The CDC has just announced the multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to ready to eat salads sold at Trader Joe's stores, among others. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing has found that two ready-to-eat salads, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken, and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, both sold at Trader Joe's grocery stores, are one likely source of this outbreak. The STEC O157:H7 PFGE pattern in this outbreak is new to the PulseNet database and has never been seen before, according to the CDC statement. A total of 26 people infected with the outbreak strain of this bacteria have been reported in three states. The case count is as follows: Arizona (1), California (22), and Washington (3). Illness onset dates … [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...]
Marin County E. coli-HUS Outbreak That Sickened 6 in September Still under Investigation
In mid September 6 people, including 4 children, in Marin County, Calif., ate something that was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Four of these E. coli victims were hospitalized, two of them children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Both of these children are out of the hospital, but they will have to live with the long-term risks associated with HUS for the duration of their lives, according to Fred Pritzker, a food safety lawyer who represents people in E. coli and HUS in lawsuits against restaurants, food processors and others. People in three Marin County cities were sickened: Tiburon (3 cases); Inverness (1 case);San Anselmo (1 case); and San Rafael (1 case). The outbreak is still being investigated by County of Marin Health and Human Services and the California … [Read more...]
Burma Superstar E. coli Outbreak Probed in San Francisco
At least 14 people have been sickened in San Francisco with E. coli O157:H7, including nine who ate at the popular Burma Superstar restaurant in the Inner Richmond neighborhood earlier this month. The E. coli outbreak, now under investigation by the San Francisco Department of Public Health and California Department of Public Health, prompted owner Desmond Tan to close the establishment for Labor Day weekend. At least one person has been hospitalized with kidney failure from a life-threatening complication of toxic E. coli infection known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. According to health department records, the investigation was first announced earlier this week with a public health alert that eight cases of presumptive Escherichia coli O157 had been reported, with one … [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...]
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 Mexicanos E. coli HUS Outbreak Revisited in Illinois
An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened a number of Los Burritos Mexicanos patrons in Lombard, Illinois, is still under investigation by local and state health officials who have permitted the restaurant to reopen. A Los Burritos staff worker said Sunday the restaurant has reopened for normal business at its location on 1015 E. Saint Charles Road in Lombard, a western suburb of Chicago. Los Burritos was closed by health officials in mid-June after a cluster of patrons reported gastro-intestinal illness. The first report came on May 24. By June 17, public health technicians confirmed through laboratory testing that the wave of illness was due to food contamination from the pathogen E. coli O157:H7, a sometimes virulent bug that can cause life-threatening cases of hemolytic uremic … [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...]
