Lettuce E. coli O145 Victim Represented by Pritzker Olsen
A student at Daemen College in Amhurst, New York who was sickened in an outbreak of E. coli 0145 has retained food safety lawyers at Pritzker Olsen. The outbreak of this rare strain of E. coli has been associated with recalled romaine lettuce distributed by Sidney, Ohio-based Freshway Foods.
The client became sick in early April with the classic symptoms of an E coli infection: bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. She was hospitalized three times as her condition developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS), which is a life-threatening illness that can cause central nervous system damage, kidney failure, pancreatitis, heart problems, and other serious medical problems. Although her condition is improving, the illness has posed a serious setback to her studies and was completely preventable. E. coli O157 is the typical strain of this pathogen that the general public hears about in news reports. It is the most common strain linked to human illnesses, but as this case illustrates, it is certainly not the only one that can severely harm consumers.
“Any E. coli strain capable of producing the toxin that causes injury or death in humans, including O145, should be declared an adulterant and regulated by federal and state agencies charged with protecting our nation’s food supply,” said food safety attorney Fred Pritzker. “Our client’s HUS is no less devastating because it came from O145 rather than O157.”
Currently, the USDA does not test for E. coli O145 in food products. Food safety advocates, including Pritzker, have advocated for this to change. This particular O145 outbreak has so far sickened 23 people in 4 states: Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan and New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven probable cases are also being investigated.
In the wake of this outbreak and recall, another distributor, Vaughn Foods of Oklahoma, has also recalled lettuce that was grown at the same Yuma, Arizona farm being investigated in connection with the Freshway Foods recall.
Lettuce Recalled Due to E. coli O145 Risk Grown on Yuma, Arizona Farm
According to an FDA news release, investigators have confirmed that the strain of E. coli O145 detected by New York State Public Health in an unopened bag of shredded romaine lettuce distributed by Freshway Foods matches the outbreak strain of E. coli O145.
To date, there have been 19 confirmed and additional unconfirmed cases of E. coli O145 infections in Michigan, Ohio, and New York. These illnesses include 12 individuals who have been hospitalized, and three with a potentially life threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
HUS is a serious condition in which the body’s blood-clotting mechanisms are altered, causing blocked circulation or bleeding in the brain or kidneys.
In response to the E. coli O145 outbreak, on May 6, Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio, recalled certain romaine lettuce products because of the possible connection to the E.coli O145 foodborne illness outbreak. The recalled shredded romaine lettuce had “best if used by” dates of May 12 or earlier.
Federal and state investigators are attempting to determine the point in the supply chain where the contamination occurred and are investigating a farm in the Yuma, Arizona area from which the romaine lettuce was harvested. Lettuce harvested from other geographic areas does not appear to be associated with this outbreak.
Vaughan Foods of Moore, Oklahoma, a supplier of processed and packaged lettuce for use at the foodservice level, received romaine lettuce harvested from the same farm in Yuma, Arizona; the company is recalling romaine lettuce with “use‐by” dates of May 9 and May 10. The recalled romaine lettuce distributed by Vaughan Foods was sold to restaurants and food service facilities and were not available for purchase at retail by consumers.
Anyone who ate lettuce at a restaurant, grocery store deli, or other eating establishment and then experiences diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea, and severe cramping should seek medical attention immediately.
Recalled Freshway Foods Lettuce May Have Been Grown in Arizona
On May 5, 2010, the New York state Public Health Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, in Albany reported finding E. coli O145 in an unopened bag of Freshway Foods shredded romaine lettuce. This was part of an investigation of an E. coli O145 outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan, New York and Ohio.
On May 6, Freshway Foods, a Sidney, Ohio firm, recalled bags of lettuce it sold to wholesalers, food service outlets, and some in-store salad bars and delis in the following areas: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Freshway Foods is advising consumers not to eat “grab and go” salads sold in-store salad bars and delis at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores.
Investigators are now looking at a farm in Yuma, Arizona as the source of the recalled lettuce. Past E. coli outbreaks linked to lettuce and spinach have been traced back to farms in California that were close to cattle ranches or in areas that frequently flood.
The issue for investigators now is to determine when the lettuce became contaminated with E. coli O145.
Freshway Foods Lettuce E coli O145 Outbreak
Lettuce distributed by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio has been associated with an E coli O145 outbreak at several university campuses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is soon expected to announce.
The E. coli 0145 outbreak has so far sickened approximately 50 people near Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Daemen College in Amherst, New York.
Pritzker Olsen food safety attorneys have represented victims of E coli 0157 and other strains of this dangerous pathogen. Although E coli O157 is the strain most commonly associated with illness, other strains, such as the E coli 0145 associated with this outbreak, can be just as dangerous. An E coli infection can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Severe gastrointestinal problems such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome ( E. coli HUS )
- Thrombotic Thromboctopenic Purpura (TTP)
An E. coli infection can even be fatal in some cases. Pritzker Olsen food safety lawyers continuously monitor E. coli outbreaks nationwide to provide up-to-date information on E. coli prevention.
Recalled WinCo Beef Sold in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Mark Horton has warned consumers not to eat ground beef products being recalled by WinCo Food stores. The recalled ground beef may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a dangerous pathogen that can cause hemolytic anemia, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic pupura (TTP).
The recalled ground beef was sold at WinCo Food stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The ground beef is packaged in Styrofoam trays and the packaging is marked with sale dates from March 28 to April 9.
Earlier this month WinCo recalled some ground beef products sold by its Modesto store after two surveillance samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Friday, an additional surveillance sample tested positive for E. Coli 0157:H7. No illnesses have been linked to the recalled ground beef products at this time.
The CDPH warns:
Consumers with recalled products should either throw the product away or return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Under no circumstances, should consumers eat this recalled beef.
Expanded WinCo E. coli Hamburger Recall
Customers at WinCo Foods should be aware of a widening ground beef E. coli recall and associated investigation by USDA and the California Department of Public Health.
It started last week with an E. coli recall of fresh hamburger at a Winco-owned store in Modesto. Now the company is urging customers at all 70 of its stores in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada to avoid WinCo store-packaged ground beef with sale dates of March 28-April 9.
A USDA spokesman, Neil Gaffney, told the Modesto Bee newspaper that the agency has launched a traceback investigation involving WinCo’s suppliers to determine where the ground beef E. coli contamination first occurred. It is illegal in the United States to sell ground beef contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, which Congress has declared an adulterant.
No confirmed illnesses have been associated with the recall, but health officials are urging WinCo ground beef customers to see a physician immediately if they suffer bloody stools, severe cramps, diarrhea and other E. coli symptoms.
