Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

Cargill Turkey Salmonella Outbreak:
Lawsuit for Money Damages

Turkey Salmonell Lawsuit Salmonella lawyer Fred Pritzker is representing people sickened by Salmonella in several states. He and his team of attorneys are now investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg associated with Cargill ground turkey. Read about the Cargill tukey recall.

Our law firm represents Salmonella victims nationwide. If you contracted a Salmonella infection (salmonellosis), you may have a claim for money damages against liable companies. A full analysis of your case and further investigation is necessary to determine the parties that you have a right to sue and how much your case is worth.

Turkey Salmonella Outbreak Information

A total of 129 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from in 34 states with illness onset dates between February 27 and September 13, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (6), Colorado (4), Connecticut (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (16), Indiana (1), Iowa (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (12), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (2), Missouri (7), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), North Carolina (4), Ohio (12), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (17), Utah (1), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (4).

Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after February 27, 2011. Ill persons range in age from less than 1 year to 90 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. Fifty-six percent are male. Among the 88 ill persons with available information, 33 (38%) have been hospitalized. One death has been reported.

Investigation of the Outbreak

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that ground turkey is the likely source of this outbreak. Among the 88 ill persons with available information, 47 (53%) reported consuming ground turkey. This proportion is significantly higher than results from a survey of healthy persons in which 11% of persons interviewed reported consuming ground turkey in the 7 days before they were interviewed. Product information (such as date and location of purchase of ground turkey) is also being collected from ill persons and is being used by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies to further the investigation.

Cultures of five ground turkey samples purchased from five retail locations between March 7 and June 27, 2011, yielded Salmonella Heidelberg with the outbreak strain. PFGE patterns from these Salmonella bacteria were added to the PulseNet database between April 11 and July 12, approximately a month after each sample was collected. Preliminary information indicates that all of these products originated from a common food-production establishment (Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas). These products were obtained as part of routine sampling in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)External Web Site Icon  and are not linked to illnesses.

This is a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. As of September 12, 2011, investigators had collected antibiotic resistance information on isolates from 12 samples of ground turkey collected at retail and from 23 ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. The isolates from the ground turkey samples are resistant to antibiotics including ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin. The sensitivity testing results, to date, indicate that isolates from humans are also resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, and some are resistant to streptomycin and gentamicin; however, the testing is not complete for all isolates. All human isolates are sensitive to several common antibiotics that are used in clinical practice such as ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Antimicrobial resistance may increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

A sample of leftover unlabeled frozen ground turkey was collected by public health officials from the home of an ill person in Ohio infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. Culture of the ground turkey sample yielded the outbreak strain on July 29, 2011. In addition to the outbreak strain, with the “initial” PGFE pattern, a Salmonella Heidelberg with a second closely related PFGE pattern of was identified in the contaminated leftover product. Since February 27, 2011, a total of 27 ill persons have been reported to PulseNet with this closely related PGFE pattern. Among the 13 such patients who have been interviewed to date, 12 (92%) report consumption of ground turkey in the week before their illness began. The closely related PGFE pattern was also found in a retail sample of ground turkey taken as part of NARMS surveillance. This retail sample originated from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation establishment in Springdale, Arkansas. Based on these findings, the 27 ill persons with this second closely related PFGE pattern of Salmonella Heidelberg have been included in the total count of outbreak cases.

Clinical Features/Signs and Symptoms

Most persons infected with Salmonella bacteria develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.

To contact Salmonella attorneys about a turkey Salmonella lawsuit, call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our free consultation form. Our law firm has years of experience in Salmonella litigation, including cases involving Reiter’s syndrome (a form of arthritis), meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord), sepsis (infection of the blood, also called septicemia) and death.

Contact Attorney Fred Pritzker

Attorney Fred Pritzker is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (current and past editions).

States involved in this outbreak include the following: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (6), Colorado (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (14), Indiana (1), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (12), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (1), Missouri (4), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New York (2), North Carolina (3), Ohio (10), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (5), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (15), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (4).

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