The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published its final update on the Nestle E. coli outbreak – a major outbreak that may have been caused by contaminated Nestle Toll House cookie dough.
The CDC says 80 persons have been infected by a matching strain of E. coli O157:H7. Thirty-five persons have been hospitalized and 10 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication that attacks a person’s red blood cells and causes damage to the kidneys and other body parts. Of the 80 confirmed cases, 70 were confirmed as having the same 
molecular fingerprint using advanced DNA testing.
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is currently representing vicitms of E. coli outbreaks, including victims who developed HUS. In the Nestle outbreak, investigators found E. coli O157:H7 in a previously unopened package of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough found at the company’s plant in Danville, Virginia, on June 25, 2009. But lab tests showed that it did not match the outbreak strain.
Still, an epidemiologic study of outbreak victims found that most victims had eaten raw Nestle cookie dough before becoming infected. In addition, an FDA inspection of the Nestle Toll House cookie dough plant found equipment that was not able to be properly cleaned.
Many states reported only one or two cases, but the following states had more: Minnesota (8); Illinois (7); Colorado (6); Washington (6); California (5); Massachusetts (4); Utah (4); Ohio (3); Maine (3) and Texas (3).
The Nestle cookie dough plant has reopened and all new packages of the product are stamped with a label mark that says “New Batch.” The CDC is recommending that consumers avoid eating or baking with any Nestle Toll House cookie dough product that does not contain the “New Batch” stamp.
If you or a loved one have recently eaten recalled prepackaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and have experienced diarrhea or other E. coli symptoms, contact a doctor immediately. Victims also should contact a Nestle E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen, 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). We have collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning and we have been outspoken about the need for reform of U.S. food safety laws, including better and more frequent food plant inspections.
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