Archive for July, 2009
Although public health officials and food safety experts may never learn how Nestle pre-packaged cookie dough became contaminated with E coli, which could have provided valuable information regarding food production errors that can be avoided in the future, one thing is for sure. And that one thing, is that Nestle pre-packaged cookie dough left the Nestle manufacturing plant contaminated with the deadly foodborne pathogen E. coli O157:H7.
In fact, the cookie dough most likely left the Nestle plant contaminated with multiple strains of E. coli O157:H7.
The FDA has announced that E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from an unopened package of Nestle cookie dough taken from the Nestle manufacturing plant in Danville, VA. This strain of E. coli was not the outbreak E. coli strain, but its presence proves that the cookie dough came into contact with fecal contaminants at some point prior to the packaging of the nasty cookie dough at the Nestle plant. Nestle failed to provide for the safety of its customers.
In addition, there are reports in the news that another strain of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from an opened package of Nestle cookie dough found in a victim’s home. This strain was also not the outbreak strain.
Finally, we have the outbreak E. coli strain, which linked the approximately 72 E. coli victims in 30 states to the Nestle cookie dough. An epidemiologic investigation, demonstrated a strong association between E. coli infection and eating Nestle cookie dough. In other words, most of the E. coli outbreak victims had eaten Nestle cookie dough just prior to becoming ill.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is currently assisting individuals who believe they were injured in the recent Nestle cookie dough E. coli outbreak and JBS Swift beef E. coli outbreak. We are ready to help you. If you have been diagnosed with E. coli food poisoning, are awaiting medical confirmation of infection, or have a question regarding your legal rights, please submit a Free Legal Case Evaluation, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is dedicated to representing those injured by defective food and drug products. We believe that the best was for consumers to stay safe, is to stay informed. For recent food recall and drug safety information, please see Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia, Levaquine Tendon Rupture and Listeria Sprout Recall, or visit FDA/USDA Recalls.
July 15th, 2009
E.S. Miller Packing Co., Montgomery, IL, has recalled ground beef and ground beef patties after the FSIS detected E. coli O157:H7 in samples of the meat. The two cities in IL affected by this recall are Montgomery and Paw Paw.
The products that were produced between July 7 and July 10 are listed below.
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10-pound Cryovaced bags of bulk “EDWARD S. MILLER PACKING CO., GROUND BEEF.” Each bag bears the establishment number “EST. 34342″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and case codes of “070709,” “070809,” “070909″ or “071009.”
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12- and 15-pound boxes “EDWARD S. MILLER PACKING CO., GROUND BEEF PATTIES.” Each box bears the establishment number “EST. 34342″ inside the USDA mark of inspection and case codes of “070709,” “070809,” “070909″ or “071009.”
The FSIS recommends that consumers take the following precautionary measures to help guard against possible food poisoning.
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Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Immediately clean spills.
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Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.
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Consumers should only eat ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160° F.
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Color is NOT a reliable indicator that ground beef or ground beef patties have been cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7.
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The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature.
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Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase or one hour if temperatures exceed 90° F. Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.
E. coliO157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks, and we are ready to assist you. If you have been harmed by E. coli food poisoning and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please see Free Case Evaluation or contact us toll-free at 1-877-934-6274.
To learn about recent food poisoning outbreaks, please see Salmonella Lawyer, Salmonella Lawsuit, and Salmonella Lawyers.
July 14th, 2009
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health announced that it is investigating three cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in children. All three children developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is a serious complication of E. coli O157:H7 infection. HUS occurs in about 2%-7% of E. coli infections, and is characterized by destruction of red blood cells, damage to the lining of blood vessel walls, and in severe cases, kidney failure. Children and the elderly are at greatest risk for developing HUS. HUS is the principal cause of acute kidney failure in children in the United States.
Two other cases of HUS in Ohio children are also being investigated for a connection to E. coli infection.
State public health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently investigating two nationwide E. coli outbreaks, the Nestle Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak and the JBS Swift Beef E. coli Outbreak.
JBS Swift beef was shipped to processors and grocery retailers. The recalled JBS beef may be difficult for consumers to identify since it was sold under multiple labels. Please see JBS Swift E. coli Recall for a partial list of affected products.
If you or a family member has suffered from E. coli food poisoning, and you have a question about your legal rights, you can request a free case evaluation from our firm by clicking on free case evaluation. You may also contact us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
For more than 25 years, the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg has been committed to obtaining compensation for individuals injured by defective pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and food poisoning outbreaks. We are currently assisting individuals injured by Hydroxycut, Zicam, and the quinalone antibiotics Levaquin and Ciprofloxacin.
July 12th, 2009
In its last statement regarding the JBS Swift E coli outbreak, dated July 1, 2009, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there are a total of 23 E. coli food poisoning cases from 9 states linked to the recalled beef. At that time, the CDC made the following statement:
Twenty-three persons infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7 with a particular “DNA fingerprint” have been reported from 9 states. Of these, 17 have been confirmed by an advanced DNA test as having the outbreak strain; confirmatory tests are pending on others. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (4), Maine (1), Michigan (6), Minnesota (1), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), New York (1) and Wisconsin (6).
Most ill persons reported consumption of ground beef, and many reported that it was undercooked. Ground beef with the outbreak strain was obtained from the home of one person infected with that strain. The first reported illness began on April 2, 2009, and the last began on June 13, 2009. Among 17 ill persons for whom hospitalization status is known, 12 (70%) were hospitalized. Two patients developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. Of patients with available information, 14 (64%) were male and 59% are less than 19 years old (range 2 to 74 years).
Below is a partial list of the companies affected by the recall with links to their product recall information.
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloom and Food Lion, CostCo Food 4 Less, Frye’s Stores, HEB, Hannaford Bros., Kroger, Price Chopper, Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., Smiths Foods and Drug Stores, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, Sweetbay Supermarket and WinCo Foods, LLC stores.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is currently assisting victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. We are ready to help you. Please submit a Case Evaluation Form or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, for a free legal consultation.
July 12th, 2009
