Our lawyers are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from French Broad Farm in Mascot, Tennessee. Contact our law firm about an E. coli lawsuit against French Broad Farm seeking compensation.
Raw milk produced at French Broad Farm in Mascot, TN has been associated with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 10 children in eastern Tennessee. Four of them are receiving treatment for E. coli O157 infections in the intensive care unit at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized and can, therefore, harbor dangerous bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter all of which can cause life-threatening illness. Raw milk is not federally regulated so laws pertaining to its sale vary from state to state. In Tennesse, the retail sale of raw milk is illegal but it can be obtained legally through cow-share or herd-share programs. Most of the children who were sickened in this outbreak drank raw milk their families obtained through a cow-share program at French Broad Dairy.
French Broad Farm has suspended operations, according to the Knox County Health Department, which is urging consumers to dispose of any unpasteurized products they may have from the dairy.
Most raw milk food poisoning outbreaks involve children and, unfortunately, young children are at elevated risk for developing a serious illness from a foodborne illness infection, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of E. coli infection, which include stomach cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody. These symptoms develop anywhere from one to seven days after exposure but generally appear within 72 hours and last about a week. A small percentage of people with E. coli infections – between 5 percent and 10 percent, will develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a form of kidney failure. Diarrhea associated with E. coli O157 infections should not be treated with antibiotics, as this may promote the development of HUS.
HUS symptoms usually appear one week after initial E. coli symptoms. They include:
- Fatigue
- Decreased urination
- Pale skin
- Unexplained weakness
- Unexplained bruises or bleeding
Anyone who develops HUS symptoms should seek immediate emergency medical care.
The E. coli lawyers at Pritzker Hageman won a $7.5 million verdict on behalf of a young client who suffered kidney failure and have represented clients in nearly every major food poisoning outbreak over the last 20 years. If you or a loved one have been sickened by E. coli, contact them for a free, no-obligation consultation.
News Source:
http://www.wate.com/news/local-news/knox-county-health-department-confirms-several-e-coli-cases/1218313104