The  recall was announced after the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) took environmental swabs from the dairy and discovered E.coli in the milking parlor and processing areas. Three Cozy Vale customers have had  E. coli illnesses since August.

Raw milk products included in the  recall are whole milk, skim milk and cream with “best if used by” dates up to and including December 6. The recalled milk is sold  in in pint, quart, half-gallon and gallon containers at the on-farm store at 7018 Churchill Road, Tenino, WA and at the following locations:

 Marlene’s Market, 2951 S. 38th St., Tacoma, WA

 Marlene’s Market, 2565 S. Gateway Center Pl., Federal Way, WA

 Mt. Community Co-op, 105 Carter St., Eatonville WA

 Olympia Food Co-op, 3111, Pacific Ave., Olympia, WA

 Olympia Food Co-op, 921 Rogers, Olympia, WA

 Olympia Local Foods, 2442 Mottman Rd S.W., Turnwater, WA

 Yelm Co-op, 404 1st St., Yelm WA

The sale of raw milk is permitted in Washington state, however WSDA warns consumers that serious, potential health risks are associated with it.

Contact the E.coli lawyers at PritzkerOlsen for a free consultation regarding an illness or hospitalization associated with this recall.

The Fresno County Department of Health has inspected Organic Pastures 10 times over the last 15 months. Four of those were routine inspections where “significant violations” were found that required mandatory re-inspection. Some of these violations were for unsanitary conditions, such as a broken toilet, lack of hot water for hand washing in the bathroom sink, manure on barn walls and exit ramps and under barn mats, all of which were cited in a report from August 24, 2010. Other reports site the lack of a concrete pad at a docking station and beneath a mobile barn.

• On September 12, 2008, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CFDA) issued a recall for raw cream manufactured at the dairy after tests showed it was contaminated with Campylobacter.
• On September 7, 2007, the CFDA issued a recall for raw cream manufactured at the dairy after Listeria monocytogenes bacteria turned up on a routine inspection.
• On September 21, 2006, the CFDA issued a recall after four children contracted E. coli infections after consuming raw milk products from the dairy.

Campylobacter, Listeria and E. coli are all dangerous pathogens that can cause serious sometimes fatal infections. With all foodborne illnesses, children are among those most a risk for serious complications, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can lead to kidney failure.

A press release on the Organic Pastures website states:

“It is a common goal of Organic Pastures and the California Department of Public Health to rapidly investigate any linkage between these cases and raw milk. Each month CDFA tests all Organic Pastures’ products for pathogens, in addition Organic Pastures uses a third party for pathogen testing multiple times per week. All these tests have been negative. It has been reported to us by the California Department of Public Health that as of today all products collected from the ill patients have been negative for E. Coli 0157:H7.”

But a review of  CFDA inspections does support the claim that the dairy is inspected each month. Four of the 10 inspections during the last 15 months were mandatory re-inspections. Had they not been required, the dairy would have had six inspections during a 15 month period.

In a USA Today story, McAfee says that the state of California has no evidence that shows children drank contaminated milk and that he finds the case “highly suspicious.” But, as Steve Lyle  of the CFDA countered in the story,  ”milk is perishable, so the product consumed by the children was not available for testing” by the time they got sick “and that’s typically to be expected.”

Anyone who experiences abdominal cramping or bloody diarrhea after consuming raw milk products should seek immediate medical attention. Those with questions regarding an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak should contact the national food safety law firm PritzkerOslen P.A. for a free consultation.

Nationwide, State-Wide, or Area-Wide Distribution
Food 4 Less Stores in IL and IN
Food Lion Stores in FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, WV
Harvey’s Stores in FL, GA, SC
Jay-C Food stores in IN
Kroger Stores in AR, IL, IN, KY, MI, MS, MO, OH, TN
Payless Super Market Stores in IN
Reid’s Stores in SC
Ruler Food Stores in IN
Save-A-Lot Stores East of the Rocky Mountains
Scott’s Stores in IN
Supervalu Stores Nationwide

Delaware
Dover AFB in Dover Delaware

Illinois
Hilander, 2206 Barnes Blvd, Rockford IL-Illinois
Hilander, 3134 11th Street, Rockford IL-Illinois
Hilander, 2514 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford IL-Illinois
Hilander, 2601 N. Mulford Rd., Rockford IL-Illinois
Hilander, 3710 N. Main St., Rockford, IL-Illinois
Hilander, 1715 Rural St., Rockford IL-Illinois
Hilander, 4860 Hononegah Rd., Roscoe IL-Illinois

Indiana
Payless Super Market, 1845 N. Scatterfield Rd., Anderson IN-Indiana
Payless Super Market, 1900 Applewood Center Dr., Anderson IN-Indiana
Payless Super Market, 3050 Meridian, Anderson IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 624 E. 16th St.,Bedford IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 360 E. Main St., Bloomfield IN-Indiana
Owen’s, 1245 S. Jefferson, Huntington IN-Indiana
Owen’s,  2718 Guilford, Huntington IN-Indiana
Payless Super Market, 65 Beck Lane, Lafayette IN-Indiana
Payless Super Market, 2513 Maple Point Dr., Lafayette IN-Indiana
Owen’s, 903 Lincolnway S., Ligonier IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 600 West Broadway St., Loogootee IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 120 E. 2nd St., Madison IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 1307 West Main St., Mitchell IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 1503 West Broadway, Princeton IN-Indiana
Ruler Food Store, 805 S. Main St., Salem IN-Indiana
Owen’s, 302 W. Market, Warsaw IN-Indiana
Owen’s, 2211 E Center St., Warsaw IN-Indiana
Payless Super Market, 1032 Sagamore Pkwy West, West Lafayette IN-Indiana

North Carolina
Bottom Dollar, 1327 E. Dixie Drive, Asheboro NC-North Carolina
Bottom Dollar, 1810 Hwy 64-70 S.E., Hickory NC-North Carolina
Bottom Dollar, 3136 E. Kivett Drive, High Point NC-North Carolina
Bottom Dollar, 235 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville NC-North Carolina
Bottom Dollar, 1136 W. Pine Street, Mount Airy NC-North Carolina

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.

The recalled ground beef and hamburger patties were sold to restaurants in the Cincinnati area, but the company did not say which restaurants. Each clear plastic bag and label bear the establishment number “EST. 1188” within the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.

J.B. Meats said it was notified on Aug. 12 of an investigation of two E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. The Cincinnati Health Department reported there were two patients who became ill on July 20 and 21 that may have resulted from ground beef consumed on July 16 and 17, the company said.

Epidemiological and microbiological evidence points to a possible link between the ground beef products produced by J.B. Meats on July 15 and the illnesses in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company said the recall is precautionary, as there has been no conclusive link between the illnesses and the ground beef produced at the facility.

E. coli O157 can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), both severe illnesses that can cause kidney failure, central nervous system damage (seizures, stroke, paralysis, etc.), heart failure, pancreatitis and death.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) confirmed that the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria found on the hazelnuts by MDA’s lab matches the DNA fingerprint of the bacteria that sickened three people in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin, and one in Michigan. Based on purchase information associated with the positive hazelnut sample, MDA traced this product to a December 9, 2010, shipment from DeFranco and Sons.

DeFranco and Sons has recalled all hazelnut and mixed nut products it distributed from November 2, 2010, to December 22, 2010. Recalled product was shipped to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. MDH and MDA issued a joint news release on March 4 detailing the recall and providing a list of stores that sold the recalled hazelnuts, either alone or as part of a mixed nut product. See the hazelnuts (filberts) recall list on our website.

Our E. coli attorneys have offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and represent E. coli victims throughout the United States. To contact them about a hazelnuts E coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form for a free consultation. For more information, download our free E. coli Answer Book.

Minnesota E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker represents food poisoning victims nationwide. He has won millions for E. coli victims, including a recent recovery of $1,300,000 for a woman who was severely sickened.  As the E. coli outbreak linked to in-the-shell hazelnuts (filberts) became public, Mr. Pritzker was speaking at a food safety conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Every E. coli outbreak is caused by fecal matter getting on food,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “In this case, we need to find out how nuts came in contact with feces.  No one should have to worry about getting sick from a shelled nut.”

In response to this outbreak, D. DeFranco & Sons has recalled in-the-shell hazelnuts and mixed nut products that include in-the-shell hazelnuts. The wholesaler sold the nuts to distributors who sold them to stores in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Most of the nuts included in this advisory were sold out of bulk bins in grocery stores. Some may also have been packaged by the stores. Also included in the recall are Sunripe Hazelnuts, Sunripe Large Hazelnuts in one-pound packages, and Sunripe Mixed Nuts in two-pound and four-pound packages, all with a sell-by date of June 30, 2011.

If you were sickened by this outbreak and would like a free consultation with Fred Pritzker or another E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.

Food poisoning attorneys at Pritzker Olsen have been named Best Lawyers and have recovered millions of dollars for E. coli victims–particularly E. coli HUS victims. E. coli HUS is an extremely dangerous complication that can arise from food poisoning and can lead to serious personal injury or wrongful death.

Costco Cheese E. coli Outbreak Information from CDC

• Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese, (Costco item40654) offered for sale and in cheese sampling events at Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) locations is preliminarily linked with an outbreak of O157:H7 infections.
• Consumers who have any of this cheese should not eat it. They should return the cheese to the place of purchase or dispose of it in a closed plastic bag and place in a sealed trash can to prevent people or animals, including wild animals, from eating it.
• Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but some illnesses may last longer and can be more severe. While most people recover within a week, some may develop a severe infection. Rarely, as symptoms of diarrhea improve, a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur; this can happen at any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and in older adults. People with HUS should be hospitalized immediately, as their kidneys may stop working and they may be at risk for other serious health problems.
• As of Thursday, November 4, 2010, 25 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from five states since mid-October. The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is as follows: AZ (11), CA (1), CO (8), NM (3) and NV (2). There have been 9 reported hospitalizations, 1 possible case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths.

E. coli HUS lawyers at Pritzker Olsen food safety law firm urge consumers who think they may have E. coli O157:H7 poisoning to visit their doctor and get tested for E. coli, and contact a food poisoning attorney to learn about their rights.

Vons grocery stores and other retailers in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii have been notified to remove any potentially contaminated product from store shelves. According to the FSIS:

“The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 8268″ inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a production code of 27509 through 01210. These products were produced between the dates of Oct. 2, 2009 through Jan. 12.”

Vons and other retailers were notified of the recall after the California Department of Public Health began investigating a cluster of seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 and notified federal health officials at the FSIS.

The recalled Valley Meat Company products were mainly frozen beef patties. The ground beef patties were processed between October 2, 2009 and January 12, 2010. Since these products are frozen, it is possible some grocery stores and consumers may still have the products in their freezers.

The Valley Meat Company recall was prompted by an outbreak of  E coli infections associated with consumption of certain Valley Meat Company beef products.  The illnesses date back to February of 2010. They were not identified as a cluster until a few weeks ago. So far, a total of seven people have been sickened after eating Valley Meat Company beef.

Pritzker Olsen, P.A. has years of experience winning ground beef E coli lawsuits and is conducting its own investigation of the Valley Meat Company E coli outbreak. Our firm is one of the few law firms in the United States practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We have won millions for our clients.

For more information about this E coli beef recall contact Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online contact form.