Maryland Man Sick in E. coli Bison Outbreak
Another victim has been identified in the Rocky Mountain Natural Meats E. coli bison outbreak and recall, according to food safety attorneys at Pritzker Olsen law firm.
A man in Baltimore, Maryland became sick with E. coli O157:H7 after eating Great Range brand bison meat in mid June, say Pritzker Olsen attorneys, who represent the food poisoning victim. Great Range was one brand involved in the recall, which also included Nature’s Rancher and The Buffalo Guys brands.
The 28-year-old man was notified by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened him matched the strain that sickened others in Colorado and one in New York.
The food safety lawyers also represent a woman from Lakewood, Colorado, in a lawsuit filed last week against Rocky Mountain Natural Meats. That client was hospitalized for several days after eating bison meat bought at King Soopers grocery.
Colorado E. coli Outbreak at Little Sailors Daycare
Little Sailors Child Development in Northglenn, Colorado is the center of an E. coli outbreak in which 14 people are sick, local news sources report.
Children exhibiting E. coli symptoms are being kept apart from others. “The reason we’re not sending them home is because we don’t want the parents to take them to a different child-care setting and spread the disease around,” the day care owner says.
Thirteen children and one adult are sick in this outbreak so far. “It appears less severe,” said Richard Vogt, M.D., with the Tri-County Health Department. “We have to see how this plays out.” The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Bison E. coli Recall Expanded
The Colorado firm that recalled more than 60,000 pounds of ground bison and tenderized bison steaks expanded the recall to include more than 700 pounds of bison meat distributed to a firm in Nevada for further processing, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The recall is an expansion of an earlier July 2 recall of bison meat potentially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The meat products are associated with an E. coli outbreak that has sickened five people in Colorado and one person in New York.
The following products are involved in the recall:
- 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN.” These products have a lot number of 0147.
- 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010.
- 15-pound boxes of “ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK.” These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.
- Various weight boxes of “BISON B TRIM.” These products bear a production date of May 21, 2010 and a Julian Code of 14110. The boxes also state “KEEP REFRIGERATED.”
The retail distribution list for the potentially contaminated, recalled bison meat has also been updated and now includes:
- Albertsons
- Giant Food
- Hannaford’s
- King Soopers
- Kroger’s
- Market Basket
- Price Chopper’s
- Stop & Shop Supermarket
- Super Valu
- Whole Foods
The FSIS will update the retail distribution list as information becomes available.
Wegman’s Supermarkets Recalls Bison Products Due to Possible E. coli Contamination
On July 2, the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) announced the recall of about 66,0000 pounds of bison products processed by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, a Colorado firm. When available, USDA-FSIS publishes a list of retailers to which recalled products were distributed. The USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) list of retailers selling recalled bison products processed by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats includes the following:
- Hannaford’s
- King Soopers
- Market Basket
- Price Choppers
- Whole Foods
The list is incomplete. Wegman’s Supermarkets recalled two of the recalled bison products it sold at their stores:
- Great Range Buffalo Sirloin Steaks, 12 oz., UPC 16447-10226 Only product with sell or freeze-by date of June 20, 23, or 24, 2010
- Great Range Ground Bison, 16 oz., UPC 16447 10090 Only product with a sell or freeze-by date of June 21, 22, or 24, 2010
The Rocky Mountain Natural Meat products were recalled because they may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.
The possible contamination was discovered by USDA-FSIS during the course of an on-going investigation into a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Colorado with illness onset dates between June 4, 2010 and June 9, 2010. FSIS determined that there is an association between the ground bison products and the cluster of illnesses in the state of Colorado and an additional illness in New York.
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats Recall of Bison Products Due to E coli Outbreak in Colorado and New York
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, a Henderson, Colorado establishment, is recalling approximately 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized steak bison products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an on-going investigation into a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Colorado with illness onset dates between June 4, 2010 and June 9, 2010. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the New York Department of Health, 5 case-patients have been identified in Colorado as well as 1 case-patient in New York with an indistinguishable PFGE pattern. FSIS determined that there is an association between the ground bison products and the cluster of illnesses in the state of Colorado. FSIS is continuing to work with the CDC, affected state public health partners, and the company on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a health care provider.
The following products are subject to recall:
- 16-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL GROUND BISON.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of “NATURE’S RANCHER GROUND BUFFALO.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 22, 2010.
- 16-ounce packages of “THE BUFFALO GUYS ALL NATURAL GROUND BUFFALO 90% LEAN.” These products have a lot number of 0147.
- 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON STEAK MEDALLIONS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 23 and June 24, 2010
- 12-ounce packages of “GREAT RANGE BRAND ALL NATURAL BISON SIRLOIN STEAKS.” These products have a “sell or freeze by” date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010
- 15-pound boxes of “ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATURAL MEATS, INC. BISON 10 OZ SIRLOIN STEAK.” These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 20247” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were produced between the dates of May 21, 2010 through May 27, 2010, and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide and food service distributors in Utah and Arizona. While the sell-by dates for these products have passed, FSIS and the establishment are aware that consumers may also freeze the product before use and there is concern that some product may still be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.
E. coli and Campylobacter Outbreak Associated With Colorado Raw Milk
An outbreak of E. coli and Campylobacter has been associated with raw goat’s milk from Billy Goat Dairy in Longmont, Colorado, according to local news reports. Sixteen people have become ill after drinking the milk, two of which are children who required hospitalization, according to Boulder County Public Health (BCPH).
The dairy has been ordered by BCPH to cease the sale and distribution of its raw milk products. The farm has operated on a goat share system, allowing consumers to buy a share of a goat to receive unpasteurized milk from the goat. Every household member of the program is being contacted by the BCPH to conduct questioning and microbiological tests to determine if they have experienced any illnesses related to this outbreak. According to BCPH:
“We strongly advise residents to avoid consuming any raw milk or milk products,” said Murielle Romine. “It can be extremely dangerous, particularly for young children and people with weakened immune systems.”
E. coli and Campylobacter in Raw Milk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following information about outbreaks linked to raw, unpasteurized dairy products between 1998 and 2005:
- 45 foodborne illness outbreaks attributed to raw milk or cheese made from raw milk
- 1,0007 illnesses
- 104 hospitalizations
- Two deaths
The food safety attorneys at Pritzker Olsen Law firm have represented victims in E. coli lawsuits and Campylobacter lawsuits. “Currently, one of our clients is a man who contracted Campylobacter in a Pennsylvania raw milk outbreak,” said Attorney Fred Pritzker. “This man’s illness developed into a serious complication called Guillain-Barre Syndrome that left him paralyzed. When it comes to raw milk the risks are simply too high.”
E. coli infections can also lead to serious health complications, including kidney failure and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which attacks blood cells and can lead to long-term kidney damage or even death.
