Archive for July, 2007
The Chicago Department of Health (CDH) stated that as of noon on Tuesday, 636 people had reported illness related to the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth at the Taste of Chicago Food Festival. Sixty-six of the reported illnesses are laboratory confirmed cases of salmonellosis resulting from Salmonella food poisoning. Twenty-five people have been hospitalized.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is currently investigating legal cases on behalf of individuals who reported becoming ill after eating the hummus salad at the Pars Cove booth.
People who became ill after eating at Pars Cove should contact their doctor. Chicago residents should report their illnesses to the CHD, which can be reached by calling 311. Those living outside of Chicago should do the same by calling 312-744-5000.
The Chicago Health Department has notified city hospitals to be on the look-out for food poisoning cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have notified state and nationwide health departments.
The CHD has inspected Pars Cove restaurant, and food handlers have been interviewed and tested for Salmonella. Food samples have been submitted to the Illinois health department. Test results are expected this week.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents victims of Salmonella food poisoning from the recent Arby’s, Peter Pan, and Veggie Booty outbreaks. If you believe that you are the victim of Salmonella food poisoning, please contact us at our toll free number 1-877-934-6274, or click on Free Case Evaluation.
For news concerning recent food poisoning outbreaks, please see Botulism Castleberry recall, ground beef recall, Salmonella Veggie Booty recall, and E. coli Captain’s Galley outbreak.
July 18th, 2007
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is co-counsel in the lawsuit brought by Marler Clark, a Seattle firm, on behalf of Patrick and Elex Scheels and two of their triplets, Sydney and Cole. The children contracted salmonellosis after eating Veggie Booty contamined with Salmonella. Joining the Weinberg and Marler Clark law firms as co-counsel is Underberg & Kessler based in Rochester, New York. The Scheels are residents of Voorheesville, New York.
The lawsuit was filed today in Albany County Supreme Court against Robert’s American Gourmet Food, Inc., which distributes Veggie Booty.
Sydney and Cole Scheels, who tested positive for Salmonella Wandsworth, became ill after eating Veggie Booty. Both had abdominal cramping and explosive and bloody diarrhea as well as fever. Sydney lost about 10% of her body weight as a result of illness. Her tests continue to come back positive for Salmonella.
For more information about the Veggie Booty outbreak, please see the following news article: June 28, 2007: Veggie Booty Snack Food Recalled After 51 Reported Cases of Salmonella. For more information about Salmonella food poisoning, click on the following pages: “About Salmonella” and “Common Symptoms and Complications.”
For recent outbreak and food recall news, please see Salmonella Outbreak Ohio and Minnesota, Listeria Bacon Bit Recall, and Listeria Burrito Recall.
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. Companies will also 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. For more information, see Client Instructions.
By Eric H. Weinberg
erichweinberg.com
To learn more about our involvement in food poisoning litigation, please see Arby’s Lawsuit, Peanut Butter Lawsuit, and Salmonella Lawyer.
July 16th, 2007
Chicago health officials said that the number of people sickened after eating at the Pars Cove booth at the Taste of Chicago food festival has reached 378. Thirty-two of the cases have been confirmed as Salmonella food poisoning, and 12 people have been hospitalized, including an 18-month-old.
Although the food source responsible for this latest Salmonella outbreak has not been confirmed, health officials are focusing on an herb, cucumber, and tomato salad that was served with humus. On Friday, the Chicago health department told Pars Cove to stop serving hummus in their city restaurant.
On Friday, the Chicago Health Department was overwhelmed by phone calls. Employees from other departments were recruited to serve as operators. Health officials have said they will contact those individuals on their callback list.
If you believe that you are suffering from Salmonella food poisoning, you should contact your doctor. Even if you have recovered, you should also contact the Chicago Health Department, since they are responsible for conducting the outbreak investigation. Chicago residents can call the Health Department hotline at 311 to report an illness or to ask questions. Non-residents should contact the department at 312-744-5000.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg is already assisting individuals who believe they were victims of this current Salmonella outbreak. We also represent clients nationwide who have been victims of the recent Arby’s, Peter Pan brand peanut butter, and Veggie Booty Salmonella outbreaks. If you or a loved one has been a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you need legal help, please click on free case evaluation, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274. To learn more about our practice, click Food Poisoning Lawyer.
To learn more about Salmonella click on About Salmonella and Salmonella Symptoms and Complications. To learn more about food poisoning and food safety, you may also visit our website www.foodpoisoning.com.
July 14th, 2007
The Chicago Health Department now has reports of 126 cases of Salmonella poisoning linked with food consumed at the Taste of Chicago food festival. The city’s help line has been flooded with calls since news of the outbreak began to spread midweek.
Ten people have been hospitalized with the illness, and nine of the 126 cases have been confirmed by laboratory tests as Salmonella food poisoning. Most of the 126 cases are individuals who live in Chicago, but food festival visitors from Illinois and other states are included in the total.
The 126 people have one thing in common: all ate at the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine Booth at Taste of Chicago. The specific food source of the contamination is not yet known, but health officials are investigating the cucumber hummus dish.
With the investigation into the outbreak ongoing, anyone who thinks they may have become ill after eating at the Pars Cove booth should contact the Chicago Board of Health at (312) 744-5000. Chicago residents can call 311. Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.
If you require legal representation after suffering Salmonella food poisoning, please call the Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or click on free case evaluation. For more information about the firm, which currently represents victims of Salmonella outbreaks connected with Arby’s Restaurant and Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, visit erichweinberg.com. To learn more about Salmonella, please visit the following pages of this blog: “About Salmonella” and “Common Symptoms and Complications”.
For up-to-date food poisoning news see Veggie Booty Recall, Taste of Chicago, and Food Poisoning North Carolina.
July 13th, 2007
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