June 18, 2007: Slaughtered Goat May Be Link To Recent E. coli Outbreak

June 18th, 2007

Health Officials recently learned that a goat had been slaughtered in the kitchen of Captain’s Galley, the China Grove, NC, seafood restaurant that has been linked to a deadly E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.  The restaurant was closed on Monday.

Twenty-one people became ill after eating at the Captain’s Galley, and last week, 86 year-old Faye Sides died of complications related to E. coli infection.  Based on interviews with employees, health officials believe that the goat was slaughtered in the restaurant kitchen some time between May 11 and May 20.

Slaughtering, or bringing a live farm animal into a restaurant kitchen, posses a most serious health threat in that E. coli, a type of bacteria found in the intestines of healthy farm animals, could potentially contaminate food, or work surfaces and utensils.  Restaurant workers practicing poor hand washing habits could also pass E. coli to unsuspecting restaurant patrons.

According to Rowan County Health Director Leonard Wood, restaurant patrons became ill between May 26 and June 3.  The E. coli outbreak was announced by health officials on June 7. To date there has been a total of eight confirmed cases and 13 suspected cases.

The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks in North Carolina and throughout the United States. If you or a loved one have been harmed by E. coli food poisoning, and you have a question about your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274 for a free case evaluation, or click free case evaluation to submit your question. For more information about E. coli, visit the pages of this blog, or our website www.foodpoisoning.com. 

To learn more about the personal injury law practice of Eric H. Weinberg, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer, or E. coli Lawyer.

Entry Filed under: Food Poisoning Outbreaks and Recall News