The family of a boy sickened who is one of 14 people sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef produced by PT Farm of North Haverhill, NH has filed a lawsuit on his behalf. The nine year old became so sick after eating the contaminated beef that he was hospitalized. At least three others were hospitalized in the outbreak linked to beef produced at PT Farm and sold under the brand names PT Farms, Chestnut Farms, Robie Farms and Miles Smith Farm. Ten illnesses were reported in New Hampshire, two in Massachusetts and one each in Maine and Vermont. A recall was issued for the products which were shipped to retail locations and institutional clients in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Sold in various weights and sizes, the recalled products have the … [Read more...]
Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak Sickens 14 in 4 States
An E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef produced by PT Farm of North Haverhill, NH has sickened 14 people in four states, hospitalizing four of them. A recall has been issued for beef products sold under the brand names PT Farms, Chestnut Farms, Robie Farms and Miles Smith Farm. Consumers who have purchased this meat should not eat it as E. coli can cause serious illness and death. The recalled products were shipped to retail locations and institutional clients in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Illnesses have been reported in each of those states: New Hampshire (10), Massachusetts (2), Maine (1) and Vermont (1). The recalled products have the establishment number “M8868” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They were sold in various weights and sizes. Health … [Read more...]
Carbon E. coli Outbreak: 50 Sick, 14 Hospitalized
The E. coli outbreak linked to Carbon Live Fire Mexican grill has expanded to include 50 people, hospitalizing 14 of them, according to a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Public Health. The restaurant, located at 300 W. 26th Street in the South Side Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, has been closed until the investigation is complete. The food source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. Health officials urge anyone who ate restaurant and develops symptoms of an E. coli infection which include abdominal cramping and diarrhea that can be bloody, to seek medical attention and mention exposure to shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC). E. coli infections should not be treated with antibiotics or anti-diarrheal medications as they can worsen symptoms or cause … [Read more...]
FDA Can’t Find E. coli in Taylor Farms Celery and Onion Mixture Previously Linked to Outbreak
The investigation into the E .coli outbreak linked to Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad has hit a snag. Several weeks ago, the Montana Public Health Laboratory tested a sample, collected from a Costco in Montana, of Taylor Farms celery and onion mix used to make the salad. Preliminary results indicated the presence of E. coli O157:H7. The finding triggered a massive recall of celery and products containing celery produced by Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. But now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it, too, tested the sample and found no E. coli O157:H7. Officials from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say diced celery and onion blend has not been ruled out as a source of the outbreak. They just can't confirm Montana's findings. The … [Read more...]
Celery E. coli Recall Includes Food Lion, Kroger, Raleys and Sam’s Club
An E. coli outbreak linked to contaminated celery produced by Taylor Farms and used as an ingredient in Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad has triggered the recall of dozens of products sold at grocery stores nationwide. On November 26, Taylor Farms issued a recall for the celery which included 71 products sold at 14 retailers nationwide. But other retailers have also recalled products containing celery. Consumers who have purchased celery should check recall information carefully as E. coli can cause serious illness. Retailers recalling celery products include 7-Eleven, Albertsons, Costco, Food Lion, King Soopers, Kroger, Pantry, Raleys, Safeway, Sam's Club, Savemart, Starbucks, Target, Tony’s, Walmart and Vons. The recalled products include deli salads, salad kits, soup starters, … [Read more...]
Number of Cases in Chipotle E. coli Outbreak Drops to 37
The number of cases in the E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle restaurants in Washington and Oregon has officially dropped from 50 to 37. Health officials have trimmed seven cases from the total in Washington and six cases from the total in Oregon bringing the total number of cases in those states to 24 and 13 respectively. The Washington State Department of Health said the numbers were revised as results from "more definitive tests" became available. Five Washington locations have been linked to the outbreak. They are located at: Hazel Dell, 7715 NE 5thAvenue, Suite 109, in Vancouver; 1404 Broadway Avenue and 4229 University Way NE in Seattle; 512 Ramsey Way 101 in Kent; and 1753 S. Burlington Blvd. in Burlington. In Oregon, the 13 patient who range in age form 11 to 61 are from … [Read more...]
CDC Aids in Investigation of Deadly E. coli Outbreak at Oxford County Fair in Maine
Maine Health officials have enlisted the help of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in determining the source of a September E. coli outbreak at the Oxford County Fair that sickened two small boys, killing one of them. Both toddlers developed E. coli O111 infections after attending the fair, their parents believe the petting zoo was the source of contamination. The boys were both sickened by the same strain of E. coli O111, meaning their infections came from the same source. State health officials performed a number of tests on samples taken from the fair but were unable to establish a link. As a federal agency, the CDC has better technology and will be able to conduct more thorough testing, a health official told a local publication. Little Colton Guay, who was … [Read more...]
Chipotle E. coli Outbreak Sickens 50
The Chipotle E. coli outbreak has now sickened 50 people in Washington and Oregon. Fourteen people have been hospitalized. Results of DNA testing performed on samples from 33 of those sickened show they were all sickened by the same strain of shiga-toxin producing E. coli O26. There is also one person in Minnesota who has been sickened by that strain. However, at this time, health officials do not believe this case is related to the outbreak as that person did not eat at a Chipotle before becoming ill. Health officials have not yet determined the contaminated food source. Tests have been performed on a number of food items. The initial round of tests did not produce any positives for E. coli. According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Washington woman, one of the ingredients in a … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreaks: When the Evidence Gets Eaten, Thrown Away
Identifying the contaminated food source responsible for a food poisoning outbreak isn't always as straightforward as it seems, especially when perishable items are involved. A short shelf life means evidence often is either eaten or thrown away before an investigation even gets started. That's the case with the Chipotle E. coli outbreak. Health officials suspect that contaminated produce is the source of the outbreak. But it's likely that the tainted batch was consumed before investigators gathered samples from restaurants for testing as is often the case. The first round of tests on samples taken from several Chipotle restaurants were negative for the outbreak strain E. coli O26. Other tests are pending. It's important to note that finding the outbreak strain in uneaten food is not … [Read more...]
