Press Release: Hamburger and E. coli

Note: The subject of the press release below is contamination of ground beef with E. coli O157:H7. Lettuce, other produce, other food products, water and person-to-person contact can also spread E. coli O157:H7 and other dangerous strains of E. coli. On August 7, the Weber-Morgan Health Department in Utah revealed that three (3) people who ate at a Wendy's restaurant have labratory-confirmed E. coli O121H19. The suspected source in the Wendy's outbreak is iceberg lettuce.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Silent and deadly: The stealth pathogen sickening our children

Minneapolis, MN, August 7, 2006 – Before you let your child bite into a hamburger, consider that it may be harboring a potentially-lethal pathogen that you cannot see, smell, taste or in any way detect. This pathogen, E. coli O157:H7, produces dangerous toxins that cause significant loss of water and salts, which may lead to sever dehydration. The toxins also cause intestinal hemorrhaging evidenced by bloody diarrhea. The severe dehydration and intestinal hemorrhaging may be lethal to young children because they can not tolerate much blood and fluid loss. Another risk of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.

E. coli O157:H7 lives in the intestines of healthy cattle and is present in their manure. When these cattle go to slaughter, unsanitary conditions in the slaughterhouse can lead to contamination of meat with the cattle manure. Sometimes the intestines of an animal are accidentally cut open, allowing the contents to contaminate exposed meat.

E. coli O157:H7 that has contaminated the outside of meat during slaughter can become thoroughly mixed within meat during grinding. Even a small amount of E. coli O157:H7 can contaminate hundreds of pounds of ground beef. In the last few weeks, testing by the USDA has led to four (4) recalls of ground beef totaling 17,850 pounds. One of the recalls alone involved 13,078 pounds. For more information on the recalls, see the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website, http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Home/index.asp.

“This string of E. coli-related recalls emphasizes the need for more frequent and thorough microbiological testing,” said foodborne illness attorney Fred Pritzker. “Ground beef poses particularly high risks because it is both prone to contamination during production and is often undercooked. These risks clearly justify increased testing.”

Until increased microbiological testing keeps all contaminated ground beef from entering the food supply, parents need to take measures to protect their children. E. coli prevention measures include frequent hand washing, thorough cooking of ground beef, cleaning cooking surfaces and using clean plates for grilled meats. Before children bite into a hamburger, parents can cut the burgers in half to make sure they are not pink inside or use instant-read thermometers to check for doneness.

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli O157:H7 poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/ or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202 or info@pritzkerlaw.com.

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Foodborne Outbreaks

Iowa E. coli: Raw apple cider may be associated with an Iowa E. coli outbreak.
University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) E. coli: At least 8 people have been sickened, 7 of them students.
Michigan E. coli Lettuce: A Michigan E. coli outbreak has been associated with bagged iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid's Produce Company.
Aunt Mid's Lawsuit: People in Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oregon have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak.
University of Michigan and MSU E. coli Lawsuit: 7 students at Michigan State University and 3 students at the University of Michigan have contracted E. coli infections.
Hendricks Farm Campylobacter outbreak associated with Hendricks Farm & Dairy in Telford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
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