A multistate E. coli outbreak tied to lettuce on Wendy's burgers and sandwiches includes 53 people in Michigan, Chelsea Wuth, a health department spokeswoman told Food Poisoning Bulletin today. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, eight of them with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that affects some E. coli patients. Six days ago, the Wendy's E. coli outbreak included 43 illnesses, 24 hospitalizations, and four HUS cases in Michigan, according to an outbreak update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. And the numbers are expected to rise as results of whole genome sequencing tests from 62 other Michigan residents stricken with E. coli infections since the end of July become available. "Two things that are really … [Read more...]
Farm Rich Frozen Snacks Carried E. coli O121 Across Country
Three federal agencies traced a 2013 outbreak of E. coli O121 to Farm Rich brand frozen snacks, including mini pizza slices, mozzarella bites, mini quesadillas and philly cheese steaks. A broad recall of those products was launched, including Schwan's and Market Day brand frozen snacks produced at the same Farm Rich plant in Waycross, Georgia. Across 19 states, a total of 35 people were confirmed as case patients in this outbreak, including two who suffered kidney failure and other harms from a toxic E. coli complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Ohio, Texas, Michigan and New York were among the hardest hit states in the Farm Rich E. coli outbreak, which lasted six months as consumers went to their freezers while unaware of the contamination. Farm Rich E. coli lawsuit evidence … [Read more...]
2014 Hamburger E. coli Outbreak Traced to Wolverine Packing
When 92 percent of E. coli O157:H7 outbreak patients in May 2014 told health investigators they had previously eaten a hamburger at a restaurant, it wasn't long before USDA food safety officials and the CDC traced the cluster of dangerous illnesses in Michigan and Ohio to ground beef production at Detroit's Wolverine Packing Company. On May 19, 2014, Wolverine Packing recalled 1.8 million pounds of ground beef that had been shipped to distributors, mostly for use in restaurants nationwide. By then, the E. coli outbreak had sickened a total of 12 individuals infected with the outbreak strains of E. coli O157:H7, including five people from Michigan and five from Ohio. Massachusetts and Missouri also were touched by the outbreak. Two victims suffered kidney failure and life-threatening … [Read more...]
Wolverine E. coli Lawsuit Filed in Hamburger Outbreak
An E. coli lawsuit has been filed in the Wolverine hamburger outbreak that struck restaurant-goers in Michigan and Ohio before investigators traced it to batches of ground beef supplied by Wolverine Packing Company of Michigan. The litigation claims made in Kalamzoo County Circuit Court relate to a young Michigan woman who was one of several people hospitalized in April and May 2014. "Epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicated that contaminated ground beef produced by Wolverine was the likely source of this outbreak,'' said the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Additional confirmation of the outbreak came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after the agency interviewed suspected victims and confirmed a dozen case patients, including five in Ohio … [Read more...]
Wolverine Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Over
The CDC has declared that the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to ground beef produced by Wolverine Packing Company appears to be over. In total, 12 people in 4 states were sickened in this outbreak. Seven (58% of the outbreak total) of ill persons were hospitalized; no one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths were reported. Epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicated that contaminated ground beef produced by Wolverine was the likely source of this outbreak. The beef was distributed to retailers and restaurants nationwide. In interviews, 11 of the 12 persons stated they ate ground beef prepared as a hamburger served at a restaurant before becoming ill. Findings of multiple traceback investigations of the ground beef used at restaurants where the ill … [Read more...]
As Michigan Struggles with E. coli Outbreak, USDA Studies Cattle
A new study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and published in Agricultural Research magazine is finding that about 2% of cattle in this country may be "supershedders" who shed high levels of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 in their manure. This information comes as an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Michigan and Ohio is associated with undercooked ground beef. Supershedding is very problematic because it could "increase the amount of E. coli O157:H7 that makes its way from pasture or feedlot pen into the packing houses where steaks, roasts, ground round, or other beef products are prepared." This study may provide new ways to curb shedding of this bacterium. The study was conducted on 6,000 head of feedlot cattle and more than 13,000 manure, hide, and carcass samples. … [Read more...]
E. coli in Rare Burger Hospitalizes MI Man For 10 Days
E. coli in a rare hamburger put a Michigan man in the hospital for 10 days. Kevin McDermed told WOOD-TV that he feels "lucky to be alive" after surviving the life-threatening infection that made him feel as though his insides were "full of battery acid." McDermed is one of five people who are part of an E.coli outbreak in Michigan where authorities say ground beef is suspected as the source. The Michigan residents are from five different counties: Ottawa and Kent in the western part of the state, and Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw in the southeast. All of them ate the contaminated beef at restaurants where it was served rare or undercooked. Symptoms of E.coli poisoning don't set in immediately after eating contaminated food. It usually takes between three and seven days before … [Read more...]
