Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 31, 2007
The Troy Messenger published a follow-up story on Mallory Chandler, a Troy, Alabama, toddler who became ill with an E. coli infection and HUS while she was on vacation with her family in late June. Mallory was recently released from the hospital, and The Messenger spoke with her grandmother, Linda Chandler, about her illness and hospitalization.
Where Mallory contracted E.coli, Chandler said probably no one will ever know.
“They thought it might have been from the pool, but I don't really think that,” she said. “It could have come from anywhere. She could have touched something and then put her hand in her mouth. We just don't know.”
Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 27, 2007
FSIS announced today that the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection will hold public meetings to discuss issues related to how data is handled and public health-based inspection.
This spring, millions of pounds of ground beef and other meat products were recalled due to E. coli contamination. In several instances, the recalled meat was identified as the source of E. coli outbreaks.
The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities, and will address the following at the meeting:
- Data Collection and Analysis at FSIS: Standard Operating Procedures;
- Technical Plan for Public Health Based Inspection; and
- Pilot Project to Explore Mechanisms for Sharing Industry Data with FSIS.
Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 26, 2007
Researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska have found that from June through September up to 10 percent to 20 percent of all cattle may test positive for the microbe, which is harmless to cows. In winter, the number of E.coli-positive animals declines to less than 5 percent.
Dr. Robert Gravani of Cornell University acknowledged that summertime means more E. coli outbreaks, and pointed out that consumers grilling more hamburgers is not the only cause, reports Newsday.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 25, 2007
USDA announced today that Custom Pack, a Nebraska firm, is recalling ground beef distributed in Nebraska and buffalo distributed in Colorado. The recall was instituted after the CDC and Nebraska health officials identified at least one E. coli illness associated with the products.
The ground beef products were produced between June 1 and June 13, 2007, and were distributed to restaurants and institutions in Nebraska. The ground buffalo patties were produced on June 7, 2007, and distributed to restaurants and institutions in Colorado. None of these products were sold through grocery stores.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 25, 2007
Health officials say the Huntsville outbreak most likely was caused by contaminated lettuce served at Little Rosie's between June 27 and June 30. Eighteen of the 19 known victims ate at the popular Mexican restaurant on Whitesburg Drive on those dates; the other infected person did not eat at Little Rosie's and caught the bacteria another way.
Three Little Rosie's customers have been in the hospital since about July 4 undergoing dialysis for kidney damage.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 25, 2007
Several reports indicate that 7 people who became ill with E. coli infections earlier this summer were infected after eating contaminated ground beef.
All seven patients, including an 8-year-old North Carolina girl who was hospitalized after her kidneys shut down, are recovering, Dr. Humayun J. Chaudhry, the Suffolk County health commissioner, said Tuesday.
Chaudhry stressed that no specific brand of ground beef has been identified; it was purchased at various locations around Long Island. He also said the majority of those who became ill between June 9 and July 3 were believed to have eaten the beef products at local barbecues and not at restaurants.
He said federal and local health officials are continuing to investigate, but early findings suggest the E. coli contamination is not specific to Suffolk.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 23, 2007
Seven people in Suffolk County were sickened in recent weeks after eating undercooked ground beef contaminated with E. coli bacteria, county health officials said Monday.
In one case, an 8-year-old North Carolina girl was hospitalized for about two weeks when her kidneys shut down, said Dr. Patricia Dillon, director of communicable diseases for Suffolk's health department. The girl, who was visiting friends and family here, was recently released from the hospital, Dillon said. Officials said the meat was of different brands and was purchased at several supermarkets and grocery stores. Test results showed that the bacteria strain in three of Suffolk's cases matched cases reported in Minnesota, California and Michigan. "Preliminary findings suggest the E. coli O157:H7 contamination is not specific to Suffolk, but it is part of a larger national food supply concern," health officials said in a news release.
Interestingly, Abbott's Meat Inc., a Flint, Michigan, establishment, recalled approximately 26,669 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 in the last few days according to FSIS. I posted yesterday on the increasing number of E. coli cases tied to red meat that we have been seeing over the last few months.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 22, 2007
In August 2002, I wrote an Op-ed for the Denver Post entitled “Put me out of business - please.” That summer, the now infamous ConAgra case, started with a few sick kids in Colorado and quickly spread coast-to-coast, eventually triggering the recall of over 19,000,000 pounds of ground beef tainted with E. coli O157:H7. I asked, no pleaded, that the government and industry adopt measures to prevent illnesses. I asked:
1. Actually, inspect and sample meat. At present, the USDA employs thousands of inspectors across the nation to inspect hundreds of plants that produce millions of pounds of beef at processing plants and retail outlets. The GAO has warned that the USDA's food samplings are so scattered and infrequent that there is little chance of detecting microscopic E. coli or any other pathogen.
2. Consider mandatory recall authority. This authority is required in Sen. Tom Harkin's Safer Meat, Poultry and Foods Act of 2002 (named Kevin’s law for a young boy who died of E. coli that year).
3. Require the meat industry to document where specific lots of food are sold. That way, it can be recalled quickly if a pathogen is detected. In most E. coli outbreaks, there is no recall because retailers do not know where the meat came from and processors rarely step forward.
4. Merge the two federal agencies responsible for food safety. Right now, USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service and the inspection arm of the Food and Drug Administration share this mission. The system is bifurcated, which leads to turf wars and split responsibilities. We need one independent agency that deals with food-borne pathogens.
5. Finally, large purchasers of meat – fast food industry, grocery store chains, and yes, the USDA – must require the meat industry to produce high quality, pathogen lessened, meat.
From 2002 until a few weeks ago I believed that even though most of the measures above never fully occurred, E. coli illnesses, especially those tied to red meat consumption were down - way down. A report in 2005 released by the CDC, in collaboration with the FDA and USDA, showed important declines in foodborne infections due to common bacterial pathogens in 2004. From 1996-2004, the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 infections decreased 42 percent.
Now that was, and still seems, significant. We saw the same results in our law firm. From 1993 (Jack in the Box) to 2002 (ConAgra), 95% of the cases in our office were E. coli cases tied to red meat consumption. After 2002, we saw enormous drop in clients, and more importantly, ill people nationwide. Recalls fell to nothing. That is until six weeks ago.
The last three months look like the late springs and summers from 1993 to 2002, when hamburger recalls and E. coli illnesses were a large part of every summer – much like vacations and baseball season. Now here is the concerning reality of 2007:
- Abbott's Meat Inc., a Flint, Mich., establishment, recalled approximately 26,669 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
- At least thirteen people have been confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating ground beef produced by United Food Group sold in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Montana. Over 5,700,000 pound of meat have been recalled.
- Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. recalled 40,440 pounds of ground beef products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. No illnesses yet reported.
- Seven Minnesotans were confirmed as part of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that prompted PM Beef Holdings to recall 117,500 pounds of beef trim products that was ground and sold at Lunds and Byerly’s stores.
- Twenty-seven people have been confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Fresno County. The Fresno County Department of Community Health inspected the “Meat Market” in Northwest Fresno, the source of the outbreak.
- At least two people were confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Michigan after eating ground beef produced by Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The E. coli outbreak prompted Davis Creek Meats and Seafood to recall approximately 129,000 pounds of beef products that were distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- Several people were confirmed ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections in Pennsylvania after eating E. coli-contaminated meat products at Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain that purchased its meat from HFX, Inc., of South Claysburg, Pennsylvania. As a result of the outbreak, HFX recalled approximately 4,900 pounds of meat products.
I am not sure I know the reason for the new and ominous trend (these are the largest meat recalls in five years), but by anyone’s count these numbers are concerning. What I do know is that these recent outbreaks have all the ugly signs of another national emergency. As a nation - and that includes all federal and local government agencies as well as the private sector – we cannot let the positive tend of the past become another acceptable body count. We need to figure out why this has happened. My suggestion – if Congress was willing to drop everything in order to investigate the deaths of a dozen cats due to contaminated pet food from China – perhaps bringing all the executives of the companies responsible for this recent rash of outbreaks, recalls and illnesses to Washington for a few days of questioning (under oath) might help us get to the bottom of this.
Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 21, 2007
Abbott's Meat Inc., a Flint, Mich., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 26,669 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today.
Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 20, 2007
The California Department of Food and Agriculture today announced that members of the California Leafy Greens Handler Marketing Agreement can begin using a service mark on July 23. The service mark certifies membership in the LGMA program, and "indicates a handler's commitment to a set of Good Agricultural Practices audited by the LGMA."
In a press release issued by CFDA, Chairman of the LGMA communications committee and member of LGMA board of directors Tom Nunes stated, "The service mark reflects a handler's commitment to implementing enhanced food safety standards. By using it on their bills of landing, our signatories will be communicating to customers that they are members in good standing of the LGMA."
Using the service mark communicates that a handler is in compliance with the marketing agreement, which means they are producing and marketing lettuce, spinach and other leafy green products in California according to the enhanced Good Agricultural Practices.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 17, 2007
The Bracken County, Kentucky, health department is investigating how three children became ill with E. coli infections. Two siblings and another child fell ill with E. coli nearly a month ago. Two of the children were hospitalized for several weeks with hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Nicole Logan, the mother of two of the children who were ill, tells WLWT that one, her son, Zachary, has been receiving treatment for HUS for over 3 weeks.
"Sometimes the children are not very sick and just have abnormalities in their blood tests. Other times they become very ill and require dialysis or even [have] permanent kidney failure," said Dr. Mitchell Cohen of Children's Hospital.
The Health Department is investigating what could have caused the three cases.
"They're for some reason leaning toward hamburger or spaghetti sauce," said Logan. "I just hope they can find it. I hope it's not still out there. I don't want more people to get sick."
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 13, 2007
In what is now the largest E. coli outbreak in Alabama in 20 years, 18 people who ate at Little Rosie's restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama, have been confirmed as suffering from E. coli O157:H7 infections, and testing is being conducted to determine whether there are additional victims of the outbreak.
The Huntsville Times reports that two people remain hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome, and a third hospitalized E. coli victim's status was not available.
The newest confirmed victims are a 65-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman. Neither got sick enough to need hospital care.
Although state and county health officials point to shredded lettuce as the most likely culprit, Bill Marler, a Seattle lawyer who specializes in foodborne illness cases, said he suspects that the outbreak ultimately will be tied to ground beef.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 12, 2007
An E. coli outbreak in Huntsville, Alabama, that has sickened numerous customers of Little Rosie's and has sent at least three people to the hospital with hemolytic uremic syndrome, was caused by contaminated lettuce, according to the Madison County Health Department. The Huntsville Times reports that health officials have not determined when the lettuce became contaminated - if it was before or after it entered the restaurant, but they are looking into the possibility that the lettuce was cross-contaminated before it was served.
Five-year-old Samuel Coggin of Meridianville started dialysis Wednesday morning at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville. Two adults whose names have not been released are also hospitalized with kidney problems: a 48-year-old woman in critical condition at Huntsville Hospital and a 70-year-old woman undergoing dialysis in Asheville, N.C.
Dr. Debra Williams, the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department's assistant director, said 16 people who ate at Little Rosie's Taqueria late last month have now tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 poisoning. A 17th E. coli victim did not eat at the Whitesburg Drive restaurant and was sickened by a different source, she said.
Three more restaurant customers who were hospitalized with symptoms of E. coli exposure have tested negative, Williams said.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 08, 2007
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Canada Safeway are warning the public not to consume the fresh and frozen ground beef products listed below because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.
The fresh ground beef products were sold at Safeway and some independent grocery stores in British Columbia and Alberta. Consumers who have purchased fresh ground beef products from independent stores during the time periods described above, and are unsure that it is affected product, should contact the retail store to determine if the product purchased is affected.
The beef products involved in the recall include:
- Butcher’s Cut frozen ground beef patties
- Sunny Dawn frozen ground beef patties
There have been five reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Posted by
E. coli Lawyer
on July 06, 2007
E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks associated with lettuce or spinach, specifically "pre-washed" and "ready-to-eat" varieties, are by no means a new phenomenon.
In October 2003, thirteen residents of a California retirement home were sickened, and two people died, after eating E. coli-contaminated, pre-washed spinach; in September 2003, nearly forty patrons of a California restaurant chain fell ill after eating salads prepared with bagged, pre-washed lettuce. In July 2002, over fifty young women fell ill with E. coli O157:H7 at a dance camp after eating “pre-washed” lettuce, leaving several hospitalized and one with life-long kidney damage.
Twenty or more E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks since 1995 have spinach or lettuce was the source. Several more outbreaks linked to contaminated leafy-produce, including most recently the September 2005 Dole packaged lettuce outbreak.
Once the investigation was completed, a final report on the outbreak was prepared by the California Food Emergency Response Team (CalFERT), a team comprised of members from the FDA and the California Department of Health Services. The Final Report is replete with facts damning of all those involved in the growing, harvesting, processing, distribution, and sale of the implicated spinach products.
The Final Report also faulted with NSF’s procedures for monitoring the quality of processing-water, its record-keeping, and its inability to demonstrate that harvesting bins were being washed to prevent cross-contamination.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 06, 2007
The Buffalo Trace District Health Department has confirmed three cases of E. coli poisoning in the area.
According to Tim Stump, director of the district health department, the three individuals reside in Bracken and Fleming counties but were all diagnosed at Meadowview Regional Medical Center. All three individuals are juveniles, Stump said, and two are believed to be still hospitalized.
There have been reports of as many as seven cases of E. coli poisoning, but Stump said he is only aware of, and has only confirmed, the three.
Posted by
E. coli Attorney
on July 02, 2007
Three Eastern Iowa children have recovered from a rare strain of E. coli, health officials said Monday.
Kevin Teale, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said the three were not hospitalized from the strain, called enterohemorrhagic E. coli O26. He would not identify where the children - all age 5 or under - live in Eastern Iowa. All were in the same county.
Possible sources of infection, including splash pads, wading pools and contact with farm kittens, were identified in two cases, but no link was established with the third case. Teale said two of the children had visited both private and municipal pools.
Lab work performed at University Hygienic Laboratory found that all three strains matched, he said.