Happy Apple Company issued a recall of Happy Apple Brand caramel apples, two days after a family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Safeway alleging their loved one died from a Listeria infection after eating a caramel apple. The company was notified by one of its suppliers, Bidart Brothers, that there may be a connection between an outbreak of Listeria infections (listeriosis) and the apples Bidart Brothers supplied to the Happy Apples California facility. The recalled Happy Apple caramel apples have a best use by date between August 25th and November 23rd, 2014. Happy Apple caramel apples are sold individually and in three packs, four packs and eight packs. The best-used-by date is on the front of the label. The recalled caramel apples were available for retail sale through … [Read more...]
Listeria Meningitis Deepens Threat of Caramel Apple Outbreak
Federal officials have taken special note of Listeria meningitis illnesses associated with a closely watched outbreak of listeriosis associated with consumption of pre-packaged, commercially produced caramel apples. Outbreak analysis by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that three otherwise healthy children aged 5 to 15 contracted invasive meningitis from the type of Listeria associated with the outbreak. Depending on the severity of these cases, the families of these children likely have been immersed in critical care situations because meningitis infects a person's central nervous system. The more common type of illness from Listeria monocytogenes -- also deadly -- is infection of a person's bloodstream. Listeria meningitis is severe. While most people with … [Read more...]
Traci’s Story: The Human Cost of Corporate Greed and Government Malfeasance in the New England Compounding Center Drug Poisoning Outbreak
Attorney Fred Pritzker, the author of this post, is representing Traci (TM) and over 40 patients harmed in the national fungal meningitis outbreak. In the weeks since discovery of the massive fungal meningitis outbreak traced to the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts, much of the news has centered on the company’s long history of corporate malfeasance including its disregard of sterility tests, preparation of medication in unsanitary conditions and systematic violation of its pharmacy license. The company’s willful (and potentially criminal conduct) was abetted by regulatory inaction of such magnitude that some of the officials charged with overseeing the company have already been fired. As they always do, the lurid details and public ire will fade from memory as the … [Read more...]
NECC Methylprednisolone Acetate Linked to Meningitis Outbreak
The FDA has released a preliminary report of its investigation of the compounding pharmacy facility owned by New England Compounding Center (NECC), the company whose methylprednisolone acetate has been linked to over 300 cases of fungal meningitis and over 20 deaths. Last week, the FDA confirmed that it found a fungus that has sickened outbreak victims, Exserohilum rostratum, in vials of one of three lots of NECC methylprednisolone acetate implicated in the outbreak. As part of its investigation of the NECC facility, FDA obtained documents showing that since January of this year, NECC employees have documented findings of mold and bacteria in rooms that were supposed to be sterile environments, including the main “Clean Room”, the “Gown Room”, and the “Prep Room”. The FDA found “no … [Read more...]
Steroid Lawsuit Filed against NECC as Meningitis Outbreak Grows to 185 Sick, 14 Dead
Attorney Fred Pritzker and his team have filed a lawsuit against New England Compounding Center (NECC) on behalf of a woman who had an epidural injection of a steroid medication, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate compounded by NECC. Three lots of the NECC steroid have been associated with a multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis that has grown to 185 confirmed cases of illness, 3 of them fatal. The plaintiff was one of the 14,000 people that had injections with the 3 implicated lots of NECC steroid medication. "My client had to have a CT scan, IV medications for pain and anxiety, and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), a painful procedure where a large needle is placed into the subarachnoid space in the spinal canal of the low back and fluid is withdrawn," said Pritzker, who … [Read more...]
Meningitis Lawsuit Seeking Class Action Status Filed against Epidural Steroid Maker NECC
A lawsuit was filed in a Minnesota federal court by a woman who received multiple epidural injections of a steroid product made by New England Compounding Center (NECC), a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. The NECC steroid product has now been recalled due to possible contamination with fungus, both Aspergillus and Exserohilum. The lawsuit seeks damages for the woman and the creation of a class action in Minnesota. This is the first of what will most likely be hundreds of lawsuits filed in the states where the potentially contaminated NECC steriod products were distributed: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, … [Read more...]
