E. coli O157:H7 infected scores of Federico's restaurant customers at a lone location in the West Valley area of greater Phoenix in 2013, setting off a public health scramble to investigate an alarming case of food poisoning. According to an in-depth final report by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 94 people were sickened, including at least two who suffered kidney failure and other life-threatening symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or E. coli HUS. Federico's Mexican Restaurant at 13132 W. Camelback Road in Litchfield Park -- the only location in the Federico's chain that was involved in the outbreak -- temporarily closed its doors for a sanitary overhaul and food disposal soon after it was approached by public health officials about a strong correlation between an … [Read more...]
HUS Kidney Failure from Shredded Lettuce: The Federico’s Story
E. coli HUS patients from last summer's major E. coli O157:H7 restaurant outbreak are able to look back now with durable evidence that contaminated shredded lettuce caused their kidney failure. Records produced by the Maricopa County Departments of Public Health and Environmental Services explain in some detail how the E. coli food poisoning cases clustered among scores of people who dined at one Phoenix-area Federico's Mexican Restaurant. Foodborne outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in restaurants can have devastating effects. What typically starts with fever may develop into full-blown hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a disease that is particularly devastating in children, the elderly or others who have underdeveloped or weakened immune systems. In the Federico's outbreak, public health … [Read more...]
Federico’s 2013 E. coli Outbreak One of Decade’s Largest
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...]
Lettuce was Likely Cause of Federico’s E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
In a new report, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) says lettuce was the likely cause of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at Federico's Mexican Food restaurant last summer. Ninety-four people were sickened in that outbreak. Two patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication of a STEC infection that damages the kidneys and can cause kidney failure, seizures, strokes, and death. People who ate at the restaurant were sickened between July 18 and July 30, 2013. MCDPH was contacted about a potential cluster of cases with bloody diarrhea on July 30, 2013. Many of the patient's family members said that the only shared meal was at Federico's Mexican Restaurant at 13132 W. Camelback Road in Litchfield Park, AZ. Preliminary results from restaurant … [Read more...]
Federico’s E.coli Outbreak Sickened 94, 2 With HUS
An E.coli outbreak linked to Federico's Mexican Restaurant in Litchfield Park, AZ sickened 94 people in July and August, according to a report from the Maricopa County Public Health Department. (MCDPH). The outbreak is one of the 10 largest E.coli outbreaks in he last 10 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 23 people were hospitalized, two of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS, a condition that develops in about 5 to 10 percent of E.coli cases, leads to kidney failure. Other complications form HUS include seizure, stroke and coma. Those who became ill ate at the restaurant between July 18 and July 31. Health officials were unable to identify the specific food source of the outbreak, but lettuce was "strongly … [Read more...]
Federico’s E. Coli Outbreak Case Count Grows to 79
The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at Federico's Mexican Restaurant in Litchfield Park, Arizona has now grown to include 79 people. At least 23 people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. This is now the largest E. coli outbreak in the United States in years. In 2009, 77 people were sickened after eating contaminated raw refrigerated prepared cookie dough. All of those sickened in this outbreak ate at the restaurant between July 18 and July 30, 2013. Officials believe that the outbreak may be over, but the exact cause of the contamination has not yet been determined. At least two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of an E. coli O157:H7 infection that can destroy the kidneys. Symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning at Federico’s is Largest U.S. E. coli Outbreak in Years
The recent burst of food poisoning cases from a single Federico's restaurant west of Phoenix has eclipsed the Farm Rich frozen food outbreak as the biggest toxic E. coli outbreak of 2013 and is among the largest domestic E. coli outbreaks of the past few years, according to E. coli information kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health officials have had to go back to 2011 to find an E. coli outbreak with nearly as many confirmed case patients as the 68 people counted as victims in the current spread of E. coli illnesses in Arizona. The Federico's outbreak was first announced on August 2 when the Maricopa County Departments of Public Health and Environmental Services collaborated with the Arizona Department of Health Services on a press release alerting … [Read more...]
Federico’s E. coli Lawsuit Challenges Restaurant On Food Safety
What began as a single Federico's E. coli lawsuit has now progressed into a set of legal complaints on behalf of three restaurant customers, with more victims waiting in the wings to join the litigation. Even if your injuries were not life-threatening, you could still make a substantial recovery in consideration for pain, suffering, medical bills and other associated losses linked to contaminated food at the Mexican-style restaurant in the West Valley area of Litchfield Park, Arizona. Maricopa County officials have completed their inspection of the restaurant at 13132 West Camelback and the facility has reopened for business. The latest preliminary count of people sickened in the outbreak is 68, including 23 who were hospitalized for HUS and other complications. The local health … [Read more...]
Federico’s E.coli Outbreak: 33 Sick, 15 Hospitalized
An E.coli outbreak associated with Federico's Mexican Food in Litchfield Park, Ariz., has sickened 33 people and hospitalized 15, according to Maricopa County Health officials. The restaurant closed briefly after the outbreak was discovered on Friday but reopened for lunch today. Some of those hospitalized were children who are at particular risk with E.coli infections because their immune systems are not fully developed. About 15 percent of children under ten who contract an E. coli infection develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which leads to kidney failure. E.coli, a bacteria that lives in the bowels of animals, is transferred through he fecal-oral route, meaning those who became ill ate food that has microscopic amounts of fecal matter on it. Symtoms of an E.coli infection … [Read more...]
