National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is representing Shirley Jane Schultz, one of the victims of a multistate Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to white pepper manufactured by Union International Food Company, according to news reports.

Ms. Schultz, a 77-year-old from Nevada, was severely sickened and spent over a week in the hospital. Loved ones feared she would not survive when her kidneys temporarily shut down. She continues to suffer the effects of the illness.

“While we are still gathering information about what caused the spices made by Union International Food Company to become contaminated with Salmonella, our client’s illness just highlights the ongoing problems in our food safety system,” stated Eric Hageman, Ms. Schultz’s attorney. “People shouldn’t have to guess whether the food they are eating is safe. We should all feel that our food is safe. But that didn’t happen here and, as a result, Shirley Shultz ended up in the hospital. And someone needs to be held accountable.”

Union International Food issued the first spice and pepper recall on March 30, 2009. The recall included Lian How white pepper. Ms. Schultz was diagnosed with Salmonella poisoning on April 9, 2009.

Prior to the March 30 recall, Salmonella was isolated from an open container of Lian How White Pepper, which was found at a restaurant where some outbreak victims ate. Since March 30, additional Union International Food Company products have been recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. The entire recalled products list is available on the FDA’s website.

Pritzker Olsen has considerable experience and a reputation for success in representing Salmonella outbreak victims and their families. The firm has been involved in virtually every national foodborne illness outbreak and has collected large sums on behalf of people injured or killed by adulterated food. In addition, the firm is devoted to educating the public about food safety issues and advocating for badly needed food safety legislation and increased funding for the federal, state and local agencies charged with protecting our food and enforcing food safety laws.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys are frequent guests and commentators about food safety issues and have been interviewed by and profiled in a number of media sources including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and CNN.

If you have been sickened in this Salmonella outbreak linked to pepper, please contact Pritzker Olsen law firm: 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.

Salmonella Outbreak Pepper Posted May 2009.

Labels: lawsuit, lawyers, pepper recall, salmonella outbreak

Health officials in northern Nevada say they have linked white pepper sold by a California spice company to a four-state outbreak of a rare type of Salmonella.

A joint press release from the Washoe County Health District and Carson City public health officials put it this way: "Ground white pepper products from the Union International Food Co. have been linked to a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella. The discovery of Salmonella in food samples collected from restaurants and food distributors prompted these recommendations.''

The recommendations were for consumers to avoid consuming the product and for restaurants and retailers to remove it.

The Union City, Calif., seasoning maker previously recalled white pepper, black pepper and a list of other spices after health investigators in Nevada, California and Oregon recognized an association between white and black pepper and the illnesses. So far, 42 illnesses have been confirmed as matching the outbreak strain of Salmonella enterica serotype Rissen.

Thirty-three illnesses have been in California, four in northern Nevada, four in the metro area of Portland, Oregon, and one in Washington. Eight of those sickened by the pathogen were hospitalized, officials have said.

The spices recalled by Union International were sold primarily to Chinese and Vietnamese grocery stores and restaurants under the Uncle Chen and Lian How brand names.

The Salmonella attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A., a national food safety law firm, have years of experience and a proven track record of success in handling foodborne illness cases of all types. As an experienced practitioner in foodborne illness litigation, PritzkerOlsen is involved in virtually every major outbreak. The firm currently represents three Salmonella wrongful death victims and others who survived the national Salmonella outbreak caused by Peanut Corporation of America.

For a free case consultation, complete our online form or contact us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900.

Labels: California, salmonella lawyer, salmonella spices

Health officials in Oregon, Califonia and Nevada have jointly linked a Salmonella outbreak to pepper spices distributed by a company in California that has made a lot of sales to Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants and grocery stores.

Forty-two people, including 33 in California, have been sickened by a matching strain of the bacteria. The pathogen causes diarrhea, cramps and fever and can be fatal in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Eight of the 42 have been hospitalized.

Dr. William Keene, senior epidemiologist in the Public Health Division of the Oregon Department of Human Services, said in a news release that the outbreak strain of Salmonella is enterica serotype Rissen. Oregon, which has four confirmed cases (all in the Portland metro area), helped discover the link by testing Lian How brand pepper, which was a product of interest in the state's investigation into the outbreak.

Labels: California, salmonella lawyer, salmonella spices