Salmonella Outbreak in Texas, Oklahoma and Other States Linked to Mexican Restaurant Chain

Posted on Jan 20, 2012

The CDC issued its final report on a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak associated with several locations of a Mexican restaurant chain (referred to as Restaurant Chain A by the CDC).  The outbreak had been kept under wraps by state and federal investigators, most likely because the source of the outbreak is believed to be a food product that was contaminated before it was received by the restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma and 8 additional states. Our opinion on this is that consumers have the right to know the name of the restaurant chain and that this knowledge could lead to finding additional victims of this outbreak.

In addition, legally the restaurant chain is responsible for this outbreak. Salmonella victims and their families should not bear the financial burdens of this outbreak, and our Salmonella lawyers are available for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against the restaurant chain and others.

Map showing states with Salmonella victims. Texas (43) and Oklahoma (16) hardest hit. Free consultation with our attorneys >>>

Salmonella Outbreak Investigation

State and federal investigators found sufficient evidence to implicate Restaurant Chain A in the multistate Salmonella outbreak, but they could not find the specific food product that caused the outbreak. Data did indicate that contamination likely occurred before the product reached Restaurant Chain A locations.

Public health investigators used DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to determine the cases of Salmonella Enteritidis that are part of this outbreak. The PFGE pattern in the outbreak has been seen before in PulseNet (the national subtyping network) and in the past typically caused 2-3 cases per month. This outbreak involved 68 people in 10 states: Texas (43), Oklahoma (16), Kansas (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Ohio (1), and Tennessee (1).

Salmonella illnesses began on or after October 13, 2011, and 31% of the Salmonella victims were hospitalized. If the Salmonella infection enters the bloodstream and causes sepsis (septicemia), the infection can then spread to the brain, heart, pancreas, lungs and other organs. These cases can be fatal. In addition, in some cases the Salmonella victims develops a reactive arthritis called Reiter’s syndrome, which can be debilitating.

Public health officials in multiple states and the CDC interviewed Salmonella victims, asking questions about exposures during the days before becoming ill.  Of the 53 Salmonella victims who provided information, 60% reported eating at Restaurant Chain A in the week before illness onset. Salmonella victims reported eating at 18 different locations of Restaurant Chain A in the week before becoming ill.

Epidemiologic studies compared foods eaten by 48 Salmonella victims and 103 well persons. Analysis of this study indicated that eating at Mexican-style fast food Restaurant Chain A was associated with illness. Salmonella infection victims (62%) were significantly more likely than well persons (17%) to report eating at Restaurant Chain A in the week before illness. No specific food item or ingredient was found to be associated with illness due to common ingredients being used together in many menu items. However, among ill persons eating at Restaurant Chain A, 90% reported eating lettuce, 94% reported eating ground beef, 77% reported eating cheese, and 35% reported eating tomatoes.

FREE CONSULTATION REGRADING YOUR SALMONELLA CLAIM >>>

Hannaford Beef Salmonella Outbreak: Free Consultation Regarding Investigation and Lawsuit

Posted on Dec 20, 2011

The Hannaford supermarkets Salmonella ground beef outbreak in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts Maine has hospitalized at least seven people and infected at least seven others with Salmonella Typhimurium, a strain of bacteria that is resistant to some antibiotics. Our attorneys are investigating this outbreak and are available for a free consultation.

Although several people have been sickened and more may be at risk, the USDA was not able to determine what suppliers provided beef parts for the ground beef. According to the USDA, Hannaford’s records are “limited” and do not provide adequate information to determine which beef from which supplier went into the grinder.

Salmonella in Ground Beef

Ground beef has been implicated time and again as a transmission vehicle in foodborne outbreaks, some of them Salmonella outbreaks that have resulted in severe illness. Our experience is that traceback of contaminated beef to the producing facility is often unsuccessful because of inadequate record keeping at retail establishments that grind beef products. Traceback investigators must be able to determine what products were incorporated into each batch, when the grinding occurred, where it was stored and when it was shipped to other stores within the same chain. Although keeping these records is easier than ever with computer technology, many processors choose not to take this step to help trace back contamination and prevent illness.

With effective records, products can be removed from the market in a fashion timelier and more complete, helping to prevent further cases of illness and recurrent outbreaks caused by the same source. For instance, some investigations have found systemic causes of contamination in cutting lines and machinery at the meatpacking level. The faster an inspector is tipped off to the problem, the less cross-contamination will occur and the fewer people will be put at risk for serious illness and death.

Wegmans Lawsuit Filed in New York by Salmonella Lawyers as CDC Updates Pine Nut Salmonella Outbreak

Posted on Nov 18, 2011

Our Salmonella lawyers filed a lawsuit in New York yesterday against Wegmans Food Markets and Sunrise Commodities on behalf of a woman who contracted a Salmonella infection after eating Turkish pine nuts she had purchased from a Wegmans store in New York.  A trace back of the pine nuts revealed that Sunrise Commodities, a New Jersey company, had distributed the pine nuts to Wegmans. The lawsuit seeks damages for general pain and suffering, medical expenses, travel expenses, emotional distress and other damages.

Contact our Salmonella lawyers for a free consultation regarding a Wegmans lawsuit.

Wegmans Salmonella Outbreak Updated by CDC — 43 Sickened by Pine Nuts

As of today, 43 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis were reported to the CDC from 5 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain was as follows: Maryland (1), New Jersey (2), New York (28), Pennsylvania (8), and Virginia (4).

Among 43 persons for whom information was available, illnesses began on or after August 20, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from <1 to 94 years, and the median age was 43 years old. Sixty percent of patients were female. Two patients were hospitalized.

Both epidemiological and microbiological evidence has linked this outbreak to eating Turkish pine nuts sold in bulk bins at Wegmans grocery stores. Some Turkish pine nuts were consumed as an ingredient in prepared foods, such as Caprese salad or asparagus with pine nuts, sold at Wegmans stores. The pin nuts linked to this outbreak were imported from Turkey and distributed by Sunrise Commodities.

Epidemiology involves determining what victims ate and then analyzing the data. In this outbreak, among 40 ill persons for whom information was available, 28 (70%) reported consuming Turkish pine nuts or products containing these pine nuts in the week before their illness began.

Early in the investigation, shopper card information was collected and used to identify which specific products to suspect as sources of illness. Ill persons gave permission for public health officials to retrieve shopper card purchase information. A review of shopper card records identified that ill persons had purchased the same type of Turkish pine nuts from bulk bins at different locations of Wegmans grocery stores before becoming ill.

Laboratory microbial testing conducted by public health laboratories in several states has identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis from 14 samples of Turkish pine nuts or pesto containing Turkish pine nuts:

• The Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis from Turkish pine nuts that were purchased from bulk bins at Wegmans stores and collected from an ill person’s home, and from retail samples of Turkish pine nuts collected from a Wegmans store where ill persons reported shopping.
• The New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center Laboratory, isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis from three separate samples of homemade pesto containing Turkish pine nuts from three unrelated ill persons’ homes. In addition, culture of two samples of Turkish pine nuts which were purchased from bulk bins at different Wegmans stores and collected from two ill persons’ homes (one who also provided one of the pesto samples) yielded the outbreak strain.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis from two samples of homemade pesto containing Turkish pine nuts from an ill person’s home, and from Turkish pine nuts which were purchased from bulk bins at two Wegmans stores and collected from two unrelated ill persons’ homes.
• The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis from a sample of pesto containing Turkish pine nuts, and from a sample of Turkish pine nuts which were purchased from bulk bins at a Wegmans store and collected from an ill person’s home. The outbreak strain was also isolated from a sample of bulk pine nuts collected from a second Wegmans store in Maryland that was not associated with any illnesses.

The evidence solidly links Turkish pine nuts sold at Wegmans to the outbreak. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

Salmonella Claim against Cargill for Illness from Ground Turkey

Posted on Nov 11, 2011

If you have been diagnosed with a Salmonella infection after eating ground turkey processed by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, you may have a claim against Cargill and others for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

The CDC has released updated information on the Salmonella outbreak linked to ground turkey processed by Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas. A total of 136 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg were reported from 34 states with illness onset dates between February 27 and September 13, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (4), Connecticut (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (16), Indiana (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (1), Michigan (12), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (2), Missouri (7), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (3), North Carolina (4), Ohio (12), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (8), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (18), Utah (1), Vermont (1), and Wisconsin (4).

Among persons for whom information was available, illnesses began on or after February 27, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from less than 1 year to 90 years old, with a median age of 23 years old. Fifty-five percent were male. Among the 94 ill persons with available information, 37 (39%) were hospitalized. One death was reported.

Evidence Implicating Cargill Ground Turkey

Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicated that ground turkey was the likely source of this outbreak. Among the 94 ill persons with available information, 51 (54%) reported consuming ground turkey. This proportion was significantly higher than results from a survey of healthy persons in which 11% of persons interviewed reported consuming ground turkey in the 7 days before they were interviewed. Product information (such as date and location of purchase of ground turkey) was collected from ill persons and was used by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies to further the investigation.

Cultures of five ground turkey samples purchased from five retail locations between March 7 and June 27, 2011, yielded Salmonella Heidelberg with the outbreak strain. PFGE patterns from these Salmonella bacteria were added to the PulseNet database between April 11 and July 12, approximately a month after each sample was collected. Preliminary information indicated that all of these products originated from a common food-production establishment (Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation in Springdale, Arkansas). These products were obtained as part of routine sampling in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)  and were not linked to illnesses. In addition, a sample of leftover, unlabeled frozen ground turkey was collected by public health officials from the home of an ill person infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in Ohio. Culture of the ground turkey sample yielded the outbreak strain on July 29, 2011.

In addition to the outbreak strain, with the “initial” PGFE pattern, a Salmonella Heidelberg with a second closely related PFGE pattern was identified in the contaminated leftover product. Since February 27, 2011, a total of 27 ill persons have been reported to PulseNet with this closely related PGFE pattern. Among the 13 such patients who have been interviewed, 12 (92%) reported consumption of ground turkey in the week before their illness began. The closely related PGFE pattern was also found in a retail sample of ground turkey taken as part of NARMS surveillance. This retail sample originated from Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation establishment in Springdale, Arkansas. Based on these findings, the 27 ill persons with this second closely related PFGE pattern of Salmonella Heidelberg were included in the total count of outbreak cases.

Drug Resistant Strain of Salmonella Heidelberg

This was a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. As of September 12, 2011, investigators collected antibiotic resistance information on isolates from 12 samples of ground turkey collected at retail and from 23 ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. The isolates from the ground turkey samples were resistant to antibiotics including ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and gentamicin. The sensitivity testing results indicated that isolates from humans were also resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, and some were resistant to streptomycin and gentamicin. All human isolates were sensitive to several common antibiotics used in clinical practice such as ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Antimicrobial resistance may increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

Cargill Ground Turkey Recall

On August 3, 2011, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Springdale, Arkansas, establishment, recalled approximately 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may have been contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg. The products subject to recall were all comprised of ground turkey meat and had the establishment number “P-963″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

On September 11, 2011, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation recalled another 185,000 pounds of ground turkey products after product samples at the plant tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg based on sample results from an intensive in-plant investigation performed by FSIS. On September 27, 2011 FSIS reported that one positive sample was confirmed to have the outbreak strain and the isolate was multidrug resistant.

The recalled Cargill ground turkey was sold under the following brands: Safeway, HEB, Fit & Active, Riverside, Shady Brook Farms, Honeysuckle and Kroger. National and state-wide retailers that received recalled Cargill ground turkey:

• Acme Stores in OH
• Albertsons Stores in AR, FL, LA, and TX
• Alco Nationwide
• Aldi Nationwide
• Alp’sStores in AR, IL, KS, KY, MO, NE, OK
• Bag ‘N Save Stores in Greater Omaha area and York NE
• Baker’s Stores in NE
• Big Star Stores in AL, AR, LA, MO, MS, TN
• Bi-LoStores in GA
• Bi-Rite Stores in OH and TN
• Brookshire Brothers Stores in LA and TX
• Brookshire Food StoresStores in AR, LA, and TX
• Broulim’s Supermarket Stores in ID
• Buehler’s Stores in IN and OH
• Buy For Less Stores in OK
• Byerly Foods Stores in MN
• Calhoun Foods Stores in AL
• Cash Saver Stores in AR, IL, IN, KY, MO, OK, TN
• Cash Wise Foods Stores in MN and ND
• Cermak Stores in IL
• Chief Super Market Stores in OH
• City Market Stores in AR and CO
• Coborn’s Stores in MN and SD
• Country Mart Stores in AR, KS, KY, MO, OK, and TN
• County Market Nationwide
• Crest Foods Stores in OK
• Cub Foods Stores in IL, MN, OH and WI
• Dahl’sFoods Stores in IA
• Dan’s Supermarket Stores in ND and UT
• Dash Market Stores in NY
• Dave’s Stores in NY and OH
• Dick’s Stores in UT and WI
• Dierbergs Stores in IL and MO
• Dillon’s Stores in KS and MO
• Discount Drug Mart Stores in OH
• Duckwall’s Stores in CO, IA, KS, ND, NE, NM, OK, and TX
• E.W. James Stores in MS and TN
• Easy Way Stores in TN
• Family Market Stores in AL and AR
• Festival Foods Stores in MI, MN and WI
• Fiesta Mart Stores in the greater Dallas and Houston, TX areas
• Fisher’s Stores in IL and OH
• Food 4 Less Stores in CA, IL, IN, LA, MO, NE, NV and OH
• Food Center Nationwide
• Food Depot Stores in GA, IL, LA, AND MS
• Food Fair Stores in KS, KY, MO, OH and WV
• Food Giant Stores in AL, AR, KY, MI, MO, MS, and TN
• Food Outlet Stores in AL and TX
• Food Pride Stores in IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, and WI
• Food Pyramid Stores in OK
• Food World Locations in FL, IN, IA, KY, LA and MI
• Foodland Nationwide
• Foodliner Stores in AR, KS, KY, MO, and MS
• Foods Co Stores in CA
• Foodtown Stores in AR, CO, ID, NV, OH, OR, TN, TX, and UT
• Fresh Market Stores in AL, AR, IL, MI, MN, MO, NY, UT and WI
• Fry’s Stores in AZ
• G&W Foods Stores in KS and MO
• Gerbes Stores in MO
• Giant Eagle Stores in MD, OH, PA and WV
• Greer’s Stores in AL, FL, and MS
• H E Butt (HEB) Stores in TX
• H.G. Hill Stores in TN
• Harmons Stores in UT
• Harp’s Stores in AR, MO, and OK
• Harvest Foods Stores in AR, LA, MN
• Hay’s Stores in AR and MO
• Heinen’s Stores in OH
• Hen House Stores in KS and MO
• Homeland Stores in KS and OK
• Hometown Market Stores in AL, AR, IA, KS, MT, NY, OH, and PA
• Hornbacher Stores in ND and MN
• Houchens Market Stores in KY
• Hugo Stores in MN and ND
• IGA Nationwide
• Ingles Stores in AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, and VA
• Jay-C Food Store Locations in IN
• Jr. Food Stores in KY and TN
• Jubilee Stores in ID, MI, MN, MO, NY, PA, UT and WY
• King Soopers Locations in CO
• Kowalskis Stores in MN
• Kroger Nationwide
• Kuhns Stores in PA
• Lawrence Bros Stores in NM and TX
• Lucky’s Stores in AL
• Lund’s Stores in MN
• Macey’s Stores in UT
• Mac’s Fresh Market Stores in LA
• Mad Butcher Stores in AR
• Marc’s Stores in OH
• Market Basket Stores in IL, LA and TX
• Market Place Nationwide
• Martin’s Meat Locations in IN, MI
• Meijer Stores in IL, IN, KY, MI, and OH
• Minyard Stores in TX
• Moser’s Discount Foods Stores in MO
• My Fit Food Stores in TX
• No Frills Supermarket Stores in IA and NE
• Nutricion Fundamental Stores in OK
• Patricia’s Stores in MO
• Pic Pac Stores in KY
• Piggly Wiggly Nationwide
• Prenger’s Stores in MO
• Price Chopper Nationwide
• Price Cutter Stores in AR, MO, and OK
• Ralphs Stores in Southern CA
• Ramey’s Stores in AL, MO, and MS
• Randalls Stores in the greater Houston and Austin, TX area
• Reasor’s Stores in OK
• Rehkopf’s Stores in AR, OK, and TX
• Remke Market Stores in KY and OH
• Ridley’s Food Stores in ID, NV, and WY
• Russ’s Market Stores in greater Lincoln area and Hastings NE
• Safeway Stores in IN
• Save A Lot  Stores in KY, NY, OH, and PA
• Schnucks Stores in IL, IN, MO, MS, TN and WI
• Sellers Bros Stores in TX
• Sentry Stores in WI
• Shaws Stores throughout New England
• Shop ‘N Save Stores in IL, MO, OH, PA, SC, and WV
• Shurfine Stores in NY and PA
• Shursave Stores in MO, NE, NY, and PA
• Southern Family Market Stores in GA
• Sparkle Stores in OH, PA, and WV
• Stater Brothers Stores in CA
• Sun Fresh Stores in MO
• Sun Mart Stores in MN, NE and ND
• Sunflower Farmers Markets Stores in AZ, CA, CO, NE, NM, NV and TX
• Sunflower Food Store Stores in AR, LA, MS, and AR
• Super 1 Foods Stores in AR, LA, and TX
• Super C Mart Stores in OK
• Super Foods Stores in AR, GA, IA, LA, NE, and OK
• Super One Foods Stores in MI, MN, ND and WI
• Supervalu Nationwide
• Thriftway Nationwide
• Tom Thumb Stores in great Dallas, TX area
• Town & Country Stores in AR, KS, KY, MO, MT, OH, and TN
• Trig’s Stores in WI
• United Supermarkets Stores in OK and TX
• Vowell’s Marketplace Stores in MS
• Walmart Nationwide
• Warehouse Market Stores in OK
• Wayfield Foods Stores in GA
• Williams Discount Foods Stores in OK
• WinCo Stores in CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, and WA
• Winn Dixie Stores in FL
• Woodman’s Stores in WI
• Wood’s Supermarket Stores in MO

Chicken Livers Salmonella in New York and New Jersey: CDC Update and Lawsuit Information

Posted on Nov 10, 2011

Our attorneys are investigating a lawsuit involving a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to a kosher chicken liver product labeled as “kosher broiled chicken livers,” which is not ready-to-eat and requires further cooking before eating. CDC confirmed cases only include Salmonella victims from New York and New Jersey, but we have reason to believe that Salmonella cases from other states (Maryland, Pennsylvania and others) will be included by the CDC as part of this outbreak.

Public health investigators are using DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They are using data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.

From April 1 to November 4, 2011, a total of 157 illnesses were reported to the CDC in New York (93 cases) and New Jersey (64 cases). Among persons for whom information is available in New York and New Jersey, illnesses began on or after March 13, 2011. Ill persons range in age from <1 to 97 years with a median age of 10 years. Fifty-two percent are female. Among the 125 ill persons with available information, 21 (17%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported; however, our Salmonella attorneys have represented families in Salmonella wrongful death cases where the time of death was well after the initial symptoms of Salmonella poisoning.

Evidence for Lawsuit Seeking Victim Compensation

Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to eating “kosher broiled chicken livers” from Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company), and chopped chicken liver prepared from this product. This means that victims of this Salmonella outbreak have claims against Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company) and possibly a retailer, restaurant or deli that undercooked the chicken livers.

Legal actions in these cases generally seek compensation based on the following:

• Strict liability
• Negligence
• Breech of contract.

There is ample evidence on which to sue Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company) and others:

Negligence: These “kosher broiled chicken livers” are sold at retail stores and may be used as an ingredient in other prepared foods. These products appear to be ready-to-eat, but are in fact partially cooked, and therefore need to be fully cooked before eating.  Consumers may have incorrectly thought the use of the word “broiled” in the label meant the chicken liver was ready-to-eat; however, these chicken livers must be fully cooked before eating.

Epidemiological Evidence: Among 30 ill persons for whom information is available, 22 (73%) reported consuming chicken liver products in the week before their illness began.

Microbiological Evidence (The “Smoking Gun”): Laboratory testing conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Laboratory Division identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg in samples of “kosher broiled chicken livers” and chopped liver products obtained from retail stores that had been processed by Schreiber Processing Corporation (doing business as Alle Processing Corporation/MealMart Company).

Contact our Salmonella lawyers for a free consultation.