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Michigan E. coli Outbreak
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Have you been sickened in the Michigan E. coli O145 Outbreak linked to Freshway Foods bagged, shredded lettuce? Do you want to be compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages?

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E. coli BacteriaMichigan E. coli Lawsuit Update:
Our law firm has settled a case involving a Michigan State University student who contracted an E. coli infection after eating lettuce at the school cafeteria. Contact attorney Eric Hageman or attorney Fred Pritzker regarding this case and your E. coli case.

Ann Arbor, Michigan E. coli Outbreak

May 7, 2010 - Freshway Foods romaine lettuce is at the center of an E. coli O145 outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan, Ohio and New York. 10 of the Michigan E. coli cases have been confirmed as the outbreak strain of E. coli O145. Three additional cases are probable. Persons reporting illness consistent with the outbreak were likely exposed between April 7th and April 15th and became ill between April 9th and April 16th. Persons typically experience symptoms three to four days after eating foods contaminated with E. coli.

The bacteria responsible for this outbreak, E. coli O145, are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. STECs have been associated with human illness, including bloody diarrhea and a potentially fatal kidney condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC bacteria are grouped by serotypes (e.g., O157 or O145). The STEC serotype found most commonly in U.S. patients is E. coli O157. Other E. coli serotypes in the STEC group, including O145, are sometimes called “non-O157 STECs.”

Investigators are using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), a type of DNA fingerprint analysis of E. coli bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing to identify cases of illness that might be part of this outbreak.

Investigators have established a common definition of confirmed and probable cases related to this outbreak:

Confirmed cases are persons with:

(1) E. coli O145 infection, or E. coli infection with O Group pending, AND
(2) an illness onset on or after March 1, 2010, AND
(3) a DNA fingerprint matching the outbreak strain; AND
(4) an epidemiologic link to the outbreak.

Probable cases are persons with an epidemiologic link to the outbreak and

(1) E. coli O145 infection with an illness onset on or after March 1, 2010 regardless of DNA fingerprint pattern, AND/OR
(2) hemolytic-uremic syndrome; AND/OR
(3) a laboratory isolate positive for Shiga toxin 2 [stx2] or isolate positive for Shiga toxin, but toxin type is unknown or pending.

Both epidemiological and microbiological evidence has implicated Freshway Foods in this outbreak. Health officials in New York found E. coli O145 in a bag of unopened Freshway Foods romaine lettuce--THE SMOKING GUN.

A Freshway Foods lawsuit would most likely include claims against Freshway Foods, the grower and the eating establishement or grocery store. Recalled Freshway Foods lettuce was available at certain grocery store deli counters and in "grab and go" salads. Read about the Freshway Foods recall.

2008 Michigan E. coli - Lettuce Lawsuit Information

Our law firm won money to compensate victims of the E. coli outbreak linked to Aunt Mid's lettuce. In September of 2008, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) associated 38 cases of E. coli O157:H7 with bagged, industrial-sized packages of iceberg lettuce sold through wholesale venues (Aunt Mid's Produce Company and others) to restaurants and institutions.

Epidemiological Evidence: Epidemiological evidence gathered by federal, state and local health officials is admissible in an E. coli lawsuit. In this outbreak, the epidemiological evidence includes interviews conducted by health officials. These interviews have determined that some of the 38 Michigan E. coli cases consumed shredded or chopped iceberg lettuce in restaurants or institutions purchased from Aunt Mid’s Produce Company, a Detroit-based wholesale distributor. (Read about an Aunt Mid's lawsuit.) Product trace back can involve both epidemiological and microbiological elements.

The heads of lettuce being supplied to Aunt Mid’s for washing, cutting, and bagging during the outbreak timeframe were identified as lettuce from California. However, the point at which the lettuce was contaminated is still unknown.

Microbiological Evidence: Genetic testing on E. coli isolates found in stool samples, environmental samples and food samples is microbiological evidence that connects people, places and food with an E. coli outbreak. In this outbreak, genetic testing has identified victims of this E. coli outbreak in Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oregon. Additional tests are stilll in progress.

The 38 genetically-linked Michigan E. coli cases involved eight Michigan counties:

  • Ingham County
  • Washtenaw County
  • Macomb County
  • Wayne County
  • Kent County
  • Genesee County
  • St. Clair County
  • Oakland County

Hospitalizations: Of the E. coli O157:H7 cases that are genetically linked, 21 have been hospitalized. If you have been hospitalized, you deserve compensation, even if you were only hospitalized for a short period of time. If your family member developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), compensation should reflect possible future medical expenses and pain and suffering.

These are complex cases. To protect your legal rights and obtain fair compensation, contact an E. coli lawyer. To contact one of our attorneys for a case review, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our law firm or submit our free case consultation form.

Keywords: Michigan E. coli O145, Lettuce, Lawsuit, Aunt Mid's Iceberg Lettuce E. coli, Lawyer, Lawsuit, Lancing and Ann Arbor Michigan E. coli, Attorney, Bagged Lettuce E. coli Poisoning, Michigan ecoli 0145.


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