Archive for July, 2007
Seven people became ill after eating contaminated ground beef that had been purchased at various locations on Long Island. The individuals became ill between June 9 and July 3. According to Dr. Humayun J. Chaudhry, Suffolk County (NY) Health Commissioner, most of the seven had eaten the ground beef at local barbecues rather than restaurants.
Included in the seven cases is an 8-year-old girl from North Carolina who experienced hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication of E. coli food poisoning that can cause kidney failure. She is recovering, Dr. Chaudhry said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two of the Long Island cases of E. coli O157 food poisoning have been identified as matches with E. coli strains tested in Minnesota and California cases, and one Long Island case matches an outbreak strain in Michigan. A fourth Long Island case resulted from a newly identified strain of E. coli that has not been identified in the U.S. before. Dr. Chaudry noted that both federal and local health officials are investigating the Long Island outbreak.
E. coli foodborne illness is most often associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef and other meat products. Cooking meat to an internal temperature, at its thickest part, of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit is one way to help prevent E. coli food poisoning.
Symptoms of E. coli food poisoning may include abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea. The diarrhea may become bloody, and can lead to dehydration. Fever may or may not be present. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Symptoms usually resolve in 5-10 days.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks 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 on free case evaluation to submit your questions. For more information about E. coli, visit the following pages of this website: “About E. coli” and “Common Symptoms and Complications.” You may also visit the website foodpoisoning.com.
To learn more about the personal injury law practice of Eric H. Weinberg, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer, or E. coli Lawyer.
July 24th, 2007
Local television news in Idaho reported that recent test results confirmed that six people contracted E. coli at the Rexbury spray park in late June.
The city has taken extra measures to make the park safer. Efforts have included increasing the amount of chlorine in the park water and replacing the pipes with larger ones to increase the flow rate of the water.
Water testing indicates that the E. coli contamination has been addressed.
In an effort to help maintain water quality at the park, city officials are asking that parents use swim diapers on their children instead of regular diapers, and that parents not allow sick children to use the park. They also suggest that parents shower off their children before using the spray park, and that children wear swim suits instead of street clothing.
To learn more about E. coli, please click on “About E. coli” and “Common Symptoms and Complications.”
To learn more about the personal injury law practice of Eric H. Weinberg, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer, or E. coli Lawyer.
July 17th, 2007
Steve Doyle of the Huntsville Times reports that the three victims of the Little Rosie’s E. coli outbreak remain hospitalized, although they are beginning to show signs of improvement.
All three patients (a five-year-old and two adults) were undergoing dialysis as a result of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a rare but life-threatening complication of E. coli food poisoning.
To learn more about E. coli food posioning, please click on “About E. coli” and “Common Symptoms and Complications.”
To learn more about the personal injury law practice of Eric H. Weinberg, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer, or E. coli Lawyer.
July 17th, 2007
With the recent spate of food poisoning outbreaks, I thought it would be a good idea to remind people about what to do to protect their rights if they or a family member are harmed by contaminated food.
Often a restaurant or the manufacturer of a defective food product will try to get in touch with you if you’ve become ill during a food poisoning outbreak. Manufacturers will also instruct customers to call their toll-free hotline for information, and to dispose of any of the tainted product still in their possession. In fact, companies will advise anyone who has purchased the product to return it to the store, even if it’s never been opened.
Doing any of these things doesn’t protect your rights, it protects the company! If you still have the tainted product in your possession that can be important evidence. Once that evidence is turned over to the manufacturer there is no guarantee that it will ever be available to the customer again.
If you contact the manufacturer, or the manufacturers’ representatives or lawyers contact you, they are making an effort to limit their liability and protect the company, not the consumer. They may certainly be apologetic for the harm their product has caused, but the bottom line is that they would prefer not to compensate victims for what they’ve suffered. You should also be aware that any conversations a victim has with a manufacturer are likely to be recorded and can be used as evidence by the manufacturer.
You don’t have to make a decision about whether or not to sue a manufacturer or restaurant right away. Your first concern is your health or that of your family member. But once you’ve had time to think about your experience, you may decide that seeking compensation is the best way to go. If you’ve protected your rights, then you’ve got a much better chance to win your case.
Therefore, we advise our clients NOT to call the manufacturer and NOT to return the product or the packaging. Our advice to our clients and all food poisoning victims is designed to protect them, not the company.
by Eric H. Weinberg
July 16th, 2007
After two more cases of E. coli food poisoning were identified on Thursday, no new cases came forward on Friday, according to the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department in Alabama.
A total of 18 individuals who ate at Little Rosie’s Taqueria from June 27 through June 30 have confirmed cases of E. coli food poisoning. Three people have been hospitalized, including a 5-year-old and a 70-year-old. The condition of a 48-year-old woman with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of E. coli infection, has been upgraded from critical to serious.
HeaE.lth officials have said that the source of the E. coli contamination is shredded lettuce. They have also said that it is safe to eat at the restaurant at present. Symptoms of E. coli food poisoning include severe abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea. The diarrhea may become bloody and can lead to dehydration.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks 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 on free case evaluation to submit your questions. For more information about E. coli, visit the pages of this website “About E. coli” and “Common Symptoms and Complications.”
To learn more about the personal injury law practice of Eric H. Weinberg, please see Food Poisoning Lawyer, or E. coli Lawyer.
July 14th, 2007
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