Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

Apple Cider, E. coli and
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

Has your child been sickened in the Illinois and Iowa E. coli outbreak that may be associated with apple cider? Has your child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?

We have experience with cases involving E. coli and HUS. Contact our law firm for a free E. coli case review >>


E. coli Lawyers
E. coli Bacteria Our law firm is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks that have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. has a national reputation, and in recognition of their accomplishments, attorneys Fred Pritzker, Elliot Olsen and Eric Hageman have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine (2008 and previous years). To contact our law firm about an E. coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our online E. coli case consultation form on this page (top right).

Apple Cider and E. coli O157:H7

There are several ways raw (unpasteurized) apple cider can be contaminated with E. coli:

  • Farm or wild animals grazing in the orchard can leave behind E. coli-contaminated feces.  Apples that fall to the ground can become contaminated.  If even one contaminated apple is used to make raw apple cider, gallons of cider may be contaminated with E. coli.
  • If cattle are grazing near the cider mill, manure can contaminate apples, equipment or workers’ hands.
  • If apples are transported or stored in areas that contain manure, the apples can become contaminated prior to processing.  Again, one contaminated apple can contaminate gallons of cider.
  • Animal feces can get into rinsing water.  If that happens and apples are rinsed with E. coli-contaminated water, E. coli will get onto the apples and into the cider.  

An E. coli outbreak that has sickened 5 people in Iowa may have been caused by consumption of raw apple cider.  A child from Illinois may also have been sickened by raw apple cider, but that child's case is not related to the 5 Iowa cases. One child from Iowa and the child from Illinois have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Although Iowa health officials have not reported that raw apple cider is the source of the Illinois and Iowa E. coli outbreak, the State of Iowa has issued warnings about raw apple cider in the last several days.  One health official has stated that the families of the victims will have to hire an E. coli lawyer to get information from the State of Iowa about the source of the outbreak. Contact our law firm for E. coli lawsuit information: 1-888-377-8900, email our attorneys or submit our online E. coli case review form.

The following is a press release issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture:

Reduce Risk of E. coli from Apple Cider (10/17/2008)

AMES, Iowa — Cool fall weather puts many people in the mood for apple cider — and potentially at risk for E. coli, says Sam Beattie, an Iowa State University Extension food safety specialist.

“Unfortunately, new cider operations may not know of the risk of E. coli and food borne illness from raw apple cider,” Beattie said. “They may be handling their apples incorrectly and putting consumers at risk.” 

Federal guidelines suggest a warning label on raw apple cider— cider that is not heat processed, Beattie said. “This type of cider may not be sold into retail commerce and may only be sold on the farm.”
  
Raw apple cider should not be served to at-risk populations, which include children younger than 9 years old, the food safety specialist stressed.

The following guidelines provide reasonable assurance of E. coli-free cider products.

• Apple cider should be made from whole, sound apples that have not been dropped or found on the ground.
• Cider presses and all equipment should be clean and sanitary before being used.
• All storage bottles should be clean and sanitary.
• Cider should be kept refrigerated at 40 F or cooler.
• Apple cider processors who heat treat must have an approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan in place.

“These measures greatly reduce the risk of transmitting illness from E. coli and other bacterial pathogens. Pasteurization, however, would reduce the risk to nearly zero,” Beattie said.

“Once apples — or any vegetables, for that matter — are contaminated, it is not possible to decontaminate them,” he added.

Apple Cider E. coli and Strict Liability

In E. coli litigation cases involving a contaminated food product, strict liability usually applies. This means that E. coli victims only need to prove the following: 1) that the food was contaminated with E. coli and 2) that the contaminated food caused the E. coli infection and resulting HUS. It is not necessary to prove that anyone intentionally or negligently contaminated the food. Contact our law firm.

Keywords: Apple cider E. coli, Illinois E. coli, Iowa E. coli, attorney, unpasteurized apple cider and E. coli, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HUS E. coli, raw apple cider, E coli food poisoning..


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