December 26, 2007: A Very Long List of 2007 Food Poisoning Outbreaks and Recalls Gives Pause During This Holiday Season

Anyone who has been paying attention to the news knows that there has been an outrageous number of food poisoning outbreaks and recalls in the U.S. over the past year. But a look at the list is still a sobering experience.

Whether the reported cases of food poisoning (and let’s not forget – many cases go unreported) involved Salmonella or E. coli or botulism; whether they were linked with a specific restaurant, a restaurant chain, a meat manufacturer, a produce grower or a retail store; the result was the same – people became ill and some of the most unfortunate lost their lives.

The recent spate of food poisoning outbreaks can be traced back to the late summer and early fall of 2006, when almost 200 people became ill after eating bagged spinach. That’s where we end our list of outbreaks and recalls, which is presented below in reverse chronological order.

For more information about many of these food poisoning outbreaks and food recalls, please see the following websites: www.foodpoisoning.com, www.salmonellalawsuit.com, www.ecolilawsuit.com, www.cryptosporidiumlawsuit.com, www.giardialawsuit.com, www.botulismlegalhelp.com, www.listeria.com, and www.staphlawsuit.com. To learn more about our law firm, visit www.erichweinberg.com.

[Please note that given the large number of outbreaks and recalls, it is impossible to present a complete list.]

2007

• December 2007: Three dozen Salmonella food poisoning cases reported in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Idaho; link sought by health officials

• November 2007: American Foods Group recalls almost 100,000 pounds of ground beef due to possible E. coli contamination
• November 2007: 176 people develop symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning in connection with a Newton (Catawba County), North Carolina, Mexican restaurant, Carniceria y Taqueria Hermanos Chavez
• November 2007: Double B Foods, Inc., of Meridian, Texas, recalls approximately 98,000 pounds of frozen sausage roll products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• November 2007: Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. recalls approximately 1,084,384 pounds of ground beef products; possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• November 2007: Generals Mills recalls approximately 3.3 million pounds of frozen meat pizza products with possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• November 2007: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issues boil water notice for some water customers in Mercer County due to high Giardia counts in the Shenango River
• November 2007: Shigellosis, a foodborne illness caused by Shigella bacteria, confirmed in fourteen individuals at Roberts Elementary School in Wisconsin

• October 2007: Kroger brand seafood dips recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination
• October 2007: Blue Ribbon Meats recalls some frozen ground beef products due to possibility of E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• October 2007: Class I recall of 173,554 pounds of J & B Meats Corporation ground beef hamburger patties; possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7
• October 2007: Arko Veal Co. recalls approximately 1,900 pounds of ground beef patties mix that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H
• October 2007: ConAgra recalls all Banquet and generic brand frozen chicken and turkey pot pies; link to 272 cases of Salmonella food poisoning in 35 states
• October 2007: Salmonella-contaminated tomatoes cause food poisoning outbreak that sickens more than 20 customers and employees at Quiznos Subs in Rochester, Minnesota
• October 2007: Topps Meat Company recalls hundreds of thousands of pounds of ground beef with possible E. coli contamination; second largest beef recall in U.S. history
• October 2007: Salmonella food poisoning outbreak, with 67 reported cases, in Newton County, Georgia, linked to pulled pork sold by the Covington Lions Club at Sherman’s Last Burning barbeque festival
• October 2007: Kraft Foods Inc. recalls 6 oz packages of Baker’s Premium White Chocolate due to possible Salmonella contamination
• October 2007: Aliki Foods, Inc., of Old Lyme, Conn., recalls approximately 70,400 pounds of chicken and pasta products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• October 2007: Spanaway Water Company in Washington issues boil water notice due to E. coli contamination; area schools closed

• September 2007: Confirmed cases of E. coli food poisoning in children attending schools in New Albany-Floyd County Public School District in Indiana
• September 2007: Piggly Wiggly markets in Wisconsin recall ground beef after two cases of E. coli food poisoning
• September 2007: Castleberry Foods recalls over 25 brands of canned foods, including chili sauce, because of possible botulism contamination
• September 2007: Dole Food Co. recalls Hearts Delight salad mix after sample taken from store in Canada tests positive for E. coli.
• September 2007: FDA warns consumers not to consume “Organic Pastures Raw Cream”; risk of Listeria contamination
• September 2007: Stew Leonard’s Supermarket in Westchester County, New York, recalls 96% lean ground round meat following report of three cases of E. coli food poisoning
• September 2007: Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water recalled for possible Cryptosporidium contamination
• September 2007: Fairbank Reconstruction Corp., Ashville, N.Y., recalls approximately 884 pounds of ground beef products with possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination

• August 2007: Over 1,300 cases of cryptosporidiosis resulting from Cryptosporidium bacteria reported in Utah; leads to swimming restrictions
• August 2007: Metz Fresh LLC of King City, California, recalls over 8,000 cases of fresh, bagged spinach for possible Salmonella contamination
• August 2007: Eight cases of E. coli illness in children in Eagle County, Colorado, possibly linked to Eagle Pool
• August 2007: Arby’s restaurant in Moses Lake (Grant County), Washington, closed after 17 cases of Salmonella food poisoning; meat slicer implicated as in case of Arby’s restaurant in Valdosta, Georgia (see below)
• August 2007: Mars Petcare U.S. recalls Krasdale Gravy Dry Dog Food and fifty-pound bags of Red Flannel Large Adult Formula dry dog food after positive tests for Salmonella; 66 reported human cases of illness
• August 2007: Cloud’s Food Service recalls 4,200 tuna and egg salad sandwiches that may contain the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes
• August 2007: Consumers warned to avoid eating raw oysters from southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington State; warning later expanded to all of Hood Canal
• August 2007: FDA warns of potential botulism risk from canned French cut green beans; product marketed under a variety of brand names

• July 2007: Okmulgee County (Oklahoma) Family YMCA pool identified as source of waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium; over 95 individuals stricken with diarrhea
• July 2007: Custom Pack, Inc., of Hastings, Nebraska, recalls approximately 5,920 pounds of ground beef and buffalo products with risk of E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• July 2007: Abbott’s Meat Inc., Flint, Michigan, recalls approximately 26,669 pounds of ground beef products; risk of E. coli contamination
• July 2007: Cryptosporidium, Giardia and norovirus responsible for illness in almost 200 people (123 children) connected with West Chester University pool in Pennsylvania
• July 2007: Castleberry hot dog chili sauce and other products marketed under a variety of brand names recalled due to possible botulism contamination
• July 2007: 70 inmates at Jefferson County Jail in Colorado become ill from exposure to E. coli bacteria
• July 2007: Little Rosie’s Taqueria in Huntsville, Alabama, source of E. coli outbreak that sickens 18
• July 2007: Salmonella outbreak affects 636 people; outbreak linked to Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth at the Taste of Chicago Food Festival

• June 2007: State of Tennessee Cook Chill recalls approximately 2,768 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• June 2007: Six people contract E. coli at Rexbury, Idaho, spray park
• June 2007: Veggie Booty Snack Food recalled; Salmonella contamination found
• June 2007: United Food Group, based in California, recalls 5.7 million pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef; possible contamination with E. coli
• June 2007: Tyson Fresh Meats in Sherman, Texas, recalls over 40,000 pounds of packaged ground beef as a result of possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• June 2007: Captain’s Galley, a China Grove, North Carolina, seafood restaurant, is source of E. coli outbreak that sickens 21; one death results from complications of E. coli infection
• June 2007: Really Cool Food Company, Syosset, New York, recalls approximately 140 pounds of chicken products; possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination

• May 2007: Minnesota meat packer PM Holdings recalls 117,500 pounds of beef trim products after seven cases of E. coli food poisoning reported in Minnesota
• May 2007: Davis Creek Meats and Seafood, Kalamazoo, Michigan, recalls 129,000 pounds of beef with possible E. coli O157:H7
• May 2007: Diestel Turkey Ranch, of Chinese Camp, California, recalls approximately 6,907 pounds of ready-to-eat turkey products with possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination

• April 2007: Richwood Meat Company recalls 107,943 pounds of frozen ground beef; E. coli contamination suspected
• April 2007: Souplantation restaurant in Lake Forest, California, closed by health officials after 14 become ill with E. coli symptoms
• April 2007: Earle of Sausage, of Willernie, Minnesota, recalls approximately 330 pounds of ready-to-eat sausage products that may contain Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin

• March 2007: FDA warns consumers not to frink “Jermuk” brand mineral water
• March 2007: FDA investigates norovirus outbreak linked to oysters
• March 2007: Tyson Fresh Meats, a unit of Tyson Foods, Inc., recalls 16,743 pounds of ground beef for possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7

• February 2007: First Quality Sausage, Las Vegas, Nevada, recalls approximately 930 pounds of semi-boneless ham steaks that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• February 2007: Carolina Culinary Foods, of West Columbia, S.C., recalls fully cooked Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich chicken breast cuts and strips as a result of possible contaminatiAnyone who has been paying attention to the news knows that there has been an outrageous number of food poisoning outbreaks and recalls in the U.S. over the past year. on with Listeria monocytogenes
• February 2007: Earth’s Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food recalled for possible contamination with botulism
• February 2007: Castle Produce recalls 560 cartons of cantaloupes for possible Salmonella contamination
• February 2007: BJ’s recalls Wellsley Farms brand mushrooms, which may contain trace amounts of E. coli
• February 2007: Since August, number of Salmonella food poisoning cases linked with Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter reaches 425 in 44 states

• January 2007:Gold Star Sausage Co., Inc, Denver, Colorado, recalls approximately 15,514 pounds of sausage products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

2006

• December 2006: FDA investigates norovirus outbreak linked to oysters December 2006: Taco Bell restaurants in New York and New Jersey linked with E. Coli food poisoning in 39 people
• November 2006: HoneyBaked Foods Inc., of Holland, Ohio, recalls approximately 46,941 pounds of cooked ham and turkey products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• October 2006: Omaha Beef Company, Inc., Danbury, Connecticut, recalls approximately 1,680 pounds of ground beef products; possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination
• October 2006: Herman Falter Packing Co., Columbus, Ohio, recalls approximately 1,178 pounds of various pork products; possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination
• September 2006: Bagged spinach packaged by Natural Selection Foods and probably supplied by Earthbound Farm in California source of E. coli outbreak sickening 198 people, with 3 deaths
• August-October 2006: Arby’s restaurant in Valdosta (Lowndes County), Georgia, linked to 72 cases of Salmonella food poisoning

Add comment December 26th, 2007

December 26, 2007: FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Safeway Salmonella Contaminated Ground Beef

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for Salmonella contaminated ground beef that may have been sold in Safeway supermarkets, causing 38 reported cases of food poisoning in five states.  FSIS reported that the strain of Salmonella Newport linked to the Safeway ground beef outbreak is resistant to multiple antibiotics.

The 38 cases of Salmonella food poisoning were reported in the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico between September 19 and November 5, 2007.  The food poisoning cases were linked by their rare PFGE pattern through PulseNet, a database maintained by The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Epidemiological and case control studies conducted by the Arizona and California Health Departments and CDC, demonstrated an association between the Safeway ground beef products and reported cases of Salmonella food poisoning.

One of the more alarming aspects of this outbreak linked to Safeway ground beef is that despite a very intensive investigation, FSIS “could not identify specific establishments, lots, and products that would be subject to a recall.”

Consumers should check their freezers for Safeway ground beef products that may have been purchased between September 19 and November 5, 2007.  The product should be discarded and not eaten.  And remember – When in doubt, throw it out!

Finally, FISIS warns “This particular strain of Salmonella is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.”

To learn more about Salmonella food poisoning, please see About Salmonella and Salmonella Food Poisoning Symptoms.  You may also wish to visit our additional website www.foodpoisoning.com.

The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg currently represents individuals who have been sickened in Salmonella food poisoning outbreaks.  If you believe that you are a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or submit a Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our law firm please see Food Poisoning Lawyer.

For more information regarding recent food poisoning lawsuits, outbreaks, and drug risk updates, please see Arby’s Salmonella Lawsuit, Salmonella Outbreak, and Zetia Side Effects and Vytorin Side Effects.

You may also wish to visit our new blog Listeria.com to learn about Listeria food poisoning and listeriosis.

Add comment December 26th, 2007

December 20, 2007: Arby’s, Salmonella-Contaminated Roast Beef and Super-Sized Arrogance

Arby’s, Taco Bell, Taco Johns, and Dole represent just a few of the restaurants and food companies that have been linked to major food poisoning outbreaks over the past year and a half.

While many of these companies have taken responsibility for making people ill by covering medical expenses and lost wages, to date Arby’s has left its victims and former patrons out in the cold.

Between August 21 and November 16, 2006, there were 72 confirmed cases of Salmonella food poisoning linked to eating Salmonella-contaminated roast beef at an Arby’s located on Ashley Street in Valdosta, Georgia. Twenty-six percent of those cases resulted in hospitalizations, and one death may be connected to the outbreak.

Following a thorough investigation, Georgia state and local public health officials discovered that a defective meat slicer and Salmonella-contaminated roast beef were responsible for the outbreak.

The following excerpts from the Georgia Department of Human Resources report, dated December 22, 2006, links the outbreak to the Ashley Street Arby’s. The report was entitled: “Outbreak of Salmonella serotype Montevideo infection associated with a fast food restaurant in Valdosta, Georgia.” The report is available to the public.

Report Summary:

This report describes an outbreak of Salmonella serotype Montevideo infections associated with a fast food restaurant in Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia. The outbreak was identified through Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) surveillance. Seventy-two case-patients with indistinguishable S.[Salmonella] Montevideo Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns (outbreak strain) were identified with onset of gastrointestinal symptoms or laboratory date between August 21 and November 16, 2006. A swab sample taken from a meat slicer used at a local fast food restaurant (Restaurant A) and a sample of roast beef from Restaurant A were positive for the S. Montevideo outbreak strain.

Report Results:

[various public health investigators]………..returned to the restaurant to collect additional environmental samples. In all, 31 samples from equipment and food preparation surfaces were collected including three samples from the new meat slicer which had been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The food and environmental samples were delivered to GPHL on October 26 and two samples tested positive for the outbreak strain of S. Montevideo: roast beef collected from a sandwich and a swab collected from the blade cover of the new slicer.

For more than 14 months, Arby’s has possessed full knowledge of their role in a food poisoning outbreak that has caused substantial injury and financial hardship to many, yet they have refused to assume responsibility for the harm they visited on 72 of their patrons. And this despite the fact that many suffered the painful, debilitating effects of Salmonella food poisoning.

It’s time for Arby’s to do what’s right, just as Taco Johns and other companies have done in similar circumstances. There are medical bills to be paid, lost wages to be reimbursed, and pain and suffering to account for. Just because this particular outbreak is over doesn’t mean that Arby’s is off the hook, nor that something just like this couldn’t happen again.  People who were sickened by Arby’s roast beef are still waiting for the company to start being responsible.

The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Childers, Buck, and Schlueter, currently represents 25 victims of a Salmonella food poisoning outbreak in a lawsuit against an Arby’s located in Valdosta, Georgia. If you believe that you are a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our law firm please see Food Poisoning Lawyer.

To learn more about the Arby’s Salmonella outbreak, please see Arby’s Food Poisoning Lawsuit and Arby’s Salmonella Outbreak - A Cautionary Tale.

Add comment December 20th, 2007

December 18, 2007: Arby’s Salmonella Outbreak – A Cautionary Tale

Every year more than 76 million people in the United States suffer from a foodborne illness. There are an estimated 300,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths associated with this number. The economic costs are estimated to be $35 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity. There is no reason for Americans to suffer like this at the hands of the food industry, and it’s clear that a majority of people are fed up with this situation and demanding more accountability and safety. Food should be equated with nourishment and enjoyment, not illness and even death.

Over the next few weeks, we will tell the story of a significant Salmonella food poisoning outbreak linked to an Arby’s Restaurant on Ashley Street in Valdosta, Georgia. Although covered by the local media, the story of this outbreak and its victims should have been shared with a larger audience.

Occurring in August of 2006, the Arby’s Salmonella outbreak represents one of the first in a record number of food product and restaurant food poisoning outbreaks experienced over the past year and a half. This outbreak was part of an early signal that something has gone wrong in the food industry, and that for many and varied reasons our FDA and USDA need repair while the food industry needs proper regulation.

Apparently the public is aware of this: a recent GfK Roper poll reflects that consumer confidence in the fast food industry is down. Consumers believe that activists now best represent the interests of the American public when it comes to food safety, followed by retail grocers, food manufacturers, the U.S. government, and coming in last place – the fast food industry.

The first victim of the Arby’s outbreak in Georgia experienced symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning on August 21, 2006; the last food poisoning case linked with the outbreak was reported on November 16, 2006. The final count of Salmonella cases linked to the Arby’s outbreak was 72. Nineteen of the 72 individuals were hospitalized – a whopping 26% of those affected. The smoking gun, later identified by the Georgia health department, was a defective meat slicer and Salmonella contaminated roast beef.

The first lawsuit against Arby’s was filed on January 17, 2007, on behalf of Frances Parks, a 42-year-old Nashville nurse. Parks spent five days in the hospital, where she was diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning. She eventually developed a bacterimia, meaning that Salmonella bacteria had entered her bloodstream, exposing every organ in her body to the dangerous pathogen. She was hospitalized on August 28, after having eaten Arby’s roast beef sandwiches on August 25 and 26.

According to a January 20, 2007, article in the Valdosta Daily Times by Kelli Hernandez, Parks initial symptoms included “an achy feeling followed by nausea and chills. Soon, Parks’ temperature rose to 101 degrees and she began vomiting, accompanied by diarrhea.”

“The pain was indescribable,” Parks said. “My body literally ached from my toes to my head. I couldn’t stand to even be touched, and I stayed like that for a good 12 to 18 hours.”

Parks and her husband decided to go to the emergency room. At that time, her temperature had reached 104.4 degrees. “Being a nurse, I knew this was wrong and it wasn’t just a typical little bug I picked up from somewhere,” Parks said.

At the hospital, Parks continued to suffer. The vomiting and diarrhea became more intense, and she was given three IV treatments over the course of eight hours. She did not eat solid food for the next three weeks, during which time she also did not work.

“I had to be fever and diarrhea-free for a full 24 hours before I could return to work, and that did not occur for three weeks,” Parks explained. “My digestive system is still messed up, and I definitely do not want to eat at any fast food restaurants now.”

According to Hernandez, “The Salmonella poisoning weakened Parks’ digestive system and digestive tract while the infection in her blood weakened her immune system. The process of rebuilding a digestive system after Salmonella poisoning can take up to six months, according to Parks.”

During her illness, Parks had to rely on her family for help. Her husband also took time off from work, and her mother came to Georgia from Florida to help the couple with their 8-year-old.

“It was horrible,” Parks said. “I wouldn’t wish that stuff on my worst enemy. It was like I thought I would just rather die than go through that stuff.”

Again according to Hernandez, Parks decided to contact attorneys Eric Weinberg and Andy Childers as a result of “the combination of weeks off of work, towering hospital bills, months of sickness and the lack of anyone taking responsibility.”

“The biggest thing was I couldn’t believe how sick I was,” Parks said. “And it blows my mind they never put any word out.”

The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Childers, Buck, and Schlueter, currently represent 25 victims of a Salmonella food poisoning outbreak in a lawsuit against an Arby’s located in Valdosta, Georgia. If you believe that you are a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our law firm please see Food Poisoning Lawyer.

To learn more about the Arby’s Salmonella outbreak, please see Arby’s Food Poisoning Lawsuit.

Add comment December 18th, 2007

December 13, 2007: Salmonella Food Poisoning Outbreak in Four Western States Under Investigation

With three dozen Salmonella food poisoning cases reported in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Idaho, between October 4 and November 9, health officials are looking for a common source behind the outbreak.

In Arizona, there have been 14 cases identified, in California 18, in Nevada three and one in Idaho. All of the cases are linked with the same strain of Salmonella. Seven of the individuals stricken with Salmonella food poisoning in Arizona were hospitalized.

“Having more than 10 or 15 percent of your cases hospitalized tends to be a little bit more severe,” said Shoana Anderson, a Phoenix-based infectious disease epidemiologist.

Anderson said that the Salmonella-contaminated food probably is not linked with a restaurant since it is unlikely that all of the individuals who became ill visited the same restaurant. Instead, health officials are focusing on a chain store as the source of the food product.

The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew Childers of Childers, Buck, and Schlueter, currently represents 25 victims of a Salmonella food poisoning outbreak in a lawsuit against an Arby’s located in Valdosta, GA. If you believe that you are a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or submit a Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our law firm please see Salmonella Lawyer.

To learn more about the Arby’s Salmonella outbreak, please see Arby’s Lawsuit and Arby’s Salmonella Food Poisoning. To read about Salmonella food poisoning, please see About Salmonella and Salmonella Symptoms and Complications.

Add comment December 13th, 2007