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 | Ruohonen, a leading E. coli law firm, is providing this information as a public service. Pritzker | Ruohonen 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 | Ruohonen 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, E. coli, jeno's, lawsuit, pizza, totino's