St Louis E Coli Outbreak Includes Salad Bar Suppliers to Schnucks and Other Retailers
The search for the source of the St. Louis E. coli outbreak is expanding beyond Missouri’s borders to include grocery store suppliers and distributors from outside the state. Missouri health officials will now enlist the help of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the investigation broadens to include suppliers and distributors to Schnucks and other retailers.
Some, but not all, of the 26 confirmed cases in the outbreak ate from salad bars at Schnucks stores and inspections of several Schnucks stores and warehouses have all turned up clean, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said in an update about the investigation released yesterday.
Laboratory testing to identify the “genetic fingerprint” of the E. coli involved is underway. So far, 26 samples have been completed and they all match, suggesting that all 26 people are part of the outbreak and that only one specific organism is involved, DHSS said in the statement.
Food samples are also being tested to determine whether E. coli is present. So far, 17 samples have been submitted, and all have come back negative for E. coli. These samples included two strawberries retrieved from sick individuals’ homes, DHSS statement said. The remaining samples consist of lettuce, strawberries, and Caesar dressing taken from several Schnuck’s stores in the region.
“Those products that were in question were not created by Schnucks,” Schnucks spokeswoman Lori Willis told the Moris Daily Herald. “There’s got to be a supplier involved in some way.”
Public health officials continue to urge anyone in the St. Louis area experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea or nausea, to seek medical attention.
Those with legal questions about an illness associated with this outbreak should contact PritzkerOlsen P.A., one of the nation’s leading food safety law firms for a free consultation regarding a . A toll free number is also available 1(888) 377-8900.
E. coli Strikes Green County School in Monroe, WI
Parents in Monroe, Wisconsin, and greater Green County are concerned about the hospitalizations of two children infected by E. coli O157:H7 shortly after the area experienced a cluster of similar illnesses that resulted in a young person’s death.
Wisconsin state epidemiologists and county public health officials are investigating the latest cases, reported at Abe Lincoln Elementary in the Monroe School District. Do these cases match the earlier ones? DNA fingerprinting tests of the bacteria will soon provide the answer. Then the question becomes: What food source is causing the spread of toxic E. coli in children in southern Wisconsin?
E. coli outbreaks can be prevented and the parties responsible for them should be held accountable in litigation efforts that have the dual effect of compensating those who are harmed and deterring future outbreaks — many of which result from negligence.
The greatest fear is that children infected with E. coli O157:H7 will suffer kidney failure and a host of other life-threatening complications that present themselves in various stages of E. coli HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome. Bloody diarrhea is a major symptom of toxic E. coli infection and parents should immediately seek the care of a physician when the symptom arises. HUS hits hardest in children under 5, but can affect healthy adults of any age.
For legal representation in E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks, contact attorneys at the Pritzker Olsen legal group. We are one of the very few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have collected tens of millions of dollars for E. coli victims in Wisconsin, Minnesota and in many places beyond the Upper Midwest. The affects of E. coli O157:H7 infection and HUS, or HUS-TTP, can last a lifetime and a good E. coli lawyer will factor these long-term costs into computations for fair compensation.
Case consultations from a lawyer at Pritzker Olsen are free. Call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or leave your contact information and an attorney will call you.
Ohio E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Investigation Considers Link to Tyson Ground Beef Recall
E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef may be causing an Ohio E. coli outbreak that is under investigation by the same federal agency that published a large ground beef recall for 131,300 pounds of hamburger produced by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc.
E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker, a leading national attorney representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, is investigating the outbreak in Butler County, Ohio, and accepting cases from families and individuals sickened by this potentially lethal human pathogen. The federal government currently bans E. coli O157:H7 from ground beef, meaning the mere presence of the bacteria is illegal and actionable when people are harmed. Pritzker is providing free case consultations at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or will respond to those who leave contact information. His firm has successfully represented Ohioans in previous food poisoning lawsuits and Pritzker has recovered tens of millions for E. coli victims around the country.
First and foremost, the Tyson products subject to recall have a “BEST BEFORE OR FREEZE BY” date of “SEP 12 2011″ and the establishment number “245D” ink jetted along the package seam. When available, our firm will post the complete retail distribution list of the potentially contaminated ground beef and the list is expected to include stores, including Kroger, in many states beyond Ohio. Consumers should act with extreme caution and check labels because E. coli O157:H7 cannot be detected by odor and color of meat is not a reliable indicator for the safe cooking of contaminated hamburger. Bugs located in the center of a patty or meatball can survive because temperatures don’t always reach the 160 degrees needed to kill them.
USDA announced the Tyson ground beef E. coli recall after the agency was notified by the Ohio Department of Health of E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses located in Butler County, an area centered in Hamilton, north of Cincinnati. Illness onset dates range from September 8-11, 2011. “The on-going investigation involved collecting leftover ground beef from the patients’ home on Sept. 19 which tested positive for E. coli O157:H7,” USDA wrote.
Ohio Hamburger Recall Information:
- 5-pound chubs of Kroger-brand “GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN – 27% FAT,” packed in 40-pound cases containing eight chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of “D-0211 QW.” These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Ind. and Tenn. for retail sale.
- 3-pound chubs of Butcher’s Brand “GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN – 27% FAT,” packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of “D-0211 LWIF.” These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in N.C. and S.C. for retail sale.
- 3-pound chubs of a generic label “GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN – 27% FAT,” packed in 36-pound cases each containing 12 chubs. Cases bear an identifying product code of “D-0211 LWI.” These products were produced on Aug. 23, 2011 and were shipped to distribution centers in Del., Fla., Ga., Md., Ill., Ind., Mo., N.Y., Ohio, Tenn., Texas and Wis. for retail sale.
Wisconsin E. coli Outbreak Ends Child’s Life
Wisconsin’s E. coli outbreak in Green County has reportedly caused the death of a 20-month-old child and sickened at least eight other people. Public health officials at the state and county level are investigating to find the cause.
Beth Kaplan, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the state has done testing to confirm if everyone has been affected by the same genetically matched strain of E. coli O157:H7. The outbreak started in mid-August and the most recent case was reported in early September, Kaplan said Wednesday. It appears isolated in Green County, she said.
E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker, whose law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys is one of the very few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation, is investigating this outbreak and answering legal questions for individuals and families who have been impacted by the contamination. Those discussions are free at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or submit contact information and a lawyer will call.
Symptoms of E. coli can range from mild to severe, and include: diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps, and vomiting. If there is a fever it is usually not very high (less than 101 F). Most people get better within 5-7 days. The time between exposure and feeling sick is usually 3-4 days, but may be as short as 1 day or as long as 10 days. The symptoms often begin slowly with mild belly pain or non-bloody diarrhea that worsens over several days.
In 5 to 15 percent of cases, infections lead to life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In the Wisconsin E. coli outbreak in Green County, two of nine case patients were hospitalized with HUS, which initially leads to kidney failure and can cause many other harms including severe anemia, stroke, seizures, heart problems and central nervous system disorder including paralysis. Children under the age of 5 are in the age group most at risk for HUS, a disease that attacks a person’s red blood cells and fragments them.
Pritzker Olsen represents victims of E. coli HUS and other serious illness caused by food poisoning. Our job is to hold purveyors of contaminated food throughout the supply chain accountable and responsible for the deaths and serious illnesses caused by negligence and safety failure. Food poisoning is preventable and our firm has collected tens of millions of dollars for victims of E. coli HUS while also keeping actively involved in efforts to eliminate the spread of human pathogens in our food.
Bell County TX E. coli At Least Five Cases
E. coli has infected five people in Bell County, Texas, and the local health authority is carefully monitoring the situation for other cases. The Bell County Public Health District said five cases of E. coli have been confirmed, but no other details have been released.
The health district is urging anyone in the Bell County area to seek medical care immediately if they suffer bloody diarrhea, a telltale symptom of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. These types of E. coli can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) — related diseases that lead to kidney failure and can trigger a cascade of severe and long-lasting health problems affecting the heart, brain and central nervous system.
E. coli bacteria can be passed from person to person, but starts in most outbreaks as a contaminant in food. The pathogenic organisms originate in the intestines of animals, especially cows, and are expelled in feces. Ground beef, needle-tenderized steak, other meat products, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, fruit, cider, nuts and other foods can carry E. coli.
The Bell County E. coli outbreak is being investigated by national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen, a leading representative for victims of food poisoning outbreak victims. Our attorneys have collected tens of millions of dollars for individuals and families harmed by E. coli and other pathogens by holding purveyors of contaminated food accountable. Contact an E. coli attorney online or call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) to receive a free case consultation.
