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Foodborne Illness

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• E.Coli Poisoning
• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
• Hepatitis-A Food Poisoning
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Food Poisoning

FOODBORNE ILLNESS AND FOOD POISONING LAWSUITS

Pritzker Olsen, a national food poisoning litigation law firm, has designed this Web site to provide the public with information on the many foodborne illnesses that plague our nations food supply:

• Botulism
• Campylobacter
• E. coli
• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
• Hepatitis A
• Listeria
• Norovirus
• Salmonella
• Shigella

In an effort to prevent food-borne illness, further information is provided on food safety.

FOOD POISONING LITIGATION

Under our system of law, a person injured by food poisoning has to prove three things in order to make a successful claim:

• Fault - that the food seller or processor did something wrong with regard to food  processing, preparation, storage or handling.
• Causation - the fault of the seller or processor caused the food to become contaminated and that the contaminated food actually caused the illness.
• Damages – the harms and losses suffered by the victim as a result of consuming the contaminated food

This involves a number of disciplines including medicine, microbiology, epidemiology, sanitation, food safety and agriculture among others. See my article on the subject entitled How Lawyers Evaluate and Prove Foodborne Illness Cases and my article regarding a recent court decision regarding what doesn't need to be proved to win a foodborne illness claim.

FOOD POISONING NEWS AND TOPICS

Belgium, Wisconsin E. coli HUS Outbreak
Five children living on Grand Avenue in Belgium, Wisconsin, have been diagnosed with E. coli O157:H7. Health officials have not found the source of the E. coli-HUS outbreak. Our attorneys are available for a free consultation regarding legal representation and a private investigation of the outbreak.

Steak E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit
Our E. coli lawyers are investigating cases of E. coli O157 that may be associated with steak served at restaurants in Minnesota and other states.

Applebees Lawsuit
Read about proving a food poisoning case and an Applebee's lawsuit.

Legionnaires' Disease Possibly Associated with Contaminated Water at the EPIC hotel in Miami, Florida
Health officials are investigating a possible Legionnaires' disease outbreak associated with the EPIC hotel in Miami, Florida. The possible outbreak involves three former guests of the hotel, one of whom died.

Beef Packers Lawsuit
Pritzker Olsen law firm is representing an Arizona client who contracted a Salmonella Newport infection linked to Cargill/Beef Packers ground beef that was recalled in August of 2009 (see below). Prompted by a second Salmonella Newport outbreak in Arizona, Beef Packers, Inc, issued a second recall of over 20,000 pounds of ground beef that was produced on September 23, 2009.

Cedar Groves Baptist Church Salmonella
Several People who purchased a meal at a fundraiser in Conway, South Carolina, on Nov. 13, 2009, have been sickened with gastroentestinal illness consistent with Salmonella poisoning (salmonellosis). At least 5 people were hospitalized.

Fairbank Farms Beef Recall Lawsuit
Fairbank Farms, an Ashville, New York firm, is recalling approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that has been associated with a multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.

Petting Zoo Llama E. coli HUS
E. coli Attorney Fred Pritzker has been retained to represent a 3-year-old child who contracted an E. coli infection after visiting an apple orchard/petting zoo in Minnesota. The child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

South Shore Meat Company Recall
On October 26, 2009, South Shore Meat Company in Brockton, Massachusetts has 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. Read about the Lincoln Middle School E. coli linked to Camp Bournedale.

Lincoln Middle School E. coli
As of October 21, there have been 15 cases of diarrheal illness in sixth-grade students from Lincoln Middle School in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Two of these students tested positive for E Coli 0157. Two students are hospitalized.

Wendy's E. coli Lawsuit
An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been associated with lettuce served at a Wendy's restartant in Fredericton some time before October 27, 2009.

Cruise Ship Salmonella Oranienburg
We are representing a 55-year-old Minnesota man who became sick on a cruise ship in the Caribbean and almost died from a rare form of Salmonella. At least one other Minnesotan was sickened on the cruise ship. Salmonella cases in other states may also be part of this outbreak.

Cantaloupe Lawsuit
We are investigation an E. coli outbreak that may be associated with consumption of cantaloupe.

Salmonella Pistachio Outbreak
Several illnesses have been reported by pistachio consumers that may be related to pistachios distributed by Setton Pitschacio of Terra Bella, California. FDA is conducting tests to look for matches between the strains of Salmonella found in the company's pistachios and strains of the bacteria found in ill people.

Michigan Alfalfa Sprouts Salmonella Lawsuit
Michigan has 12 confirmed Salmonella Typhimurium cases linked to alfalfa sprouts.

Minnesota Lawyer Quote about Fred Pritzker
“As a result of the firm’s success in similar cases (‘We’ve never had a case that didn’t successfully resolve, either at trial or by settlement,’ Pritzker claimed), it has become recognized nationally as one of the leading firms in the area of foodborne illness cases, and the only one locally that devotes such a large share of its practices to those cases…What makes Pritzker stand out, say fellow attorneys, is that he’s willing to do the homework necessary to weed out cases worth pursuing....” Read the full Minnesota Lawyer Article "A Full Plate."

Salmonella Linked to Union International Food Co and Uncle Chen White Pepper
A Salmonella outbreak linked to a spice company and Uncle Chen white pepper has sickened 42 people, including 33 in California. Union International Food Co., has recalled products.

Apple Valley, MN Campylobacter Outbreak and a Chipotle Lawsuit
A Minnesota Campylobacter outbreak may be asociated with an Apple Valley restaurant. We are representing a woman who was hospitalized in this outbreak. We are accepting other cases.

Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak
A Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak associated with SunSprout Enterprises Sprouts has sickened people in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Missouri. We are representing victims of this outbreak.

Illinois Cheese Campylobacter Outbreak
Health officials from Rockford, Illinois, are investigating three confirmed cases of Campylobacter in people who ate illegally manufactured cheese purchased from parking lot vendors.

Jeff Almer Testifies before Congress
Jeff Almer testified before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations at its hearing to examine the recent salmonella outbreak associated with peanut products manufactured by the Peanut Corporation of America. Mr. Almer's mother, Shirley, died after eating Salmonella-tainted peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America. We are representing the family. Read Jeff Almer's testimony.

Salmonella Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Pritzker Law Firm Represents Family
72-year-old Shirley Mae Almer of Minnesota was the first reported death in the Salmonella outbreak linked to King Nut peanut butter (see below). On behalf of her heirs, attorney Fred Pritzker has started the process of a lawsuit against King Nut Companies and Peanut Corporation of America.

Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak
Minnesota and federal officials have genetically linked King Nut Peanut Butter to the multi-state Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, which has sickened almost 500 people in over 40 states. Several people have become seriously ill. Five deaths may be associated with the outbreak. Read about the King Nut Peanut Butter Recall, the Minnesota Salmonella wrongful death, a King Nut Peanut Butter lawsuit, and our press release entitled "Attorney Fred Pritzker Says Salmonella Outbreak Raises Food Safety Questions." There have been a few related recalls: Kellogg recall, Hy-Vee cookie recall, and Perry's ice cream recall.

Michigan E. coli: Lettuce
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has associated 26 cases of E. coli O157:H7 with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold through wholesale venues (Aunt Mid's lawsuit) to restaurants and institutions (University of Michigan and MSU E. coli lawsuit).

Idaho E. coli
An E. coli outbreak at Little Leggs Daycare in Idaho has led to eight confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7.

Vermont E. coli
On October 10, 2008, the Vermont Department of Health warned consumers not to eat undercooked meat because it has identified 8 cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Vermont.

California E. coli
A California E. coli outbreak has sickened attendees of the BBQ Benefit in Forest Ranch, California. Health officials have determined that contaminated beef tri-tip was the source of the outbreak.

South Dakota Boy in Hospital with HUS
A four-year-old from Brandon, South Dakota is in a Minneapolis Hospitalwith hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), probably from an E. coli O157:H7 infection.  South Dakota health officials are investigating this illness along with others that may be part of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. 

Oklahoma E. coli
An Oklahoma E. coli outbreak may have sickened over 40 people. One person has died, and at least 41 others required hospitalization. Four children have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome; 3 of those children are on dialysis. The Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported that a majority of the people sickened ate at the Country Cottage, a Locust Grove restaurant. Read Country Cottage lawsuit information.

California Campylobacter Outbreak Associated with EcoDairy Farms Raw Milk
Health officials have associated a California Campylobacter outbreak with raw milk from Alexandre Family EcoDairy Farms, a Del Norte County, California dairy. One woman sickened in this outbreak has developed Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Nebraska Beef and Coleman Recall
State and federal health officials have linked 31 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 to Nebraska Beef, Ltd. products sold under the Coleman brand. People in 12 states were sickened: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The recalled Coleman products were sold by grocery stores, including but not limited to Whole Foods Market.

Massachusetts E. coli Outbreak
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is investigating six cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Massachusetts residents that appear to be caused by the same strain of the bacteria found in 20 patients from several other states and Quebec. The source of the Massachusetts E. coli outbreak may be ground beef.

Virginia E. coli Outbreak at Goshen Scout Reservation
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157 infection among recent attendees of a Boy Scout reservation located in Goshen, Virginia, Goshen Scout Reservation.

Jalapeno Pepper Recall Associated with Salmonella Saint Paul Outbreak
The FDA has announced that one jalapeno pepper sample is a positive genetic match with the Salmonella Saintpaul strain causing the current Salmonella outbreak that has over 1200 confirmed cases in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Prompted by this finding, Agricola Zaragoza, Inc. of McAllen, Texas recalled jalapeno peppers distributed since June 30th, 2008.

Georgia E. coli, Barbecue Pit Lawsuit and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. Lawsuit
An E. coli outbreak in Georgia has been linked to the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia. Our lawyers are representing 3 Georgia E. coli victims. This outbreak also been linked to the multistate E. coli outbreak linked to Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. Read more about Georgia Ecoli.

Ohio Kroger Lawsuit
Our law firm has filed a lawsuit in Ohio against Kroger Co. and Nebraksa Beef, Ltd. on behalf of our client Zachary Everhart.

E. coli - Michigan and Ohio Outbreak Linked to Kroger Ground Beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. Ground Beef Components
There are now 49 confirmed cases in an E. coli outbreak in Michigan (Michigan E. coli), Ohio (Ohio E. coli), Georgia (Georgia E. coli), Indiana, Kentucky, New York and Utah linked to Kroger ground beef and Nebraska ground beef components. In response to this outbreak, Kroger has recalled an undetermined amount of ground beef. Read about the Kroger recall and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef. Read about a hamburger lawsuit and the Nebraska Beef recall.

Michigan and Ohio E. coli Outbreak and Ground Beef
45 cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Michigan and Ohio may be connected. Epidemiological evidence points to tomatoes as the source of the outbreak. Read more about Michigan E. coli and Ohio E. coli.

New Jersey Beef Recall
Dutch’s Meat, Inc., a Trenton, New Jersey firm, has recalled approximately 13,275 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Read about the E. coli beef recall affection the Trenton, New Jersey area and lawsuit information.

Minnesota Preschool E. coli Outbreak
An E. coli outbreak at Wonder World Preschool in the town of Slayton, Minnesota has led to eight confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. One child has been hospitalized and is showing signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Read about the Minnesota E. coli outbreak linked to Wonder World Preschool.

E. coli - Washington E. coli Outbreak Associated with Lettuce
9 people from Thurston and Pierce Counties have lab-confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 that may be linked to bagged lettuce. Federal, state and local health officials are investigating this outbreak. Read about the Washington E. coli-Lettuce outbreak and lawsuit information. Read our press release about the Washington lettuce E. coli outbreak.

CDC Salmonella Saintpaul Investigation
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multistate outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections. Read about the CDC Salmonella Saintpaul Investigation.

FDA Warning Regarding Tomatoes
The Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers in New Mexico and Texas that a salmonellosis outbreak appears to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes. Read the FDA Warning.

 

Sweetwater Valley Cheese Recall
Sweetwater Valley Farm, Inc. of Philadelphia, Tennessee is recalling Tennessee Aged Black Pepper Cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Read more about the Sweetwater Valley Farm Cheese recall.

Gourmet Boutique Recall - Chicken Salad and Wraps
Gourmet Boutique, L.L.C., a Jamaica, New York firm, has recalled approximately 286,320 pounds of fresh and frozen meat and poultry products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Read more about the Gourmet Boutique recall.

Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
Nebraska E. coli outbreak associated with roast beef has sickened at least 14 people. Epidemiological evidence indicates that those sickened ate the roast beef at a private event at a Sarpy County reception hall on March 26, 2008. Read more about the Nebraska E. coli outbreak associated with roast beef.

Minnesota Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Frozen Chicken
Minnesota health and agriculture officials have two recent cases of salmonellosis (specifically Salmonella Enteritidis infection) in Minnesota have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The implicated product is Milford Valley Farms Chicken Cordon Bleu with a stamped code of C8021. This product is sold at many different grocery store chains. Read more about the Minnesota Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to frozen chicken and a Milford Valley Farms lawsuit.

Pennsylvania Raw Milk Recall
The Pennsylvania Agriculture Department has warned consumers that raw milk from Piney Ridge dairy farm in New Bethlehem, Clarion County, and Clark and Elaine Duncan's farm in Meadville, Crawford County, purchased anytime after March 10 may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Learn more about the Pennsylvania raw milk recall.

Government Report "FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety"
The United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has issued a report on their investigation into the Food and Drug Administration’s efforts to protect the safety of packaged fresh spinach entitled, “FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety.”  The report reveals that from 2001-2007 the FDA did not providing adequate oversight of packaged spinach plants and did not take enforcement actions when FDA inspectors observed and reported “objectionable conditions” at the plants.  Instead the FDA requested voluntary compliance after recording violations, and there were numerous violations. Read more about "FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety."

Typhoid Fever: Mama Sbarro's in Hicksville, New York
People who ate at Mama Sbarro’s in Hicksville, New York, between March 14th and March 16th are at risk for contracting typhoid fever.  A food handler at Mama Sbarro’s has been diagnosed with typhoid fever, a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. Read more about typhoid fever and a Mama Sbarro's lawsuit.

Salmonella: Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe
March 22, 2008 - The FDA has issued an import alert regarding entry of cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer, because, based on current information, fruit from this company appears to be associated with a Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the Salmonella outbreak associated with a Agropecuaria Montelibano canteloupe recall and a possible lawsuit.

E. coli Wrongful Death Settlement
As one of the leading food safety law firms in the United States, Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. was contacted by a number of victims of the 2006 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to spinach, including the family of the outbreak’s first fatality, a Wisconsin woman in her seventies. The woman was survived by three adult children and two grandchildren. The case was recently resolved for an undisclosed settlement sum following lengthy negotiations with the defendants and their carriers. Read about the E. coli wrongful death settlement.

Rochester Meat Recall - California and Wisconsin E. coli Outbreak
Rochester Meat Company has recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. At least 6 people have contracted E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with eating Rochester Meat Company ground beef served in restaurants and food service institutions in Wisconsin and California. Read more about the Rochester Meat Company recall and lawsuit.

Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall
General Mills has recalled about 414,000 cases of Jeno's and Totino's Pizza because pepperoni on the pizzas may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Learn more about the Jeno's and Totino's Pizza recall.

Pars Cove Salmonella

FOOD POISONING STATISTICS

Food poisoning causes an estimated 76 million cases of human illness in the United States each year. Five thousand people die and more than 325,000 people are hospitalized annually as a result of food poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, "Microbial pathogens in food cause an estimated 6.5-33 million cases of human illness and up to 9,000 deaths in the United States each year. Over 40 different foodborne microbial pathogens, including fungi, viruses, parasites, and bacteria, are believed to cause human illnesses. For six bacterial pathogens, the costs of human illness are estimated to be $9.3-$12.9 billion annually. Of these costs, $2.9-$6.7 billion are attributed to foodborne bacteria." 

The information about food-borne illness on Pritzker | Olsen, P.A..com has been compiled primarily from publicly-available sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Food & Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as reputable nonprofit and educational institutions.

To contact a food poisoning lawyer at Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. for a free consultation, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, email food poisoning lawyer Fred Pritzker at info@pritzkerlaw.com, or fill in our online-consultation form. We’re ready to help when you need us.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A.
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45 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1652

Telephone: 612-338-0202
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Fax: 612-338-0104
Email:info@PritzkerLaw.com

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