E. coli ground beef outbreaks highlighted by CDC
Over time, E. coli ground beef outbreaks have proven to be a significant factor in causing illnesses across large geographic areas.
The pattern held up in the most recent CDC Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance Report compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report covers the United States in 2007, the most recent year for which complete information is available.
Among the 18 multistate foodborne disease outbreaks (i.e., outbreaks in which exposure to the etiologic agent or agents occurred in more than one state), 10 were attributed to Salmonella and six to E. coli O157:H7.
Of the six multistate outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infection, the vehicle for five was ground beef (117 illnesses) and the vehicle for one was commercially-processed frozen pepperoni pizzas (27 illnesses).
Of the outbreaks where a single food vehicle was identified as the cause, the pathogen-commodity pairs responsible for the most outbreak-related illnesses were norovirus in leafy vegetables (315 illnesses) and E. coli O157:H7 in beef (298 illnesses).
Currently in the U.S., there is an E. coli ground beef outbreak in California associated with frozen hamburger patties and other ground beef produced by Valley Meat Company, Modesto, California. A Valley Meat ground beef E. coli recall of 1 million pounds was announced in August 2010 after the California Department of Public Health identified a cluster of E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses.
Foodborne agents cause an estimated 76 million illnesses annually in the United States. The CDC report summarizes epidemiologic data for the 1,097 reported outbreaks occurring during 2007, which resulted in 21,244 cases of foodborne illness and 18 deaths. Among the 18 reported deaths, 11 were attributed to bacterial etiologies –five Salmonella, three Listeria monocytogenes, two E. coli O157:H7 and one Clostridium botulinum.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) caused 40 of the confirmed single-etiology outbreaks (15% of those attributed to bacteria), of which 39 were caused by serogroup O157. The 40 E. coli outbreaks compared to a mean of 28 per year for the 2002-2006 period.
J Solanki Meat of California Among Retailers Affected by Valley Meat E. coli Outbreak
J Solanki Meat of California sold ground beef that is subject to the Valley Meat E. coli recall and customers of that retailer are urged to check their home freezers for hamburger that may contain E. coli 0157:H7
J Solanki Meat is one of the grocery retailers identified by USDA as a carrier of frozen hamburger patties and other ground beef products recalled August 6, 2010, by Valley Meat Company of Modesto. All packages under recall were produced between October 2, 2009, and January 12, 2010. The frozen patties and other ground beef products all are marked with USDA Establishment number EST 8268.
USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service has published a complete Valley Meat recall list and a list of retailers that sold ground beef covered by the recall.
If you are a J Solanki Meat customer in California who has purchased frozen hamburger patties or other ground beef, check your freezer for meat under this recall. Law firm Pritzker Olsen is concerned that more E. coli 0157:H7 infections could occur.
If you or a loved one has suffered E. coli symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramps, see a physician immediately. For answers to legal questions about a possible Valley Meat E. coli lawsuit, call Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.
The California Department of Public Health brought this problem to light after tracking a cluster of matching E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria in six people from April to June. After reporting the situation to FSIS, the state subsequently found a seventh person sickened by the same genetically matched strain of E. coli. The outbreak remains under investigation.
Pritzker Olsen is a leading practitioner of foodborne illness litigation with a record of winning food poisoning lawsuits against meatpackers, food producers, restaurants and retailers. Under federal law, E. coli 0157:H7 is banned from ground beef. Congress passed the law to shift food safety responsibility onto the purveyors who profit from the sale of the product.
Our firm has collected millions for victims of food poisoning and is actively involved in efforts to keep potentially deadly human pathogens out of our food supply.
Vons Among Retailers Named in Valley Meat Co. Beef E.coli Recall
Vons grocery stores are among the supermarkets affected by an August 6 Valley Meat Company recall of beef products that could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, according to the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service’s (FSIS) retail distribution list.
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.
Super Center Concepts on Valley Meat Co. Beef E. coli Recall Retailer List
Super Center Concepts, Inc., based in Santa Fe Springs, California, has been included on the retail distribution list for a Valley Meat Company E. coli recall of one million pounds of frozen beef products, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The recall followed reports of 7 cases of E. coli O157:H7 documented by state and federal health officials. The retail distribution list shows that the potentially contaminated beef products were distributed in several states, including: California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Hawaii and Washington.
The recalled frozen beef patties and assorted other beef products were sold under the Valley Meat Company brand and have the establishment number “EST. 8268″ inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a production code of 25709 through 01210. These products were produced between the dates of Oct. 2, 2009 through Jan. 12, 2010.
Best Deal Food Stores Among Retailers Named in Valley Meat E. coli Recall
Best Deal Food Company Inc. stores throughout California sold ground beef products subject to recall in the Valley Meat E. coli outbreak now under investigation by public health officials.
Based in Ceres, California, with stores widely distributed in the state, Best Deal Food Co. stores are included in the official retail list for the Valley Meat hamburger E. coli recall published by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
On August 6, Valley Meat Co., Modesto, California, recalled about 1 million pounds of frozen hamburger patties and other ground beef products sold under the Valley Meat Co. brand and other brands because the meat may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7, a potentially deadly human pathogen.
The recalled products bear the USDA establishment number EST 8268 inside the USDA mark of inspection, produced from October 2, 2009, to January 12, 2010.
The California Department of Public Health has identified a cluster of seven E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with recalled Valley Meat ground beef products sold in California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and internationally. If consumers have purchased Valley Meat ground beef sold at Best Deal Food stores they should check their freezers. Law firm Pritzker Olsen is concerned that unused meat subject to recall could make more people seriously ill.
Anyone with E. coli symptoms including bloody diarrhea and painful stomach cramping, should immediately contact a physician. For answers to legal questions about a possible Valley Meat E. coli lawsuit, call law firm Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete the contact form on the side of this Web page.
Pritzker Olsen is a leading national practitioner of foodborne illness litigation with a record of winning lawsuits against purveyors of contaminated food that causes food poisoning.
