Food Poisoning Bulletin just counted down the largest multi-state food poisoning outbreaks of 2013, but one single-state outbreak sickened more people than half of the outbreaks on that list. In fact, the 2013 E.coli outbreak linked to Federico’s Mexican Restaurant in Litchfield Park, AZ is one of the largest U.S. E.coli outbreaks in last 10 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak sickened 94 people during July and August, at least 23 people were hospitalized. Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that develops in about 5 to 10 percent of E.coli cases that leads to kidney failure. Other complications from HUS include seizure, stroke and coma. Those who became ill ate at the restaurant between July … [Read more...]
Denver Jimmy Johns E. coli Outbreak Under FDA Microscope
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is at the center of a government investigation of an outbreak of E. coli infections in the Denver area associated with sandwich food from Jimmy John's restaurants. The FDA's involvement in tracing the origins of the outbreak has to do with the agency's food safety mandate over fresh produce. Alicia Cronquist, an epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, has said the leading hypothesis over what made people sick revolves around a batch of contaminated fresh produce of some kind. Dave Steigman, an FDA spokesman, told The Packer, a respected industry trade publication, that field investigators hope to know more about the source by the end of this week. The probe has centered on three Jimmy John's sandwich locations in … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s E. coli Food Poisoning Outbreak in Denver, Colorado, Lawyers Investigate
At least 8 people are part of an E. coli outbreak associated with 3 Jimmy John's locations in Denver, Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). One teen remains hospitalized. E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker and his team are investigating the Jimmy Johns E. coli outbreak, as are CDPHE, the FDA, and the CDC. At this time the prime suspect is one batch of a produce item. The FDA is doing traceback investigations to confirm this suspicion. The name of the implicated supplier is being withheld. CDPHE was first alerted to the outbreak when it was notified of five cases of E. coli on Oct. 18. All five ate at Jimmy John's locations in Denver around the first weekend of October, said CDPHE representative Mark Salley. Since then. three additional … [Read more...]
E. coli and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Linked to Dehn’s Pumpkin Patch, MN Lawyer Investigating
Minnesota E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker and his Bad Bug Law Team are investigating the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to animals at Dehn's Pumpkin Patch in Dayton, MN, that has sickened 3 children. One of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of an E. coli infection that causes kidney failure, which can lead to a host of other medical problems, including seizures, coma, stroke, multiple organ failure, heart attack, and pancreatitis. "Most parents are not aware that children can contract E. coli from animal contact," said Pritzker, who recently won a case for a child who contracted E. coli-HUS after contact with a llama at a Minnesota petting zoo. "It is the responsibility of petting zoo owners to make sure the animals are kept clean and that there are … [Read more...]
Farm Rich Frozen Food Caused 2013’s Biggest E. coli Outbreak
An outbreak of food poisoning illness associated with mini quesadillas, mini pizza slices, mozzarella bites, philly cheese steaks and other frozen snack food from Rich Products still stands as the largest, multi-state outbreak of toxic E. coli so far in 2013 in the United States. And while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the outbreak appears to be over, it is still cautioning consumers to clear their home freezers of any lingering inventory of recalled packages. Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York, began to recall its lines of Farm Rich® and Market Day® products in March, ultimately expanding it to include all food produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant. The recalled products were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and at … [Read more...]
Lawsuit Filed after Child Dies from E. coli and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker filed a lawsuit on behalf of the parents of a young boy who died from E. coli O157:H7 and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure almost always caused by E. coli O157:H7. On September 30, 2012, the two-year-old and his parents visited the petting zoo at the Cleveland County fair in North Carolina, according to documents filed in the lawsuit. Beginning on October 3, 2012, the boy had symptoms of gastroenteritis and bloody diarrhea. He was diagnosed with an E. coli O157:H7 infection and HUS a few days later. Although the The boy received intensive medical treatment, including dialysis, he died on October 12, 2012. The lawsuit was filed in Gaston County Superior Court, State of North Carolina (13-CVS 2339). The defendants in the case … [Read more...]
Los Burritos E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit Filed
A lawsuit stemming from the E. coli outbreak associated with Los Burritos restaurant in Lombard, IL, has been filed in DuPage County Circuit Court in IL. The plaintiff is among the 11 confirmed and 10 probable cases of E. coli poisoning associated with restaurant's food. The woman from DuPage County ate at the restaurant on June 6, 2013 and became sick three days later. After two days of symptoms including severe abdominal cramps, vomiting and bloody diarrhea she saw a doctor and returned home. The next morning she woke with severe pain and was rushed to the emergency department at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois the morning of June 12 where she was hospitalized for five days. The mother of six told a local tv station reporter that she had never experienced such … [Read more...]
Los Burritos E. coli Outbreak Grows to 17 Cases
The number of cases in the Los Burritos E. coli outbreak in Lombard, Illinois has increased to 17 cases; 9 confirmed and 8 probable. Six people have been hospitalized but all have been released, according to the Chicago Tribune. The restaurant is still closed pending an investigation into the outbreak and how it may have occurred. Public health officials do not know what caused the outbreak and no specific food has been singled out as the possible source of the bacteria. The restaurant is cooperating in the investigation. The restaurant has other locations in other suburbs and no illnesses are associated with those venues. No employees have reported being ill. E. coli O157:H7 is a dangerous pathogen that can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of the infection. HUS … [Read more...]
Los Burritos E. coli Outbreak in Lombard, IL, Child Develops HUS Kidney Failure
The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak possibly associated with Los Burritos Mexicanos restaurant in Lombard, Illinois has sickened at least 10 people. At least one child has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as a result of this infection. Four cases of laboratory confirmed E. coli O157:H7 have been confirmed. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection. Shiga toxins are released from the bacteria and attach to white blood cells, traveling through the bloodstream to other organs in the body. During an infection, the immune system increases the permeability of cell membranes so cells that fight infection can destroy the pathogenic bacteria. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for the Shiga toxin to get into cells too. The toxin affects the … [Read more...]
Los Burritos in Lombard, IL Associated with E. coli Outbreak
An outbreak of E. coli O157 has been associated with eating at Los Burritos Mexicanos, located at 1015 E. Saint Charles Road in Lombard, IL, according to the DuPage County Health Department. Los Burritos has been closed pending further results of the investigation. As of the morning of June 17, four people have laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7). Two of the four were hospitalized. The specific food responsible for the illnesses has not been determined. Restaurants can be sued for for E. coli food poisoning when the food source of the outbreak is not found, according to attorney Fred Pritzker, a national E. coli lawyer. "In some restaurant outbreak cases, it’s not possible to identify the precise food product responsible … [Read more...]
