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TOPPS LAWSUIT: Below is a CDC update of the Topps hamburger E. coli outbreak. Pritzker | Ruohonen, one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of E. coli litigation, is providing this information as a public service. The firm 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, both Fred Pritzker and Rich Ruohonen have been named "Super Lawyers" by a state legal magazine. Pritzker | Ruohonen is investigating the E. coli outbreak linked to Topps hamburger. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli after eating Topps hamburger, you may contact Pritzker | Ruohonen toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form for review by an E. coli lawyer at the firm.
CDC UPATE: Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157 Infections Linked to Topp's Brand Ground Beef Patties
Updated October 26, 2007
Several state health departments, 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. On September 29, USDA issued a notice about a recall of 21.7 millions pounds of frozen ground beef patties.
Health officials in several states who were investigating reports of E. coli O157 illnesses found that many ill persons had consumed the same brand of frozen ground beef patties. Ground beef patties recovered from patients' homes were tested by state public health department and federal laboratories. Tests conducted by the New York State Wadsworth Center Laboratory and by a USDA-FSIS laboratory on opened and unopened packages of Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties yielded E. coli O157 isolates with several different “DNA fingerprint” patterns.
Investigators compared the “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains found in ground beef with “DNA fingerprints” patterns of E. coli O157 strains isolated from ill persons. As of 12 PM (ET) October 26, 2007, 40 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been identified with PFGE patterns that match at least one of the patterns of E. coli strains found in Topp's brand frozen ground beef patties. Ill persons reside in 8 states [Connecticut (2), Florida (1), Indiana (1), Maine (1), New Jersey (9), New York (13), Ohio (1), and Pennsylvania (12)]. Thirty-three (89%) of 37 patients with a detailed food history consumed ground beef. Seven illnesses have confirmed associations with recalled products because the strain isolated from the person was also isolated from the meat in their home.
The first reported illness began on July 5, 2007, and the last began on September 24, 2007. Among thirty-three ill persons for whom hospitalization status is known, twenty-one (64%) were hospitalized. Two patients developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Eighteen (45%) patients are female. The ages of patients range from 1 to 77 years; 50% are between 15 and 24 years old (only 14% of the US population is in this age group).
Each recalled package bears the establishment number “Est. 9748” inside the USDA mark of inspection and has a sell-by date between “SEP 25 07” and “SEP 25 08.”
For additional information on a Topps lawsuit and the Topps Hamburger E. coli outbreak, please see the following:
- Topps hamburger recall
- New Jersey E. coli cases and Topps hamburger lawsuit information
- New York E. coli cases and Topps lawsuit information
- Pennsylvania E. coli cases and Topps lawsuit information
PRITZKER | RUOHONEN REPRESENTS E. COLI VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
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