Topps and Sam's Choice Hamburger Recall

TOPPS AND SAM'S CHOICE HAMBURGERS RECALL - LAWSUIT AND LAWYER: Pritzker | Ruohonen is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef.  J & B Meats Corporation has recalled approximately 170,000 pounds of hamburgers due to possible E. coli contamination. The recalled ground beef was distributed to Sam's Club stores and other retailers nationwide. The contamination was discovered after consumers were diagnosed with E. coli infections after eating hamburgers.

Pritzker | Ruohonen has extensive experience with E. coli lawsuits and has recovered millions for E. coli victims. The firm has gained a national reputation, and attorneys at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Lawyers USA, and others. In recognition of their accomplishments, lawyers Fred Pritzker and Rich Ruohonen have been named "Super Lawyers" by a state legal magazine. To contact Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the Pritzker | Ruohonen online consultation form.

Millions of pounds of ground beef have been recalled in the last few months. If you are diagnosed with E. coli, it most likely was from ground beef (hamburger). To have a lawsuit against responsible parties, there has to be a DNA fingerprint (PFGE pattern) done on an E. coli isolate from your stool sample.  If you have not given your doctor a stool sample for this purpose, you need to go to your doctor and have it done.

Below is the USDA-FSIS press release regarding the Topps hamburger/Sam's Choice hamburger recall. Pritzker | Ruohonen is reprinting it here as a public service. Additional recalls of frozen hamburgers include the following:

USDA-FSIS Announcement of Topps and Sam's Choice Recall: Illinois Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Oct. 13, 2007 - J & B Meats Corporation Inc., a Coal Valley, Ill., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 173,554 pounds of frozen ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The products subject to recall include:

2-pound boxes of "TOPPS PREMIUM 100% PURE SIRLOIN BEEF SIRLOIN STEAK BURGERS, 6 1/3 LB. HOMESTYLE BURGERS." Each box bears a use by date of "06/22/08."
8-pound boxes of "TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 32 QUARTER POUNDERS." Each box bears a use by date of "06/12/08," "06/18/08" or "06/22/08."
3-pound bags of "SAM'S CHOICE BACKYARD GOURMET BEEF BURGERS, 80/20, 12 QUARTER POUND ROUND PATTIES." Each bag bears a use by date of "03/08/08."
3-pound boxes of "TOPPS 100% PURE GROUND BEEF HAMBURGERS, 12 QUARTER POUNDERS." Each box bears a use by date of "06/18/08."

Each package also bears the establishment number "Est. 5712." The frozen ground beef products were produced on June 12, June 18 and June 22, 2007, and were distributed to Sam's Club stores and retail establishments nationwide.

For best quality, FSIS recommends consumers use any frozen ground beef products within three to four months of the stated use by date. It is important that consumers look for the recalled products and return them if found in their freezers. [Note from Pritzker | Ruohonen: If someone has eaten any of the hamburgers, DO NOT DISCARD THEM OR RETURN THEM UNTIL YOU ARE SURE NO ONE IS ILL.]

The problem was discovered through an investigation into illness reported to the FSIS Consumer Complaint Monitoring System (CCMS). While the investigation is ongoing, J & B Meats is voluntarily recalling the products based on a preliminary analysis of epidemiological data. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

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Massachusettes E. coli: A Massachusettes E. coli outbreak has been linked to Nebraska Beef products and Coleman Meat products.
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Virginia E. coli - Goshen Scout Reservation: Dozens of scouts were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to beef.
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Ohio E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Michigan E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
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Minnesota Preschool E. coli: Outbreak associated with Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, Minnesota.
Washington E. coli Lettuce: Outbreak associated with commercial romaine lettuce.
Texas Salmonella Saintpaul - Tomato: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
New Mexico Salmonella Saintpaul Linked to Tomatoes: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
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Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
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E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
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