Salmonella Claim against Cargill for Illness from Ground Turkey

Posted by Salmonella Attorney on Nov 11, 2011 in Outbreak, Salmonella News

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

Tags: Cargill Ground Turkey Recall, Cargill Lawsuit, Cargill Salmonella, Salmonella Lawyer, Turkey Salmonella