Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture suspended permits that allow the Elmer Z. and Martha B. King farm in Aaronsburg, Centre County, and Cedar Hollow Farm in Mill Hall, Clinton County, to sell raw milk for human consumption after test samples revealed potentially harmful pathogen levels.
Although no illnesses have been reported, the department is
Is it mere coincidence that the Marler Clark firm’s petition to FSIS asking it to declare non-O157 strains of E. coli as adulterants in meat (submitted October 2009) is being considered in the midst of at least two outbreaks of non-O157 E. coli (O111 and O145)? Or is it proof that there is actually
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Currently, there are at least two outbreaks nationally that involve dangerous strains of E. coli that are not E. coli O157:H7. Michigan and Ohio are investigating at least 13 illnesses that occurred in mid-April, all of which are genetically indistinguishable strains of E. coli O145. (Incidentally, this was one of the strains involved in
The ongoing E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio is reminiscent of several other outbreaks, resulting in lots of illnesses, that have occurred in those states in the past several years:
–Of course, residents of both states were sickened by E. coli O157:H7 in the infamous outbreak linked to Dole baby spinach in
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A week ago, we reported on a developing E. coli outbreak in Washtenaw County, Michigan. Notably, the outbreak is not attributable to E. coli O157:H7–the most notorious of all E. coli strains–but it does appear to be a shiga-toxin producing strain of E. coli. Apparently, the outbreak is no longer confined to Washtenaw County
A Federal District Court Judge has ordered that the FDA must reconsider its ban on selling small turtles, according to this AP report. Sales of turtles with shells less than 4 inches long have been banned by the FDA since 1975. The turtles have reportedly been connected to outbreaks of Salmonella.
Turtle farmers
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Largely due to a string of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to lettuce and other leafy greens, the FDA will soon announce new rules (as opposed to voluntary recommendations) for the production and packing of fresh produce. See FDA Produce Rule Announcement. The new rules will set enforceable standards for fresh produce safety at the
A report out of Colorado today indicates that as many as 11 residents of a correctional facility may be ill with E coli infections. The report does not make clear whether the strain has been confirmed to be E. coli O157:H7, or a different pathogenic strain of the bacteria:
Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman
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Seattle Times staff reporter, Maureen O’ Hagen, writes in today’s paper about the role our firm, Marler Clark, played in the recent WinCo Foods meat recall related to potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. Positive E. coli O157:H7 test results revealed in a study that Marler Clark has commissioned revealed the contamination:
The E. coli came to
Investigating the 13 Michigan cases in this outbreak, and identifying the source of infection, cost about $22,500: $1,697 in lab costs for personnel and supplies, and $12,201 for follow-up at the state level. A rough estimate of Michigan Department of Agriculture personnel costs is about $8,600.
This was a relatively small-scale outbreak that, fortunately, did