On October 26, 2009, Crocetti's Oakdale Packing Co., doing business as, South Shore Meats, Inc. in Brockton, Massachusetts recalled about 1,039 pounds of fresh ground beef patties derived from bench trim as well as mechanically tenderized beef cuts based on confirmed laboratory evidence of the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in leftover ground beef samples obtained from Camp Bournedale, a nature camp in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Suspect patties were collected and tested by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) after more than 20 school children and adults from Lincoln Middle School in Rhode Island, who had visited Camp Bournedale the week of October 13th, became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms. Read more about the Lincoln Middle School E. coli outbreak linked to Camp Bournedale.

In a recent press release, E. coli Lawyer Fred Pritzker stated:

More resources must be devoted to federal food safety. The current system is undermined by too much fragmentation of responsibility and not enough coordination between federal, state and local agencies.

One also has to wonder if microbiological testing is lax. Ground beef and other meat products should not be allowed to leave the manufacturer unless their safety is confirmed. Eating a hamburger should not be a high-risk activity.

DPH is continuing to investigate the outbreak in cooperation with the Rhode Island Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is now laboratory evidence that the ground beef collected at the camp is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 confirmed in two of the Lincoln Middle School students who attended Camp Bournedale.

DPH is continuing to work with United States Department of Agriculture to identify all affected beef products that will need to be recalled. To date, the following South Shore Meats Company products have been recalled:

• 10-pound boxes containing 40, 4-ounce packages of "Beef Sirloin Patties."
• 7.5-pound boxes containing 12, 10-ounce packages of "Beef Teres Major Steaks Seasoned."
• Boxes of 24, 5-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAKS, (Filet Style)."
• 9-pound boxes containing 12, 12-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAK, Center Cut, (sirloin style)."
• 9-pound boxes containing 12, 12-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAK, Center Cut, (filet style)."
• 6.75-pound boxes containing 12, 9-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAK, Center Cut, (sirloin style)."
• Boxes of 16, 10-ounce packages of "Beef Top Butt Steaks Sirloin Style."
• Boxes of 20, 8-ounce packages of "Beef Butt Steaks Club Style."
• Boxes of 26, 6-ounce packages of "Beef Top Butt Steaks Sirloin Style."
• Boxes of 12, 10-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAKS, (Filet Style)."
• 6-pound boxes containing 16, 6-ounce packages of "Beef Filet Of Sirloin, Executive Cut."
• Boxes of 12, 8-ounce packages of "BEEF BUTT STEAKS, (Filet Style)."

Each box of recalled beef bears the establishment number "EST. 6336" inside the USDA mark of inspection and may also bear a date code of "281." The beef products were produced on October 8, 2009, and were distributed to wholesale distributors and institutions in Massachusetts.

If your child has been diagnosed with E. coli O157, contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. Our law firm is representing people sickened by E. coli O157, including people who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). E. coli HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.

Labels: beef recall, E coli kidney failure, E coli lawyer

Pritzker Olsen law firm has been retained to represent a 3 ½ year-old child sickened with E. coli poisoning and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The child is believed to have contracted the illness at a local apple orchard/ petting zoo in the Twin Cities (MN) area.

Preliminary testing indicates that the genetic fingerprint of the E .coli O157:H7 obtained from the child’s stool sample matches the genetic fingerprint of E. coli from llama feces tested at the petting zoo.

Fred Pritzker, a leading E. coli litigation attorney, is representing the child in this outbreak. “It does not appear the operator of this facility took the necessary precautions to prevent this child’s severe injuries."

There may be other victims from this outbreak. Unconfirmed reports indicate that an older person may also have developed E .coli O157:H7 poisoning and hemolytic uremic syndrome after visiting the same apple orchard/petting zoo in the Twin Cities area.

For a free consultation about an E. coli-HUS lawsuit, please call (612)338-0202 or 800-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit our online consultation form.

Labels: E coli kidney failure, E coli lawyer, lawyers

On October 21, 2009, Lone Star Brisket Company, a Thorndale, Texas firm, has recalled approximately 14 pounds of smoked beef products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products are subject to recall:

• 2.5- 3-pound vacuum sealed packages of "Texas Star Meat Company HALF SMOKED BEEF BRISKET Fully Cooked." Each label bears the establishment number "EST. 27340" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a day-glo sticker "SLICED" next to the product label. Each package also has a Use By/Sell By date of "12/16/09," and can also be identified by the case code "285A."
• 4-5-pound vacuum sealed packages of "Texas Star Meat Company WHOLE SMOKED BEEF BRISKET Fully Cooked." Each label bears the establishment number "EST. 27340" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a day-glo sticker "SLICED" next to the product label. Each package also has a Use By/Sell By date of "12/16/09," and can also be identified by the case code "285A."

The smoked beef brisket products were packaged on October 14, 2009 and distributed to a Department of Defense Commissary in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The problem was discovered through FSIS's microbiological sampling program. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.

If you are diagnosed with listeriosis, a serious illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes, contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online free consultation form.

Labels: beef, Listeria, listeria attorney

Culebra Meat Market has recalled about 4000 pounds of beef products it produced and distributed in the San Antonio area because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The Texas Department of State Health Services laboratory testing detected E. coli O157:H7 in samples collected from the meat company.

Products included in the recall are beef stew meat, carne asada and ground beef produced by the company from Oct. 2 through Oct. 17, 2009. Products were sold to some San Antonio-area restaurants and in the company’s retail store, 2800 Culebra Road in San Antonio.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating whether the products also were sold at other Culebra retail store locations in San Antonio.

Products sold to consumers at the company’s retail store were packaged in various weights and wrapped in white butcher paper with no markings. Products sold to restaurants were packed in 10-pound boxes labeled with the company and product names and lot codes 100209 through 101709. The boxes have the inspection label “TEXAS INSP. & PSD. 740” located inside an outline of the state of Texas.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is not aware of any illnesses associated with the recalled product.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include bloody diarrhea and stomach pains. People with these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms typically occur two to nine days after exposure.

Infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause E. coli kidney failure or death.

For a free consultation with an E. coli lawyer about an E. coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online consultation form.

Labels: beef, beef investigation, beef recall, E coli lawyer

Plum Organics has recalled one batch of its 4.22 oz. Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food with the best by date May 21, 2010 and marked with the following universal product code (UPC) #890180001221 located on the bottom of the package.

Plum Organics recalled the baby food due to the risk of contamination with Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces a toxin that can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition. Consumers should not use these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the possible health risk. Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans include general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The recalled Plum Organics baby food pouches are sold individually at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us locations nationally.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with this product and no other
Plum Organics products are affected.

"The product did not meet the FDA guidelines for proper acidity level," said Dr. Paul Gerhardt, a Food Science Ph.D. and member of the Plum Organics action team. "Though the risk of illness from this one batch is minimal, Plum Organics is taking the extraordinary step of recalling all Apple & Carrot Baby Food Pouches with best by date May 21, 2010."

"As a mother, the safety and satisfaction of our customers and their children is my highest concern," said Plum Organics Founder Gigi Lee Chang. Due to a mixing error during production, one batch of this product was improperly blended. As a result, it did not meet our company`s standard for quality. We are taking the extra step of recalling all Apple & Carrot Portable Pouches with this date to eliminate any question in the minds of consumers about the safety of our products. Plum Organics was founded on the vision of superior quality and nutritious baby food; we are committed to these values and our consumers."

For a free consultation regarding a botulism lawsuit, please contact Pritzker Olsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online consultation form.

Labels: botulism, botulism antitoxin, botulism lawyer, clostridium botulinum, listeriosis, Minnesota Listeria attorney