The Ambassador Restaurant in Houghton, MI Linked to E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
Seven people contracted E. coli infections after eating at The Ambassador, a restaurant in Houghton, Michigan, according to the Western U.P. Health Department. Four of the Ambassador restaurant E. coli victims were hospitalized. Health officials did not disclose whether any of the victims have hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of an E. coli O157:H7 infection that often causes kidney failure.
After conducting an investigation of the outbreak, Western U.P. health officials determined that a sick employee at the restaurant was responsible for spreading E. coli to the restaurant patrons. A further investigation should be done to find out the following:
- Why was the food handler working while ill?
- What was the restaurant’s policy regarding ill employees?
- Did that policy encourage workers to come to work sick?
- Did management at The Ambassador know the employee was ill?
- What was the source of the employee’s E. coli infection?
- What were the restaurant’s hand washing policies?
- Did the employee wash his or her hands prior to handling the food?
In most cases, a restaurant is responsible for E. coli illnesses caused by a sick employee. Attorney Fred Pritzker is available for a free consultation regarding E. coli outbreak investigations and lawsuits. Because it is important that all relevant evidence be gathered as soon as possible, our attorneys get to work on a case as soon as they are hired. The expense of the investigation and litigation are carried by our law firm until there is a settlement or verdict in the case, i.e., we are not paid unless you win.
Bravo Farms Gouda Cheese – Costco: E. coli Outbreak Update
Pritzker Olsen attorneys are investigating a Costco and Bravo Farms gouda cheese lawsuit for E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) personal injury. To date, the E. coli outbreak has sickened 33 people in Arizona (15), Colorado (10), California (3), New Mexico (3) and Nevada (2). There have been 15 reported hospitalizations, 1 case of HUS, and no deaths.
“The physical, financial and emotional burdens of an E. coli infection can be devastating for victims and their families, and I’ve seen this happen too often in my practice as an E. coli lawyer,” said food poisoning attorney Fred Pritzker. “Our law firm is investigating this outbreak and what led to the contamination of the cheese. We are also concerned about cross contamination.”
CDC is collaborating with the FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and public health officials in the five states to investigate this multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtyping, the pathogen has been identified as a rare strain of E. coli O157:H7 that has never been seen before in the PulseNet database. PulseNet is the national subtyping network that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.
Laboratory testing had confirmed the presence of E. coli 0157:H7, matching the outbreak strain, in two opened packages of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese purchased at Costco and taken from two different case patient’s homes. Additionally, preliminary laboratory testing conducted on an unopened package of Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda Cheese obtained from a Costco retail location has identified E. coli O157:H7. Further laboratory testing is being conducted to confirm these results.
The FDA has collected Bravo Farms product samples for testing to identify potential sources of contamination. The additional investigative activities include:
- Conducting surveillance to identify additional illnesses that could be related to the outbreak.
- Gathering and testing food products that may be contaminated with bacteria.
- Following epidemiologic leads gathered from interviews with patients, food purchase information, or from patterns of processing, production and/or distribution of suspected products.
- Investigating the distribution chain to ascertain the point of contamination.
For more information call an experienced E. coli lawyer with PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our free consultation form.
Bravo Farms Gouda Cheese Recall for Possible E. coli Contamination AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV
A recall has been issued for Bravo Farms Dutch-style Gouda cheese. The cheese was available for sale and free samplings were offered at Costco stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Disease Control (CDC), Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco), and our law firm are warning consumers not to consume Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese (Costco item #40654).
The Bravo Farms Gouda cheese recall was prompted by an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that has sickened at least 25 people in:
- Arizona (11)
- California (1)
- Colorado (8)
- New Mexico (3)
- Nevada (2)
Consumers who have any of this cheese should not eat it. The cheese should be returned to the place of purchase or dispose of it carefully to prevent people or animals from consuming it.
Pritzker Olsen E. coli lawyers are monitoring this Costco cheese E. coli outbreak. For a free case consultation, call 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our free consultation form.
Our firm is one of the few in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We currently represent E. coli HUS victims and have years of experience representing victims of food poisoning against large national retailers and food manufacturers.
E. coli Contamination
With all of the regulations and inspections, one would think our food supply would be free from E. coli contamination. That is not true. Outbreaks and recalls happen frequently.
Contamination of cheese can occur at many points along the production line, including:
- through the use of raw milk in the production of cheese
- equipment not being cleaned and sterilized properly
- employees not using proper hygiene
The FDA and CDC have repeatedly warned the public about consuming raw milk and raw milk products.
“Raw milk is milk from cows, sheep, or goats that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. This raw, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which are responsible for causing numerous foodborne illnesses.
These harmful bacteria can seriously affect the health of anyone who drinks raw milk, or eats foods made from raw milk. However, the bacteria in raw milk can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.”
The FDA, CDC and Costco are working together on the investigation and will update the public with more information as soon as it is available. As more information becomes available, the recommendations to consumers may change. The FDA, in conjunction with the state of California, has initiated an investigation at Bravo Farms.
Bravo Farms is located on Highway 99 in Traver, California. Their Dutch-style Gouda is handmade into small wheels and dipped in red wax. According to the Bravo Farms website, they use raw milk in the production of their cheeses.
PritzkerOlsen, P. A. has a national E. coli litigation practice. Our lawyers have been interviewed by The Associated Press, CNN, CBS, FOX, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Lawyers USA and others. Fred Pritzker is listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Call 1-888-377-8900 toll-free or submit our free consultation form for information about a possible E. coli lawsuit.
E. coli Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Case In MN Raw Milk Outbreak
A Hartmann Dairy Farm E. coli raw milk outbreak in Minnesota has left one toddler in the hospital with hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS) and infected three other Minnesotans with the dangerous pathogen, E. coli 0157:H7.
The other three E coli victims include a 70-year-old man and two school-aged children. The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed that all four cases involve the same strain of Ecoli, with the same DNA fingerprint. Three of the four cases are reportedly linked to raw milk produced by Hartmann Dairy Farm of Gibbon, MN. The Minnesota health department urged in a press release:
“anyone who may have recently purchased milk from the Hartmann Dairy Farm, also known as M.O.M.’s, to discard the product and not consume it.”
The MDH press release also mentions that the milk may be labeled simply as “organic” and consumers may not be aware that the milk is raw and unpasteurized. Some people believe that raw, unpasteurized milk is healthier than pasteurized milk, although scientific evidence on this point is inconclusive.
Pasteurization makes milk safer for human consumption and it is illegal to sell raw, unpasteurized milk across state lines. In Minnesota, the sale of raw milk is heavily regulated by law. However, new facts have surfaced about the owner and operator of Hartmann Dairy Farms, showing he has resisted regulations. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
“Michael Hartmann, whose dairy is just outside this town of 800 people, last had a license to sell Grade A milk in 2001. He has kicked inspectors off his property, refused to tell a judge his name in court and asserted he is a “natural man” with a constitutional right to raise and sell food without government interference.”
About E. coli and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Symptoms of an E. coli infection are initially painful and uncomfortable, and may include abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and nausea. They may begin 2 to 5 days after the contaminated food or fluids are consumed. However, the infection can soon turn life-threatening if it develops into Ecoli HUS syndrome (hemolytic uremic syndrome). This can cause kidney failure, requiring dialysis treatment and leaving long-lasting effects that can severely affect the victim’s quality of life for years to come.
Officials track Ann Arbor E. coli outbreak
Michigan health officials are tracking an E. coli outbreak involving more than 10 individuals in the county that contains Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
“We are in the early stages of our investigation,” said Dr. Diana Torres-Burgos, MD, MPH, Medical Director for Washtenaw County Public Health, “and we are doing everything we can to identify probable cases and to prevent any additional illness.”
The health department’s press release doesn’t contain any hints on what food source may be causing the outbreak, but an epidemiological probe is under way. Victims are being questioned about what they ate seven days prior to falling ill.
Patients in this outbreak have complained of abdominal cramping followed by worsening diarrhea, often including bloody stools. Anyone suffering these symptoms is urged to see a physician and request testing for E. coli. Any positive result should be reported immediately to the county health department.
Estimates are imprecise, but microbiologists guess that more than 70,000 Americans fall ill every year from E. coli bacterial infections, the largest source of which is contaminated ground beef. Of those infected, more than 5 percent develop life-threatening HUS E. coli, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, the leading cause of kidney failure in children and the leading cause of E. coli deaths.
HUS and an associated condition known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) also present risks of serious long-term health issues related to damage that E. coli and its toxins can cause to the central nervous system, brain and heart.
National food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen is monitoring this outbreak and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
