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.
Green County, Wisconsin E. coli O157:H7 and HUS Outbreak
When a child is lost to something as preventable as E. coli poisoning, it is appalling. For too long, profit has come before safety at many companies that process food. We heard from a former manager at one food processor how the CEO did not want testing done on a product because he knew it would come back positive and he didn’t want a recall. This is happening in our country.
Now E. coli O157:H7 has killed another young child. This time it is in Wisconsin, where state and Green County officials are trying to track down the source of the E. coli outbreak that has also sickened eight others. Two of the victims of the outbreak developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), sometimes referred to as E. coli kidney failure or E. coli in the kidneys. E. coli-HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children in the United States.
According to The Capital Times, a 20-month-old girl from Green County died Sunday at UW Children’s Hospital in Madison after being admitted about a week earlier.
All of the victims of this E. coli outbreak are from Green County, but not all from the same area of Green County.
Pritzker Olsen E. coli attorneys have a national practice and have won millions for E. coli victims throughout the United States, including Wisconsin. Green County cities and towns: Albany, Brodhead, Brooklyn, Browntown, Juda, Monroe, Monticello, and New Glarus.
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.
Costco Cheese E. coli Outbreak From Bravo Farms Gouda
Costco cheese E. coli outbreak news updates from food poisoning attorneys at Pritzker Olsen will be posted throughout the day. Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese, (Costco item40654) has been associated with an E. coli O157:H7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
According to the CDC:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention join Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco), in warning consumers not to consume Bravo Farms Dutch Style Gouda cheese (Costco item 40654), as this cheese may be associated with an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. The cheese was available for sale, and free samples were offered for in-store tasting at Costco stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.”
The number of E. coli food poisoning cases reported across the country so far are as follows: AZ (11), CA (1), CO (8), NM (3) and NV (2). E. coli O157:H7 can lead to a life-threatening complication called E. coli HUS, or hemolytic uremic syndrome that can lead to kidney failure, other serious personal injury and wrongful death.
Food poisoning lawyers at Pritzker Olsen attorneys hire the best epidemiologists, microbiologists and other experts to win millions of dollars for E. coli food poisoning victims. Contact a Costco E. coli attorney about a Bravo Farms lawsuit from E. coli contaminated Gouda cheese.
Canadian E. coli Outbreak Associated With Festival
At least 26 people have fallen sick from a suspected E. coli outbreak in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canadian health officials have associated the majority of cases with food eaten at the Russsian pavilion of the annual Folklorama multicultural festivals, CBC News-Radio Canada reports. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority issued a warning last week after 15 suspected cases had surfaced since the beginning of August.
Of those who have become sick, 14 have been confirmed to have E. coli, including two children who are still recovering in hospital, according to the CBC report. Folklorama ended August 14, but there is a risk of secondary infection. Once someone has eaten contaminated food, the infection can be passed person to person, by hand-to-mouth contact.
