For Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli, a category dominated by E. coli O157:H7, the total number of cases grew for the fourth straight year to 5,309. By month, the two highest totals were recorded in August (843 cases) and July (668). The lowest monthly total for E. coli cases in 2008 was 147 in February.

The CDC didn’t provide a breakdown of the incidence rate, but it noted in highlights to the report that 2004 was the last year in which E. coli O157:H7 was measured at an incidence rate that met the U.S. Healthy People 2010 goal of less than 1 case per 100,000 population. “Since then, the incidence has increased,” the report says.

Here’s a look at the total number of confirmed E. coli cases tracked by CDC since 2004 in the United States:

• 2004 — 3,169
• 2005 — 3,529
• 2006 — 4,432
• 2007 — 4,847
• 2008 — 5,309

Law firm Pritzker Olsen is one of the country’s leading practitioners of E. coli litigation and other lawsuits stemming from foodborne illness. If you or a loved one has been sickened by E. coli, contact us for a free case consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Over the years we have collected millions for victims of E. coli O157:H7 infection and other types of food poisoning. This includes handling of many serious cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

As a law firm for victims we are involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness and are dedicated to taking an active role in efforts to prevent E. coli outbreaks and reduce the spread of disease from contamination in our food supply.

No lettuce E. coli outbreaks have occurred this summer, but earlier this month Fresh Express recalled Romaine-based salad products with Use-by Dates of July 8 – 12 and an “S” in the Product Code.

The reason for the recall was a positive test result for E. coli O157:H7 found by FDA in a random sample of a single Hearts of Romaine salad. Although no longer being sold, consumers may still have the expired product in their homes and are warned not to eat it. No illness have been associated with the recall.

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nutrition watchdog group for consumers, has said the food group of lettuce and leafy greens has been linked to the most food poisoning outbreaks — 363 outbreaks from 1990 to 2006 — of any of the foods regulated by FDA that it surveyed.  (The FDA does not regulate meat).

The outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter and other pathogens have caused more than 13,500 illnesses. Manure, contaminated irrigation water, or poor handling practices are all possible culprits in those outbreaks.

The average size of lettuce E. coli outbreaks is larger than outbreaks from other foods, thus affecting more people, according to CSPI.

Leafy greens are among the healthiest of foods when not contaminated with harmful bacteria. But there are reasons why contamination reoccurs:

• They grow close to the ground, where they come in contact with manure, water runoff and wild animal feces — all of which can harbor pathogens.
• Cutting and bagging the greens allows microbes to enter the plants and flourish before the bags are opened.
• They are often eaten raw, without being processed with the normal kill step of applied heat.
• Machinery used in processing can cross-contaminate production lots and expand problems.

“Outbreaks give the best evidence of where and when the food safety system is failing to protect the public,” said Sarah Klein, lead author of the report by CSPI.

One of the worst outbreaks came in 2006. The Dole bagged baby spinach E. coli outbreak sickened 205 people in 26 states and caused three deaths. Two victims were elderly and one was a child, 2 years old.

Later the same year, E. coli O157:H7 appeared in produce once more when two separate incidents of contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce sickened a total of 152 individuals at chain restaurants Taco Bell and Taco John. Pritzker Olsen law firm was involved in representing victims of the Taco Bell lettuce E. coli outbreak and the Dole baby spinach outbreak.

We know that E. coli O157:H7 microbes stick especially well to leaf lettuce — especially when the crop is cut and bagged. They become embedded in the plant and are thus protected from surface washing in some cases. The organisms thrive in the environment of a plastic bag, especially when temperatures rise and refrigeration is more crucial. Many people also are in the unsafe practice of eating bagged lettuce without washing it.

If you or a loved one have been sickened by lettuce E. coli O157:H7 or other human pathogen on leafy green vegetables, contact an attorney at Pritzker Olsen for a free case consultation. By phone, your free inquiry can be taken at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of food borne illness litigation and we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning. Pritzker Olsen is dedicated to education and prevention of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter and other harmful bacteria found in our food. Founder and president Fred Pritzker is a sought-after food safety expert who has long advocated strong food safety laws and more inspections of our food.

Health officials connected the dairy to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter that sickened at least 30 people, including two young children who were hospitalized with severe complications.

The Associated Press said the reopening follows compliance with criteria said by Boulder County Public Health, but nothing short of pasteurization will render raw milk products safe from deadly pathogens like E. coli O157:H7.

Both E. coli 0157 and Campylobacter bacteria were identified at the state public health laboratory in lab tests from samples taken at Billy Goat Diary farm. The strain of Campylobacter found in the raw goat milk, and the strain of E. coli found in the goats is an identical match to the strains found in the ill people. These bacteria are found in the intestines of animals and can be passed in their feces to food, water, and milk products that haven’t been pasteurized.

This outbreak resulted in two children developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E. coli infection that strikes young children more often than people in other age groups. E. coli HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children, but it also can result in severe damage to the heart, central nervous system and brain.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak and are concerned about appropriate levels of compensation for medical expenses, travel, lost wages and other harms, contact an attorney at Prizker Olsen law firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.  We have years of experience representing HUS victims and E. coli patients sickened in foodborne illness outbreak and our firm is actively involved in efforts to prevent outbreaks.

A recent study by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service showed that E coli O157:H7 grows at a rapid, temperature-dependent rate before the lettuce deteriorates. That means the visual quality of  bagged, fresh-cut lettuce is a poor indicator of the products’  food safety status.

Given the lack of visual cues, proper refrigeration is important to limit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.

Results indicate that storage at 41 degrees, or  5 degrees Celsius, allowed the survival of E. coli O157:H7 on the packaged lettuce, but limited its growth.

All of the bagged products in the experiment were intentionally misted with E. coli bacteria in the lab and the bags were resealed. When they were stored at 54 degrees, or 12 degrees Celsius, the relative warmth led to a large increase in E. coli O157:H7 population on lettuce salads held for three days.

From 1990 to 2005, there were more than 700 foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States caused by contaminated produce. Many of those were lettuce E. coli outbreaks. The most recent major outbreak of E. coli in lettuce occurred earlier this year, sickening more than 20 people in six states.

Food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen has been retained by an E. coli HUS victim in connection with that particular E. coli O145 outbreak. The illnesses are associated with contaminated lettuce recalled  by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio.

The client, a student at Daemen College in Amherst, New York, contracted an E. coli infection in April that developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening illness that can cause kidney failure, central nervous system damage, heart problems, pancreatitis, and other serious medical conditions. The student’s illness resulted in three separate hospitalizations

If you or a loved one have been sickened by E. coli or other human pathogen in leafy green vegetables, contact an attorney at Pritzker Olsen for a free case consultation. By phone, your free inquiry can be taken at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or you may contact us online with the form on side of this web page.

Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of food borne illness litigation and we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims of food poisoning. Pritzker Olsen is dedicated to education and prevention of E. coli and other harmful bacteria found in our food. Our founder and president, Fred Pritzker, is a sought-after food safety expert who has long advocated strong food safety laws and more inspections of our food.

The threat of  E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogens in raw milk has been a running story in Wisconsin ever since the Legislature attempted early this year to pass a bill legalizing on-farm sales of unpasteurized products.

The bill passed but Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed it in a nod to overwhelming opposition from health professionals and the mainstream dairy industry.

The NBC television news affiliate in Green Bay provided an in-depth follow-up story last night to air out the issue. Some farmers are still clamoring for open trade in raw milk, which would inevitably lead to more outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The piece by photojournalist Mike Fisher featured an interview with E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker, whose views on the subject have been molded by witnessing first-hand the suffering of many clients infected by food poisoning caused by raw milk. His firm currently represents a Pennsylvania man who was paralyzed after drinking contaminated raw milk in a highly publicized Campylobacter outbreak that resulted in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

“I think the Governor is right, I’m representing people all over the country in raw milk cases who have been harmed grievously by drinking raw milk,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker is the founder and president of the national food safety law firm, Pritzker Olsen. His firm represents survivors of foodborne illness in cases involving  pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins including Salmonella, Clostridium botulinum, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium perfringens, Shigella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A virus, Norwalk virus and Scombroid poisoning.

The firm is involved in virtually every national outbreak and has collected large sums on behalf of people injured or killed by adulterated food. In addition, the firm is devoted to educating the public about food safety issues and advocating for badly needed food safety legislation and increased funding for the federal, state and local agencies charged with protecting our food.

Mr. Pritzker and members of his firm are frequent commentators on food safety issues and have been interviewed by and profiled in a number of media outlets including the New York Times, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and CNN.

Dr. Divya Jaroni, a food microbiologist at Southern University Ag Center, will head the study in collaboration with scientists at Louisiana State University and Texas Tech University.

The team will study  the prevalence  of  E. coli under different herd, farm and environment conditions across several  farms. Guidelines for on-farm Best Management Practices  will be developed and the effectiveness of these practices in reducing E. coli O157:H7 on small-scale cow/calf operations will be validated.

The grant money comes from the USDA through its National Institute of Food and Agriculture – Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program.

E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef and other beef products is a major food safety concern and one approach to reduce the threat of contamination in the slaughter process is to develop farming and ranching practices that reduce the load of the pathogen inside the animals before they are butchered.

These bacteria grow harmlessly inside the hind guts of cows and are expelled in feces. When the organisms contaminate cuts of meat at the packing plant, they become a danger to humans because they emit a powerful toxin once inside a person’s intestines. These Shiga toxins attack red blood cells in a process that often leads to clotting and kidney failure. Once in the bloodstream they can cause heart damage, central nervous system disorders, coma, paralysis and brain injury.

In 5 to 15 percent of cases, E. coli infections develop into life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or a related condition known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP.) Children under 5 years old are most susceptible to getting HUS.

Pritzker Olsen is a law firm that  represents people injured by E. coli O157:H7-induced HUS  resulting from adulterated food, contaminated raw milk, water, and petting zoos.

One of the most urgent questions asked by parents and survivors concerns the long-term prognosis: What’s going to happen in the future based on medical opinion?

If my child or loved one survives this devastating illness, will they have kidney problems, anemia, hypertension or other serious medical issues at some point in their lives?

The medical literature is the first place to look. A number of medical journal articles have addressed the long-term prognosis associated with HUS.

According to a leading review article in 2003, approximately 25% of HUS survivors demonstrate long-term kidney problems following and as a result of HUS. Those problems may take years to develop. Another article from 2005 states that about 30% to 50% of children who survive the acute phase of HUS are later found to have signs of kidney damage and/or hypertension.

There is no single test or evaluation to determine whether an HUS survivor will develop future problems. Some of the factors that may predict future problems include:

• The severity of the initial illness
• Whether there were central  nervous symptoms (reduced consciousness, coma, stroke or seizures)
• Length of time during which urine output was absent or significantly decreased
• Length of time during which dialysis was required (especially if over four weeks)
• Length of time during which hospitalization was required
• Whether pancreatic damage (hyperglycemia) was observed during the acute phase of HUS
• Continued presence of proteinuria caused by  greater-than-normal amounts of protein in the urine
• Ongoing elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
• Abnormal kidney ultrasound
• Impaired kidney function expressed as impaired GFR still present one year after acute HUS.

One of our most important tasks in representing people with HUS is to determine whether an HUS survivor has made a full recovery or is going to experience life-long and potentially very serious problems with their kidneys or blood pressure. Correct medical follow-up and treatment are key to this assessment.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys are highly experienced in representing HUS survivors. We represent HUS survivors throughout the United States and are involved in virtually every E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. We have collected some of the largest E. coli O157:H7 and HUS recoveries for our clients. Call today for a free consultation at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online consultation form.

Today, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that state health officials have linked three cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness with raw milk from Hartmann Dairy Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota (also known as M.O.M.’s). One of the people sickened has developed E. coli HUS.

If you have any of this milk, you should not consume it.  If someone has consumed some of the milk, you should not discard the milk until you are sure that the person who consumed the raw milk has not contracted an E. coli infection.  If you or someone you loved has been diagnosed with E. coli, contact our law firm.

The Hartmann Dairy raw milk may be labeled organic and consumers may be unaware that the milk has not been pasteurized. In addition, consumers should not eat cheese, ice cream or other dairy products from Hartmann Dairy Farm, which also may have been made from raw, unpasteurized milk, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Minnesota health officials have linked three cases of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning with raw milk from Hartmann Dairy Farm in Gibbon, Minnesota:

The Minnesota Department of Health urges anyone who may have recently purchased milk from the Hartmann Dairy Farm, also known as M.O.M.’s, to discard the product and not consume it. The milk may be labeled organic and consumers may be unaware that the milk has not been pasteurized. In addition, consumers should not eat cheese, ice cream or other dairy products from the farm, which also may have been made from raw, unpasteurized milk.

The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture are continuing to investigate a cluster of four E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that all have the same “pulsed field gel electrophoresis” (PFGE) patterns, or DNA fingerprint. Three of the four cases report a link to milk from Hartmann Farm; the fourth case is under investigation. Three of the four people were hospitalized as a result of their illness; one case has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Minnesota law prohibits most raw milk sales, except for occasional purchases directly at the farm where the milk is produced.

Raw milk is a dangerous product that should not be sold to the public. Virtually every health department, federal, state and local, recommends against its use. It is particularly dangerous for young children, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly.

A recent study by 11 epidemiologists examined rates of death, by age group, in 3,464 people who were sickened by hamburger disease between 2000-2006. The scientific review looked at deaths associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection and a complication of E. coli known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a life-threatening condition and the biggest cause of kidney failure in children throughout the world.

The researchers, led by Dr. L Hannah Gould of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that 218 E. coli victims, or 6.3 percent of the total, developed HUS. In all E. coli HUS cases, death occurred 4.6 percent of the time.

The research, published in the October 2009 , is more proof  that the most vulnerable populations to hamburger E. coli are children under 5  and adults older than 60. In hamburger E. coli outbreaks, the highest proportion of HUS cases occur in young children — 15.3 percent of total cases.

Three percent of the child HUS victims died whereas .3 percent of children died from E. coli without developing  HUS syndrome. HUS is best known for attacking the kidneys, but the disease also can result in hemorrhaging, strokes, anemia and heart problems. As a producer of poisonous Shiga toxin, E. coli O157:H7 also has the capacity to invade the blood brain barrier and cause damage to the central nervous system.

E. coli O157:H7 patients older than 60 had the highest death rate  in the study. With or without E. coli HUS, 12 of 390 elderly victims of hamburger disease died. In elderly patients who developed HUS, five of 15, or 33 percent, did not survive. Adults poisoned in hamburger E. coli outbreaks also risk developing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a condition aligned with HUS.

E. coli O157:H7 is banned by the federal government from hamburger. Obviously, that measure hasn’t stopped hamburger E. coli outbreaks.

Because E. coli O157:H7 in hamburger is classified as an adulterant, you and your family have special legal rights to press for recoveries against the meatpacker and other companies in the supply chain who sold the adulterated product.

Food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is currently representing hamburger E. coli victims and is a national leader in foodborne illness litigation. As one of the few firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars for the families who have suffered injury and loss.

To contact an E. coli lawyer for a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete one of our online contact forms . You owe us nothing until we win your case.