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CDC Investigation: E. coli Outbreak in
Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
New York, Ohio, and Utah
Law Firm and Lawsuit


Ground Beef E. coli Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of a victim of this E. coli outbreak. Contact us about the lawsuit: 1-888-377-8900 or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

Kroger ground beef and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. ground beef components have been linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan (Michigan E. coli), Ohio (Ohio E. coli), Georgia (Georgia E. coli), Indiana, Kentucky, Utah and New York. Read about the legal implications of this link and a Nebraska Beef and Kroger E. coli lawsuit. In response to this outbreak, Nebraska Beef has recalled over 5 million pounds of ground beef components. Read about the Nebraska Beef recall.

In Georgia, 8 people with confirmed cases of E. coli and 4 people with probable cases of E. coli ate at the Barbecue Pit in Moultrie, Georgia (Colquitt County). Read about the Georgia E. coli outbreak and a Barbecue Pit lawsuit.

The information below is the most current CDC information on the Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Utah and New York E. coli outbreak. We are putting new information from state health departments in brackets because it can take days or weeks for CDC to publish new information.

Pritzker | Ruohonen, one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of E. coli litigation, has a national reputation, and lawyers at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications.  In recognigion of their accomplishments, Pritzker | Ruohonen attorneys Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics magazine.

E. coli Outbreak in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Utah Linked to
Kroger Ground Beef

Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections – Michigan and Ohio

State departments of health and agriculture in several states, collaborating local health jurisdictions, CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. As of July 17, 2008, 49 confirmed cases have been linked both epidemiologically and by molecular fingerprinting to this outbreak. The number of cases in each state is as follows: Georgia (4), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Michigan (20), New York (1), Ohio (21), and Utah (1). Their illnesses began between May 27 and July 1, 2008. Twenty-seven persons have been hospitalized. One patient developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). [In Georgia there are 4 cases of HUS that may be part of this outbreak. Contact attorney Fred Pritzker, managing attorney for E. coli and HUS litigation: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker.] No deaths have been reported. Twenty-eight (57%) patients are female. The ages of patients range from 4 to 78 years; 47% are between 10 and 24 years old (only 21% of the U.S. population is in this age group).

CDC and public health agencies across the United States are continuing surveillance activities to detect additional cases related to this outbreak. CDC and state laboratories are using advanced molecular testing techniques to help determine the extent of this outbreak.

Ground BeefState health and agriculture departments tested ground beef recovered from several patient residences that was purchased at Kroger® retail stores in Michigan and Ohio. Molecular fingerprinting testing conducted by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Health and Agriculture Laboratories, in collaboration with PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, on E. coli O157 isolates isolated from these ground beef samples have confirmed the isolates to be the outbreak strain of E. coli O157.

CDC's OutbreakNet Team conducted a multi-state case-control study in collaboration with health authorities in Ohio and Michigan to epidemiologically examine exposures that would be related to illness. The data indicate a significant association between illness and eating ground beef purchased at one of several Kroger® Company stores in Michigan and Ohio. CDC has provided these results to the USDA-FSIS and public health agencies in Michigan and Ohio.

On June 25, 2008, a recall was announced for ground beef sold at Kroger® Co. Stores in Michigan and Ohio. On July 3, the Kroger® Co. expanded the June 25th recall to include ground beef products from Kroger® establishments outside of Michigan and Ohio. [Read about the Kroger recall.]On June 30, 2008, a recall of 531,707 pounds of ground beef components from Nebraska Beef Ltd. was announced. On July 3, 2008, Nebraska Beef Ltd. expanded the June 30 recall to include all beef manufacturing trimmings and other products intended for use in raw ground beef produced between May 16 and June 26, 2008, totaling approximately 5.3 million pounds. [Read about the Nebraska Beef recall.]

During an E. coli outbreak: Carefully follow instructions provided by public health officials on what foods to avoid in order to protect yourself and your family from infection.

Cook all ground beef thoroughly.  Cook ground beef to 160° F. Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Do not eat ground beef that is still pink in the middle.

Vegetables should be boiled for at least 1 minute before serving.

Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider. Frozen juice or juice sold in boxes and glass jars at room temperature has been pasteurized, although it may not say so on the label.

Drink water from safe sources like municipal water that has been treated with chlorine, wells that have been tested or bottled water.

Do not swallow lake or pool water while you are swimming.

Don’t spread bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat away from other foods. Wash your hands, cutting board, counter, dishes, and knives and forks with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat, spinach, greens, or sprouts.

If a restaurant serves you an under-cooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.

Never put cooked hamburgers or meat on the plate they were on before cooking. Wash the meat thermometer after use.

This Kroger E. coli outbreak and the resulting Kroger recall involves victims in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and New York including victims from the following areas: Columbus, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; and surrounding areas.

We are a national law firm and represent E. coli victims throughout the United States. Please contact us for a free case consultation.

 



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