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Food Poison Journal

Food Poisoning Outbreaks and Litigation: Surveillance and Analysis

College Station Texas Coco Loco Source of E. coli Outbreak

Posted By Bill Marler on May 21, 2013

College Station Coco Loco restaurant was the source of the E. coli that caused illnesses in the Bryan/College Station area, according to health officials.  At a Brazos County Health Department press conference Tuesday afternoon, officials stated they had tracked the bacteria back to ground beef at the Coco Loco location in the 300 block of George Bush Drive. While they said it was not a 100 percent certainty, they said it was “highly likely.”

In all, there were five confirmed cases of E. coli from April, including two children who were hospitalized in Houston. Five other cases were unconfirmed.

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

First Lawsuit Filed Against Fayetteville Holiday Inn over Salmonella Outbreak

Posted By Andy Weisbecker on May 21, 2013

Marler Clark, the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, and Fayetteville lawyer Steven Lawrence filed a lawsuit today against the Holiday Inn Bordeaux.  The lawsuit was filed in Cumberland County Superior Court on behalf of Fayetteville resident Lucille Thompson, who alleges she became ill with a Salmonella infection after eating food purchased from the Holiday Inn.

According to the complaint, Lucille Thompson was one of at least 70 people who fell ill with Salmonella infections during an outbreak Cumberland County health officials traced to the Holiday Inn.  Court documents state that the plaintiff purchased and consumed food at Café Bordeaux in the Holiday Inn on May 9 and fell ill with symptoms of Salmonella infection, including agonizing abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in the days following her meal.  Ms. Thompson alleges that she sought medical treatment for her illness on May 12 and received a prescription for antibiotics as well as intravenous rehydration therapy; she is still not fully recovered from her illness.

“My client spent Mother’s Day in bed, too ill to even talk to her children on the phone,” said attorney Bill Marler.  “That shouldn’t happen because of something you ate.”

Last week Marler called on the Holiday Inn to pay Salmonella outbreak victims’ medical bills and lost wages.  “Even for people with health insurance, medical bills can be a financial strain,” he said.  “The Holiday Inn’s failure to produce a safe product impacted not only their physical health but also their financial health.”

Marler’s firm has worked with local North Carolina lawyers to represent North Carolina residents in outbreaks traced to ground beef, fairs and petting zoos, cookie dough, butter, ground turkey, peanut butter, pot pies, barbeque, tempeh, turkey, eggs and food served at restaurants.  These include lawsuits filed in North Carolina on behalf of victims of the following E. coli, Salmonella or hepatitis A outbreaks:

2004 North Carolina State Fair Petting Zoo E. coli Outbreak [1]

2011 Olive Garden Hepatitis A Exposure [2]

2012 Cleveland County Fair E. coli Outbreak [3]

2012 Lancaster’s BBQ Salmonella Outbreak [4]

2012 Smiling Hara Tempeh Salmonella Outbreak [5]

2012 Toast of Dilworth Salmonella Outbreak [6]

2012 Sunland Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak [7]

BACKGROUND:  William Marler is managing partner of Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers at Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated cases stemming from outbreaks traced to foods such as peanut butter, sprouts, tomatoes and restaurant food.

1. Wake County Superior Court (Case No. 04-CVS-17478)

2. Cumberland County Superior Court (Case No. 11-CVS-7060)

3. Cleveland County Superior Court (Case No. 12 CVS-2254)

4. Iredell County Superior Court (Case No. 12-CVS-01420)

5. North Carolina Federal District Court (Case No. 12-CV-152)

6. Mecklenburg County Superior Court (Case No. 12-CVD-8507)

7. Nash County Superior Court (Case No. 12 CVS 1706)

Eco-Cuisine Recalls Salmonella Cookie Dough

Posted By Drew Falkenstein on May 21, 2013

Eco-Cuisine of Boulder, Colorado is recalling all lots of T3314 Basic Brownie Mix, T3333 Betty Brownie Mix with Vanilla, T3388 Ground Beef Style Quick Mix, T3394 Sausage Style Quick Mix, T3416 Chocolate Cookie Mix, T3417 Lemon Muffin Mix, and T3418 English Scone Mix, CM25COOK Basic Cookie Mix 25 lb. bag, CM25MUFF  Basic Muffin Mix 25 lb. bag, CM25SCON Basic Scone Mix 25 lb. Bag, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The baking mix products were distributed nationwide through direct sales and food service distribution centers.

Products affected are:

Product Code Description Packaging Size
T3314 Eco-Cuisine Basic Brownie Mix 1 lb. bag/10 bags per box or 25 lb. bulk box
T3333 Eco-Cuisine Betty Brownie Mix with Vanilla 17.5 oz bag/10 bags per box
T3388 Eco-Cuisine Ground Beef Style Quick Mix 10 lb box
T3394 Eco-Cuisine Sausage Style Quick Mix 10 lb box
T3416 Eco-Cuisine Chocolate Cookie Mix 1 lb. bag/10 bags per case
T3417 Eco-Cuisine Lemon Muffin Mix 1 lb. bag/10 bags per case
T3418 Eco-Cuisine English Scone Mix 1 lb. bag/10 bags per case
CM25COOK Central Milling Basic Cookie Mix 25 lb bag
CM25MUFF Central Milling Basic Muffin Mix 25 lb bag
CM25SCON Central Milling Basic Scone Mix 25 lb bag

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was as the result of notification by CHS Foods that ingredients used in the aforementioned products were being recalled for Salmonella.  The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

E. coli Outbreak in Georgia Linked to Toccoa BBQ Shack

Posted By Bill Marler on May 20, 2013

According to AccessGeorgia.com, the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Stephens County, Georgia has grown to 11 confirmed cases linked to the BBQ Shack in Toccoa, Georgia.

“The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH), the North Health District, and the Stephens County Health Department continue to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections that occurred during early May,” said District 2 Public Health spokesman Dave Palmer.

Palmer said 10 of the cases were Georgia residents, while the other was a South Carolina resident.

Seven of those victims were hospitalized as a result of the infections, with five of those diagnosed with a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), he said.

“Ten of the 11 case-patients reported eating at the BBQ Shack in Toccoa during the weekend of May 2-4,” Palmer said. “No other common exposures were reported among case-patients.”

E. coli:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.

And, its not like E. coli has not happened in Georgia a few times in the past:

• Bauer Meat E. coli Litigation – Georgia (1998)

• Dole Spinach E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2006)

• Excel E. coli Outbreak Lawsuit – Georgia (2001)

• Nebraska Beef E. coli Outbreak – Nationwide (2008)

• Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2009)

• White Water Water Park E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Georgia (1998)