In recent years, a number of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been linked to lettuce. Our lawyers have represented victims of these lettuce-E. coli outbreaks. We are currently investigating a possible lettuce-E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Contact our national E. coli litigation law firm for a free consultation: 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
Lettuce can become contaminated with E. coli at any point from field to fork. Contamination on the field can happen when a cattle farm is located too close to the lettuce field. The E. coli that live in the cattle’s intestines are excreted with the feces, which can get into water that is used to irrigate the field or be “carried” onto the field via wild animals, humans or the cattle. Cross contamination (from meat or water to lettuce) can happen during transportation, processing or at a restaurant.
E. coli outbreaks associated with lettuce have involved processed lettuce, i.e., lettuce that has been cut and bagged.
E. coli is a dangerous pathogen that often leads to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness that causes kidney failure, pancreatitis, brain damage, heart problems and death. HUS is characterized by three main features: microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney failure:
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia means that red blood cells (carry oxygen) are destroyed in damaged small blood vessels, resulting in a low red blood cell count;
- Thrombocytopenia indicates a low platelet count and results from entrapment of the platelets in organs;
- Acute kidney failure means that the kidney function is severely impaired and hemodialysis may be necessary.
We are food safety lawyers, and we view our job as twofold: 1) To make sure that victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to lettuce are fully and adequately compensated and 2) to prevent future lettuce-E. coli outbreaks by making the responsible parties pay enough to make it hurt. We also seek policy and law changes that will help prevent future outbreaks. Contact our lawyers.
Reference: 1. Razzaq S. 2006. Hemolytic uremic syndrome: an emerging health risk. Am Fam Phys. 74:6:991-996.
