The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the second mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with leafy greens or romaine lettuce. This outbreak has now sickened at least 39 people in 18 states. There are three unsolved multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks ongoing at this time; all of the investigation notices mention leafy greens, and one mentions an unnamed restaurant. The outbreak investigation notice states that "This outbreak is different from the two other E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks CDC is currently investigating." This is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 which caused a massive outbreak last year that was linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley growing region in California. At least 167 people were sickened in that outbreak … [Read more...]
Pritzker Hageman Files Second E. coli O157:H7 Lawsuit in Ohio
The law firm of Pritzker Hageman has filed a second E. coli O157:H7 lawsuit in the state of Ohio on behalf of a teenage girl who was sickened with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection after allegedly eating food purchased at the Chipotle at 1140 Polaris Parkway in Columbus, Ohio. The suit was filed on Friday, November 6, 2020. The first lawsuit, also against the same restaurant location, was filed on October 31, 2020. Their client allegedly ate a salad bowl or burrito bowl purchased from that restaurant on September 22, 2020, and another on September 24, 2020. The bowl contained romaine lettuce, tomato salsa, guacamole, and other items. Several days later the teenager got sick with bloody diarrhea, and sought medical treatment. A diagnosis of STEC infection was … [Read more...]
CDC Investigates Third Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; May be Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a third mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people in 5 states. The other two outbreaks, which were announced earlier this month, have sickened a total of 44 people. And the outbreak notices seem to suggest that the illnesses may be associated with romaine lettuce and/or restaurants. In this new outbreak, the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was found in a sample of recalled Tanimura & Antle single head romaine lettuce by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. But the government is insisting that isn't enough to link the romaine to the outbreak. They are still investigating to see if more products may be contaminated with the pathogen. Investigators are … [Read more...]
Third E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak May Be Linked to Romaine
At the end of October the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA announced two distinct E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that were not linked to any one food or facility. One may have been associated with romaine lettuce, and the other may have been associated with a restaurant. Today the FDA announced a third E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least twelve people in five states that may be associated with recalled romaine lettuce. The patient case count by state is: California (2), Illinois (4), Michigan (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). Five people have been hospitalized. The last illness onset date was October 14, 2020. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development found E. coli O157:H7 bacteria on a sample of Tanimura … [Read more...]
List of Active Multistate Outbreaks Remaining in 2020 Include E. coli
As 2020 starts to wind down, it's important that consumers stay informed about the list of active multistate outbreaks that may still be sickening people. As of November 2, 2020, there are still four active multistate outbreaks in the United States: Two E. coli outbreaks, one Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, and a Salmonella outbreak. Just one of these outbreaks, the Salmonella outbreak linked to dried wood ear mushrooms, is associated with a recall. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to as yet unidentified deli meats, and the foods that the two E. coli outbreaks were caused by have not yet been identified, although associations with a restaurant and romaine lettuce or leafy greens have been alleged. Salmonella Stanley Outbreak Linked to Wood Ear Mushrooms The … [Read more...]
Chipotle E. coli Lawsuit Filed by Pritzker Hageman in Ohio
A Chipotle E. coli lawsuit has been filed by the Pritzker Hageman law firm in Ohio, alleging that their client, a teenage girl, was sickened with an E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating food at that establishment. Their client got sick after eating a salad bowl, which was made with romaine lettuce, tomato, salsa, and guacamole, on September 24, 2020 at the Chipotle restaurant on 1140 Polaris Parkway in Columbus, Ohio. As a result of this infection, the girl was hospitalized for a debilitating and painful gastrointestinal illness. As a result of the Chipotle E. coli lawsuit, the law firm's attorneys are investigating whether this illness is associated with either of the two recently announced multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that have sickened 44 people and hospitalized 18. … [Read more...]
Massachusetts Counties Hard Hit in Listeria Deli Meat Outbreak
The new multistate Listeria monocytogenes deli meat outbreak announced one week ago has sickened ten people in three states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but several Massachusetts counties have been hard hit. That state alone has seven of the ten cases in three counties. The Massachusetts counties hard hit include Essex County with four cases, Suffolk County with two cases, and one patient in Middlesex County, according to information from the Massachusetts Department of Health. The current outbreak cluster and the cluster of listeriosis cases from last year's outbreak are not related. The patient age range in Massachusetts is from 60 to 89 years, and five out of the seven cases are female. There is one "common chain" among Massachusetts … [Read more...]
FDA Investigates Two E. coli Outbreaks That May Be Romaine
The FDA is investigating two E. coli outbreaks that may be caused by romaine lettuce. Those outbreaks were announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday, October 27, 2020. Both of these outbreaks are caused by E. coli strains that are genetically related to two previous romaine outbreaks: One in in 2019 from Salinas, California lettuce. and one in 2018 from Yuma, Arizona lettuce. FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response said in a statement, "The FDA, along with the CDC and our state and local partners, are working to investigate two outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 (STEC) illnesses. We do not know what food is causing people to get sick or whether it involves an FDA-regulated food product. However, we have seen similar … [Read more...]
Second Secret E. coli Outbreak Sickens 23 in 12 States, Hospitalizes 10
A second secret E. coli outbreak has sickened 23 people and hospitalized 10, according to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last night. The first outbreak, which was caused by a different strain of E. coli O157:H7, was also announced last night. This outbreak is caused by the same strain of bacteria that contaminated romaine lettuce and sickened 167 people in 27 states in 2019. While this information is significant, it doesn't mean that this outbreak was caused by leafy greens. A specific food has not been identified yet, and the government is not making any recommendations for consumers to avoid any particular food. But in another twist, the outbreak investigation statement says, "State and local public health officials are … [Read more...]
Deli Meat Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 10 in 3 States
A deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened 10 people in three states, according to a notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic evidence shows that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (2). All ten patients have been hospitalized. One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. Illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 3, 2020. The patient age range is from 40 to 89 years. Nine of the patients were interviewed by investigators. All of them said that they ate Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto, before they got sick. They bought prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at different … [Read more...]
