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Press Release: Are Our School Cafeterias Safe?

Are Our School Cafeterias Safe?

CONTACT INFORMATION:
      Fred Pritzker
      Pritzker| Ruohonen & Associates, P.A.
      612-338-0202
      info@pritzkerlaw.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (January 20, 2006)–The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently made its 2004 foodborne outbreak statistics available to the public. In 2004 there were 47 reported foodborne outbreaks attributable to foods served in schools across the United States. A total of 2341 people fell ill in these reported outbreaks. This is up from 1110 people falling ill in 30 reported outbreaks from foods served in schools in 2003. Even though health officials have been aware of the rise in school-based foodborne illnesses, school children continue to fall ill from cafeteria food at alarming rates.

As reported in the Peoria Journal Star yesterday, 35 middle school students fell ill after eating school cafeteria food only weeks after 82 other students became ill after eating lunch in 5 of the same school district’s elementary schools.

According to noted food safety attorney Fred Pritzker more has to be done to protect our school children, including additional protections at each step in the food chain. We have to clean up our nation’s school cafeterias, the distribution centers that distribute food to the schools, and the food manufacturing facilities that process the foods our children eat. To do this, federal and state laws need to be strengthened and better enforced. "Why can't food going to our school cafeterias be tested, every batch, before it leaves the plant?" he asks.

Fred Pritzker is president of the Minneapolis law firm of Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. The firm represents foodborne illness victims in Minnesota and throughout the United States and is one of the few that specializes in such cases. Pritzker | Ruohonen successfully represented several Minnesota E. coli victims in the 2000 outbreak involving hamburger purchased at Cub Food Stores and is lead counsel for victims of the 2002 Northeast United States Listeriosis outbreak that killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of foodborne illness and defective products.

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Foodborne Outbreaks

Oklahoma E. coli: An Oklahoma E. coli outbreak may be linked to a Locust Grove restaurant.
Nebraska Beef Lawsuit: Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled millions of pounds of beef products and has been linked to 2 outbreaks.
Massachusettes E. coli: A Massachusettes E. coli outbreak has been linked to Nebraska Beef products and Coleman Meat products.
Whole Foods Market Lawsuit: The Whole Foods Market E. coli outbreak is part of the Massachusettes E. coli outbreak above.
Virginia E. coli - Goshen Scout Reservation: Dozens of scouts were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to beef.
Georgia E. coli - Barbecue Pit Lawsuit
Ohio E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Michigan E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Multi-State Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak: Tomatoes have sickened hundreds of people throughout the United States.
Minnesota Preschool E. coli: Outbreak associated with Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, Minnesota.
Washington E. coli Lettuce: Outbreak associated with commercial romaine lettuce.
Texas Salmonella Saintpaul - Tomato: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
New Mexico Salmonella Saintpaul Linked to Tomatoes: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
Hepatitis A - La Mesa California Chipotle - Lawyer and Lawsuit: San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak
Salmonella - Puffed Rice Recall and Puffed Wheat Recall: Malt-O-Meal cereal recall.
Minnesota Salmonella - Milford Valley Farms Lawsuit: Frozen chicken product.
Salmonella - Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe Recall: Cantaloupe from Honduras.
Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Lawsuit: Recall of Dole, Chiquita and other brands.
Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
Alabama E. coli - Church Supper: Outbreak associated with Eastern Shore Baptis Church.
E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
Listeria - Whittier Farms Recall and Lawsuit: Miscarriage and death linked to milk.
Hawaii Salmonella - Tuna Recall and Lawsuit
Salmonella - Safeway Ground Beef Recall and Lawsuit

What We Do

Foodborne Illness