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Foodborne Illness

CDC Looks For Pistachio Salmonella Matches

A collective food poisoning database known as PulseNet contains cases of people made ill from Salmonella that match the strain of Salmonella found in pistachios from Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the keeper of PulseNet, is investigating the matches to determine if contaminated pistachios caused the illnesses. The probe is part of the ongoing state and federal action that stemmed from the discovery by a Setton Pistachio customer that batches of the nuts tested positive for Salmonella.

While no outbreak of Salmonella has yet been confirmed, recalls of pistachio food products continue to be added to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's master list.

The FDA's most recent report on the pistachio investigation notes that three environmental samples of Setton Pistachio nuts and one sample obtained from the plant during inspection tested positive for Salmonella Montevideo, with the same genetic footprint in all four samples.

The latest report also gives the following update:

Some of the DNA fingerprints of the Salmonella strains from the pistachio products match the DNA fingerprints of Salmonella strains from recently ill persons already in the PulseNet database. This particular strain of Salmonella also has been isolated from a stool sample in a child who developed gastroenteritis and who is reported to have consumed pistachios that were sourced from Setton Pistachio. In addition, this specific Salmonella fingerprint matches a number of other clinical isolates in the PulseNet data base. However, it is important to recognize that when a patient’s isolate has a relatively common DNA fingerprint pattern (such as this one) that matches that of a food isolate, it does not necessarily follow that the patient’s illness was related to that food. CDC is investigating whether the other cases infected with this strain of Salmonella have had exposure to pistachios from Setton Pistachio.

National food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., currently represents Salmonella survivors around the country, including the families of three women who died with Salmonella infections after consuming contaminated peanut products. The firm is a prominent advocate for victims of food poisoning and its lawyers have been quoted or featured in such media as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, The Associated Press and CNN.

To contact a salmonella attorney at PritzkerOlsen, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or get a free online case consultation.

Labels: CDC, salmonella attorney, salmonella pistachio lawsuit, setton pistacho

388 Sickened in Salmonella Outbreak

In its first written statement about a sweeping Salmonella outbreak that has reached 42 states over the past four months, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that it is working "vigorously'' to identify the contaminated food or foods that is causing the problem.

As of Wednesday, the most recent day for which figures were available, 388 people were sickened in the outbreak by a common strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. The CDC said the earliest recorded onset of an illness during the outbreak was Sept. 3, but most cases developed after Oct. 1. It is believed the outbreak is still ongoning.

Those made ill by the bacterial disease have ranged in age from less than 1 to 103 years old. The CDC also said approximately 18 percent of afflicted persons have been hospitalized.

In Minnesota, where 30 cases are part of the outbreak, one woman has died. Doug Schultz, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health, told the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy that the patient was in her 70s and had "many other health conditions.'' He said officials don't know to what extent the Salmonella infection contributed to her death.

CDC said it is working with various states and two federal agencies -- the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- to identify the cause of the outbreak. The CDC said its next update on the outbreak will be made Jan. 15.

In the meantime, various states on Thursday admitted having cases that are part of the outbreak. According to news reports, here are a smattering of states and the number of known outbreak cases in each state: California 51, Ohio 50, Massachusetts 39, Minnesota 30, Michigan 20, Pennsylvania 12, New Hampshire 10, Idaho 10, Colorado 9, Maryland 7, North Dakota 7, Texas 5, Illinois 4.

When ingested, Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness often does not require treatment and normally lasts four to seven days. But there is a risk of serious illness for the young, old and immuno-compromised. If Salmonella bacteria migrates from a person's intestines to his bloodstream, an infection could turn fatal if antibiotics aren't taken promptly.

Attorneys at PritzkerLaw have years of experience in food poisoning lawsuits. Senior partner Fred Pritzker is currently lead attorney in a major food poisoning lawsuit involving victims from several states. If you or someone you love has been hospitalized after Salmonella poisoning or any other food poisoning, contact PritzkerLaw for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mailing info@pritzkerlaw.com, or filling in our online consultation form.

Labels: CDC, Minnesota salmonella, salmonella lawyer, salmonella outbreak

CDC Probes Salmonella Outbreak

The same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium has sickened more than 350 people in 42 states -- an outbreak that has sparked an investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC, along with health officials from at least several states, are working to figure out the cause. The multi-state investigation was announced by the Department of Health in Ohio, a state where 50 cases have been confirmed dating back to October.

In a press release, officials said Ohio ranks second in the nation for number of cases in the outbreak. In Minnesota, the count is 30 and growing.

Frederick Angulo, deputy chief of enteric diseases at CDC, told USA Today that 388 people in 42 states have been sickened so far. Reuters news agency said 18 percent have gone to the hospital.

Angulo told USA Today the lead hypothesis regarding the source of the outbreak is chicken, but he added that it's a hard thing to prove because so many people eat it.

The Minnesota Department of Health told the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy that a Minnesota research team is conducting case-control studies to help determine the latest outbreak's cause. Last year, the Minnesota team discovered that hot peppers grown in Mexico were the cause of a large Salmonella outbreak that had been mistakenly linked for weeks to U.S.-grown tomatoes.

Consumption of food contaminated by Salmonella bacteria can cause Salmonellosis. Symptoms of the disease include non-bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
In rare cases, diarrheal illness from Salmonella infection can be serious enough to require hospitalization. Although very rare, some cases of Salmonellosis have led to death in some patients. There are many different types of Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella Typhimurium is considered common, but it can cause Typhoid Fever.

Labels: CDC, salmonella lawyer, Salmonellla outbreak

Jenos and Totinos Lawsuit and E. coli Outbreak Information

JENO’S AND TOTINO’S LAWSUIT AND LAWYER: Below is a CDC update of the Jeno’s and Totino’s Pizza E. coli outbreak. Pritzker | Olsen, a leading E. coli law firm, is providing this information as a public service. Pritzker | Olsen is investigating the E. coli outbreak linked to Jeno's / Totino's pizza, products of General Mills. For a free consultation regarding a Jeno's / Totino's lawsuit (General Mills will be a plaintiff), contact Pritzker | Olsen toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form on the right for review by an E. coli lawyer at the firm.

CDC Update Regarding the Jeno’s and Totino’s Pizza E. coli Outbreak: Investigation of Outbreak of Human Infections Caused by E. coli O157:H7

The Tennessee State Department of Health and CDC are collaborating with public health officials in multiple states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in humans. A study comparing foods eaten by ill persons to foods eaten by well persons showed that eating frozen pizza that contained pepperoni and was produced by the General Mills company under the brand names of Totino's or Jeno's was the likely source of the illness. [This epidemiological evidence will be important in a Jeno’s / Totino’s lawsuit.]

As of November 1st, at least 21 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 with an indistinguishable genetic fingerprint have been collected from ill persons in 10 states: Illinois (1 person), Kentucky (3), Missouri (2), New York (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (8), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1). [Each E. coli outbreak involves a genetically-unique E. coli O157:H7 strain; therefore, anyone sickened by an outbreak-strain of E. coli O157:H7 is part of the outbreak. Genetic fingerprint patterns will play an important role in a Jeno’s / Totino’s lawsuit.]

Persons became ill between July 20, 2007, and October 10, 2007. The age of ill persons ranges from 1 to 65 years with a median age of 9; 53% of ill persons are female. At least 8 people have been hospitalized, and 4 have developed a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS. No deaths have been reported.

The Tennessee State Department of Health, working with CDC and health officials in several other states, coordinated a study to identify the source of these infections. Eating a Totino's or Jeno's brand frozen pizza containing pepperoni was significantly associated with illness. The source of contamination of the pizzas is not known at this time. Company officials are working closely with CDC, USDA-FSIS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health and agricultural departments to identify the source of the contamination. General Mills has ceased shipment of all frozen pizza products that contain pepperoni and has announced a voluntary recall. Read about the Jeno's and Totino's pizza recall.

Consumers should not eat recalled Totino's or Jeno's brand frozen pizzas that contain pepperoni as a topping. Anyone who has eaten the product but did not become ill need not take any special action. People who are ill with diarrhea within a week of consuming this type of frozen pizza should seek medical care and let their doctor know about the exposure.

If you or your child is diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7 after eating a Jeno’s or Totino’s pizza, an E. coli lawyer at our firm is available for a free consultation regarding a Jeno’s / Totino’s lawsuit. We are one of the few law firms in the country that practices extensively in the area of E. coli litigation. This experience translates into the ability to come to the negotiating knowing what an E. coli case is worth. Contact us.

Labels: CDC, lawsuit, pizza

Food Poisoning Lawyer Fred Pritzker has appeared on national television and has been quoted by national publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press and Lawyers USA. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" by Law and Politics magazine. He is also listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America. To contact Fred Pritzker about a food poisoning lawsuit or food safety advocacy, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit the firm's free consultation form.

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