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.

The E. coli victim is represented by Pritzker Olsen law firm. Local counsel in Denver filed the suit July 8, 2010,  in  Jefferson County District Court.  According to the complaint, the woman purchased the bison product in June at the King Soopers grocery store in Lakewood.

She fell ill with classic E. coli symptoms of diarrhea and stomach pain and was hospitalized for several days at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver. Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), state health officials concluded that she was part of a Colorado E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to the defendant’s bison meat.

The association with the outbreak prompted the Rocky Mountain Natural Meats recall of more than 66,000 pounds of ground buffalo, steaks and medallions on July 2.

Pritzker Olsen is currently in contact with other victims of this outbreak and is accepting additional cases. The firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and is actively involved in efforts to prevent outbreaks of E. coli and other dangerous pathogens.

If you or a loved one has become infected with E. coli O157:H7 after eating buffalo, contact a physician immediately and request a stool culture. For answers to legal questions, call our firm at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the online contact form on the side of this Web page. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

The recall revision adds various weight boxes of Rocky Mountain Natural Meats  “BISON B TRIM” to the pre-existing recall notice for 66,000 pounds of ground buffalo and buffalo steaks and medallions. The B Trim boxes bear a production date of May 21, 2010 and a Julian Code of 14110. The boxes also state “KEEP REFRIGERATED.”

The new notice from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) doesn’t contain new information about the ground buffalo E. coli outbreak previously announced last Friday. So far there have been five people in Colorado and one in New York sickened by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that is banned in ground beef.

FSIS associated the Colorado outbreak with ground buffalo recalled by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colo. The individual brands are Great Range Ground Bison, Nature’s Rancher Ground Buffalo and The Buffalo Guys Ground Buffalo 90 Percent Lean. They are sold nationwide at grocery stores and in some restaurants via distributors in Arizona and Utah.

Because consumers often freeze retail meat purchases, officials fear there is a potential for the outbreak to grow indefinitely. Freezing temps don’t kill the pathogen. If you have eaten buffalo meat and fallen ill with painful diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea, contact your physician immediately and request a stool culture.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen represents a Lakewood, Colorado, woman, who is a victim of this outbreak and the firm is accepting additional cases. Attorney Fred Pritzker has begun his own independent investigation and is available to discuss legal aspects with individuals and families affected by this Colorado bison E. coli outbreak.

To contact Fred, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the online contact form on the side of this Web page.

See the originial recall information by clicking here.

Fred Pritzker, founder and president of the national food safety law firm, said a  Rocky Mountain Natural Meats E. coli lawsuit will be filed in Jefferson County, Colorado.

The client purchased the tainted buffalo from a King Soopers supermarket before USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall late last week of 66,000 pounds of ground buffalo and other buffalo products. Health officials confirmed that she was infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 as a group of other Colorado residents.

Health investigators have associated the cluster of potentially deadly bacterial infections with ground buffalo from Rocky Mountain Natural Meats. At least one person from New York also has been sickened by the outbreak strain of E. coli.

Brands included in the Colorado buffalo recall are Great Range Ground Bison and Nature’s Rancher Ground Buffalo.

Pritzker Olsen is conducting its own investigation of the outbreak and is accepting additional cases. To contact Fred, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form. Our firm is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected millions over the years for victims of food poisoning.

In addition, members of our firm are actively involved in efforts to prevent outbreaks of E. coli and other human pathogens.

Nature’s Rancher Ground Buffalo, Great Range Ground Bison and The Buffalo Guys Ground Buffalo have been officially associated with the outbreak by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in conjunction with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments in Colorado and New York.

The investigation is continuing, but so far five people in Colorado and one person in New York have been infected by the same genetic strain of E. coli O157:H7. The maker of the ground buffalo, Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, has recalled 66,000 pounds of buffalo products, including some steaks and medallions.

The initial FSIS listing of retail outlets  doesn’t indicate  individual stores involved in the distribution of ground buffalo and other buffalo products recalled during the 4th of July weekend by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats. It merely lists the following chains as distributors: Hannaford’s, King Soopers, Market Basket, Price Chopper’s and Whole Foods.

If you or a loved one has become ill after eating ground buffalo involved in this E. coli recall, contact your physician immediately. For answers to legal questions and for free case consultations, contact law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form.

Our firm is conducting its own investigation into this Colorado buffalo E. coli outbreak. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of E. coli and other types of food poisoning while also working actively to help prevent foodborne illness.

• Great Range Ground Bison
• Nature’s Rancher Ground Buffalo
• The Buffalo Guys Ground Buffalo

In this outbreak, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined that there is an association between potentially contaminated ground bison products recalled by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats and a cluster of five E. coli illnesses in the state of Colorado.

Specifically, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has published the following Class I High Health Risk recall:

• 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN.” These products have a lot number of 0147.

FSIS became aware of the danger while investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Colorado with illness onset dates between June 4, 2010 and June 9, 2010. One additional case of E. coli in New York shares the same genetic fingerprint as the Colorado cases.

Rocky Mountain Natural Meats is based in Henderson, Colorado. The company’s 66,000-pound recall includes bison medallions and buffalo sirloin steak. The buffalo products were distributed around the country in grocery stores and to restaurants via foodservice distributors in Arizona and Utah.

If you or a family member has been sickened in this ground bison E. coli outbreak, contact law firm Pritzker Olsen for a free consultation about compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other harms. Our firm has a national reputation as a premier practitioner of E. coli litigation and other foodborne illness lawsuits. Over the years we have collected millions for victims of food poisoning.

To contact an E. coli lawyer, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the online form on the side of this Web page.

Brands include Great Range and Nature’s Rancher. The bison was distributed to grocery stores nationwide and the restaurants via foodservice distributors in Utah and Arizona.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a Class I Recall with high health risk for 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized steak bison products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The same DNA fingerprint has been found in five case patients from Colorado and one from New York. The illnesses are now associated with Rocky Mountain Natural Meats bison under recall. The investigation is continuing with participation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Law firm Pritzker Olsen is conducting its own investigation into this outbreak for a possible Rocky Mountain Natural Meats lawsuit. If you have information or legal questions, contact E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or contact him online with the form on the side of this Web page.

Pritzker Olsen is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation and has years of direct experience representing victims of E. coli O157:H7. We are involved in practically every major outbreak of foodborne illness.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. In serious cases, E. coli can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

The following products are subject to recall:

• 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
• 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN.” These products have a lot number of 0147.
• 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and June 24, 2010
• 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010
• 15-pound boxes of “ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK.” These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.

The temporary shutdown of the Ellensburg daycare facilities due to E. coli O157:H7 illnesses began June 30 in an attempt to halt the spread of illness.  According to the Kittitas County Public Health Department, about 120 children attend the facilities under the care of 15 staff.

Health Officer Dr. Mark Larson said in a press release that the illness is usually caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, but can also be spread from person-to-person if infected people do not wash their hands after using a toilet or if a person does not wash their hands after changing the diaper of an infected child.

In daycare E. coli outbreaks, families have legal rights to compensation in connection with illness suffered by their children.  For a free case consultation or for answers to questions surrounding who pays for health care expenses, lost wages and other harms, call an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). If you prefer online communication, we have a contact form on the side of this Web page.

Our firm is a leading national litigator in foodborne illness outbreaks and has direct experience in representing families involved in daycare E. coli infection. While some people recover from E. coli O157:H7 with no medical treatment, there is significant risk of serious complications, especially in children under the age of 5.

People of any age, but especially young children, can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) from E. coli. This potentially fatal disease often leads to acute kidney failure and sometimes leads to other serious conditions, including stroke, brain damage, paralysis, heart problems and anemia.

Note to families in the Ellensburg area affected by this daycare E. coli outbreak:

E. coli testing is being implemented before the facilities reopen. A county press release said one negative test will now be accepted if an individual has had no symptoms of E. coli within the past three weeks. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody diarrhea), or abdominal cramping. For those who have had any symptoms of the illness and those who have tested positive for E. coli, two negative tests will still be required before that person is allowed to return.

Kittitas County is providing free testing for the children.

Matching DNA Fingerprints of the Outbreak Strain

A total of eight individuals from seven different households are now considered part of the outbreak, which started in late May. Of the three new cases, two are school-age children who drank Hartmann raw milk, the state said. The third is an infant living in the same home as one of the first five victims.

The information was released  by the Minnesota Department of Health. A health department press release said the outbreak investigation has found 26 matching samples of  E. coli O157:H7, including isolates found in the dairy barn where the cows are milked.

The Hartmann raw milk outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 has not previously been found in Minnesota. It has led to life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in one of the young outbreak victims.

Law firm Pritzker Olsen, based in Minneapolis, currently represents a man in Pennsylvania who became paralyzed this spring from a food poisoning infection caused by contaminated raw milk. Our firm is involved in practically every major outbreak of E coli and other foodborne pathogens. We represent families who seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other harms.

For answers to legal questions about the MN E. coli milk outbreak, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form. We will provide you with a free case consultation, including an explanation of how clients don’t pay us unless we win their case.

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.