Outbreak of E. coli O157 linked to Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix – 33 Sick
In November 2012 the CDC and public health officials in several states and the FDA announced an investigation of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to consumption of Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix lettuce Mix produced by State Garden.…Read More »

Foundation Farm Unpasteurized, Raw Milk – 21 Sick
On April 13, the Oregon Health Authority announced that they were investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. As of April 30, at least 19 patients with E. coli O157:H7 had been identified.…Read More »

E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce – Canada and California – 28 Sick
An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was linked to romaine lettuce grown and distributed by Amazing Coachella Inc., which is the parent company of Peter Rabbit Farms, both based in Coachella, California.…Read More »

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume certain Butcher’s Choice Beef Burgers because this product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall is the result of an ongoing investigation into a number of E. coli O157:H7 related illnesses in Canada and this recall is the result of E. coli O157:H7 product testing by the CFIA related to an ongoing outbreak investigation. The CFIA is currently testing additional products collected from across the country.

The affected products include:

Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers, is sold frozen in 1.13 kg packages bearing UPC 0 60383 89363 7 and BEST BEFORE 2013 MR 03 EST 752.

Butchers Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers 2013 FE 10 EST 752 0 60383 89364 4.

The CDC reports that a total of 33 ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 were reported from five states. The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain was as follows: Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (3), New York (26), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1).

46% of ill persons were hospitalized. Two ill persons developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and no deaths were reported.

Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to pre-packaged leafy greens produced by State Garden of Chelsea, Massachusetts.  Traceback investigations of pre-packaged leafy greens purchased by ill persons identified State Garden as a common producer, but a source of contamination has not been identified. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues its investigation to identify the source of the contamination.

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

Marler Clark and Rochester-Buffalo-based Underberg & Kessler filed a third lawsuit against salad supplier State Garden Monday on behalf of a mother-and daughter-in-law who became ill with E. coli infections after eating organic spinach and spring mix in October. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Buffalo on behalf of Sanborn, NY resident Beth Duerr and her daughter-in-law, Erica Duerr, of North Tonawanda, NY. Two previous lawsuits filed by the law firms were brought on behalf of Rochester-area plaintiffs.

According to the complaint, Beth Duerr purchased an Organic Spinach and Spring Mix salad blend manufactured by State Garden on October 18, 2012. Erica Duerr, her husband and their 2 children—one an infant she had given birth to just 2 weeks before—visited Beth’s home the weekend of October 19. During the visit, both women consumed the salad mix.

By October 22, Erica had fallen ill with symptoms of E. coli infection, including nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. A registered nurse, Erica was aware of the risks of passing an infection to her newborn baby and was therefore unable to care for, nurse or even touch the baby. The following day, Erica’s stool became grossly bloody and her husband raced her to the emergency department. After treatment for dehydration and a CT scan, Erica was diagnosed with colitis. She declined to stay in the hospital overnight since she wanted to be home with her family, but her symptoms continued to worsen to the point where she was too weak to stand. Her husband brought Erica back to the ER later that same day for more treatment and an overnight stay.

Beth Duerr, who was helping take care of her grandchildren during Erica’s illness, fell ill with an E. coli infection on October 27. She too sought treatment at the ER, and while there learned that a stool sample Erica had submitted for testing was positive for the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has associated with a 28-person E. coli outbreak among residents of 5 states – Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), New York (22), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1).

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

William Marler, attorney for victims of the recent E. coli outbreak traced to Wegmans Organic Spinach and Spring Mix, called on Wegmans’ salad supplier, State Garden, today to pay all outbreak victims’ out-of-pocket medical costs and lost wages for missed time off work to care for themselves or family members suffering from E. coli infections linked to the salad mix. According to news reports, at least 28 people fell ill with E. coli infections after eating the product in October and November.  The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), New York (22), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1).

Marler noted that all of his clients had sought medical treatment, with some requiring hospitalization due to the severity of their E. coli infections. “We’ve seen other responsible companies step up to the plate and pay E. coli patients’ medical bills up front in the past. It’s the right thing to do,” he said.

E. coli infections are generally characterized by bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramping. Illness typically lasts from 1 to 12 days; however, E. coli patients who develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli infection, can remain hospitalized for months. They often require kidney dialysis and extensive supportive care. The cost of hospitalization for an E. coli case can range from several hundred dollars to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Even for people with health insurance, medical bills can cause a financial strain. That’s especially true if a person misses time from work and does not receive paid time off. State Garden’s failure to produce a safe product impacts not only my clients’ physical health but potentially also their financial health,” Marler continued. “The company should make an effort to restore its customers’ financial health as soon as possible.”

At least 20 people have been counted ill in the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to packaged Wegmans spinach & spring mix sold at Wegmans stores in New York state.

Six of those victims were hospitalized, but all have since been discharged. Patients ranged in age from 6 to 66 years old.

No other states have reported any illnesses in association with the outbreak.

Wegmans issued a voluntary recall of their ‘Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix’ on Nov. 1. State Garden, Inc. based in Chelsea, Massachusetts, supplied the product to Wegmans.

The two recalled products are:

– Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 11oz – UPC: 77890-16411 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12.

– Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 5oz – UPC: 77890-16437 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12.

A new case of E. coli has been linked to the XL Foods beef plant at the center of an extensive product recall.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the new case is in Alberta and brings the total number across the country to 18.

The agency says the person became ill last month and is still recovering.

Last month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency gave the plant in Brooks, Alberts permission to resume slaughtering cattle after being shut down for more than a month.

On November 4 the agency discovered new cleanliness problems at the plant and ordered corrective action.

It is not clear when the plant will be allowed to resume shipping beef to retailers in Canada or to export products to the United States.