E. coli O157:H7 was identified for the first time at the CDC in 1975, but it was not until seven years later, in 1982, that E. coli O157:H7 was conclusively determined to be a cause of enteric disease. Following outbreaks of foodborne illness that involved several cases of bloody diarrhea, E. coli O157:H7 was firmly associated with hemorrhagic colitis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 1999 that 73,000 cases of E. coli O157:H7 occur each year in the United States. Approximately 2,000 people are hospitalized, and 60 people die as a direct result of E. coli O157:H7 infections and complications. The majority of infections are thought to be foodborne-related, although E. coli O157:H7 accounts for less than 1% of all foodborne illness.

E. coli O157:H7 bacteria are believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle but have also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, goats, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

While the majority of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with E. coli O157:H7 have involved ground beef, such outbreaks have also involved unpasteurized apple and orange juice, unpasteurized milk, alfalfa sprouts, and water. An outbreak can also be caused by person-to-person transmission of the bacteria in homes and in settings like daycare centers, hospitals, and nursing homes. We are involved in representing families of children who have suffered from this bacterium.

• AFG / Supervalu E. coli Outbreak – Minnesota
• AgVenture Farms Petting Zoo E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Litigation – Florida
• Aunt Mid’s Lettuce E. coli outbreak –  Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario
• Bauer Meat E. coli Litigation – Georgia
• Big Fresno Fair E. coli Outbreak 2005
• BJ’s Wholesale Club E. coli Litigation – New York and New Jersey
• California Romaine Lettuce E. coli Outbreak – Washington State
• Camp Bournedale-South Shore Meats E. coli Outbreak – Rhode Island, Massachusetts
• Captain’s Galley Seafood Restaurant E. coli Outbreak – North Carolina
• Cargill E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Carneco / Sam’s Club E. coli Outbreak – Wisconsin & Michigan
• CCC Alternative Learning Daycare E. coli Outbreak – Texas
• China Buffet E. coli Outbreak – Minnesota
• ConAgra Ground Beef E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Country Cottage Restaurant E coli O111 Outbreak – Oklahoma
• Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo E. coli Outbreak – North Carolina
• Cuyahoga County E. coli and HUS outbreak – Ohio
• Dee Creek Farm E. coli Outbreak – Washington & Oregon
• Dole Lettuce E. coli Outbreak – Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oregon
• Dole Spinach E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Dungeness Valley Creamery E. coli Outbreak – Washington State
• Emmpak E. coli Outbreak – Wisconsin
• Excel E. coli Outbreak – Georgia
• Fairbank Farms E. coli Outbreak – New England
• Finley Elementary School E. coli Outbreak – Washington
• Flanders Provision Co. E. coli Outbreak – Colorado, Nationwide
• Forest Ranch Fire Department Fundraiser E. coli Outbreak – California
• Freshway Lettuce E. coli 0145 outbreak – Michigan, Ohio, New York, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania
• Fresno Meat Market E. coli Outbreak – California
• Gold Coast Produce E. coli Outbreak – California
• Golden Corral E. coli Outbreak – Nebraska
• Habaneros E. coli Outbreak – Missouri
• Herb Depot & Autumn Olives Farm Raw Milk E. coli Outbreak – Missouri
• Interstate Meat E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak – Oregon, Washington & Idaho
• Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant E. coli outbreak – Washington State
• Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak – Western States
• JBS Swift E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches E coli Outbreak – Colorado
• Karl Ehmer Meats E. coli Outbreak – New Jersey
• KFC E. coli Outbreak – Ohio
• Kid’s Korner Daycare E. coli Outbreak – Missouri
• Kindercare E. coli Outbreak – California
• King Garden Restaurant E. coli Outbreak – Ohio
• Lane County Fair E. coli Outbreak – Oregon
• National Steak and Poultry E. coli O157:H7 outbreak – nationwide
• Nebraska Beef E. coli Litigation – Minnesota
• Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak, 2008 – Nationwide
• Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Odwalla E. coli Outbreak – Western States
• Olive Garden E. coli Outbreak – Oregon
• Organic Pastures E. coli Outbreak – California
• Parsley E. coli Outbreak – Washington & Oregon
• Peninsula Village E. coli Outbreak – Tennessee
• PM Beef Holdings, Lunds & Byerly’s E. coli Outbreak – Minnesota
• Robeson Schools E. coli Outbreak – North Carolina
• Robinswood Pointe Senior Living Facility E. coli Outbreak – Washington
• Rochester Meat Company E. coli Outbreak – Wisconsin, California
• Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Bison E. coli outbreak 2010 – Colorado New York
• S & S Foods – Goshen Boy Scout Camp E. coli Outbreak – North Carolina
• Sizzler E. coli Outbreak – Wisconsin
• Sodexho Spinach E. coli Outbreak – California
• Spokane Produce E. coli Outbreak – Washington, Oregon, Idaho
• Stop & Shop E. coli Case – New Hampshire
• Taco John’s E. coli Outbreak – Iowa and Minnesota
• Topps and Price Chopper E. coli Case – New York
• Topps Meats E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide
• Totino’s and Jeno’s Pizza E. coli Outbreak
• United Food Group E. coli Outbreak – Western States
• Valley Meats E. coli Outbreak – Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania
• Washington County Fair E. coli Outbreak – New York
• Wendy’s E. coli Outbreak – Oregon
• Wendy’s E. coli Outbreak – Utah
• White Water Water Park E. coli Outbreak – Georgia