As of April 18, 2018, 53 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 16 states. Alaska 1, Arizona 3, California 1, Connecticut 2, Idaho, 10, Illinois 1, Louisiana 1, Michigan 2, Missouri 1, Montana 6, New Jersey 7, New York 2, Ohio 2, Pennsylvania, 12, Virginia 1 and Washington , linked to chopped romaine lettuce grown in Yuma California.
Outbreaks associated with lettuce and other leafy greens are by no means a new phenomenon. Outlined below is a list of E. coli and other pathogen outbreaks involving contaminated lettuce or leafy greens – Thanks to the folks at http://www.barfblog.com for compiling a rather stunning list of outbreaks – in PDF FORM. Thanks to Doug and Ben.
Date | Causative Agent | Illnesses Reported | Source |
Nov. 2017- Dec. 2017 | E. coli O157:H7 | 41, 1 death | romaine lettuce |
Dec. 2015-Jan. 2016 | Listeria monocytogenes | 19, 1 death | package salads |
Apr. 2015 | Escherichia coli, Shiga toxin-producing | 7 | prepackaged leafy greens |
Mar. 2015 | E. coli O157:H7 | 12 | leafy greens |
Jul. 2014 | E. coli O111 | 15 | Salad/cabbage served at Applebee’s and Yard House (Minnesota) |
Oct. 2013 | E. coli O157:H7 | 33 | Pre-packaged salads and sandwich wraps (California) |
Jul. 2013 | E. coli O157:H7 | 94 | Lettuce served at Federico’s Mexican Restaurant |
Jul. 2013 | Cyclospora | 140 (Iowa); 87 (Nebraska) | Salad mix, cilantro |
Dec. 2012 – Jan. 2013 | E. coli O157:H7 | 31 | Shredded lettuce from Freshpoint, Inc. |
Oct. 2012 | E. coli O157:H7 | 33 | Leafy greens salad mix (Massachusetts) |
Apr. 2012 | E. coli O157:H7 | 28 | Romaine lettuce |
Dec. 2011 | Salmonella Hartford | 5 | Lettuce; roast beef |
Dec. 2011 | Norovirus | 9 | Lettuce, unspecified |
Oct. 2011 | E. coli O157:H7 | 58 | Romaine lettuce |
Oct. 2011 | E. coli O157:H7 | 26 | Lettuce |
Aug. 2011 | N/A | 8 | Lettuce; onions; tomatoes |
Jul. 2011 | Cyclospora cayatenensis | 99 | Lettuce based salads |
Jun. 2011 | Norovirus | 23 | Garden salad |
Apr. 2011 | Salmonella Typhimirum | 36 | Multiple salads |
Feb. 2011 | Norovirus | 24 | Garden salad |
Jan. 2011 | Norovirus | 93 | Lettuce; salad, unspecified |
Jul.-Oct. 2010 | Salmonella Java | 136 | Salad vegetable |
May 2010 | E. coli O145 | 33 (26 lab-confirmed) |
Romaine Lettuce grown in Arizona |
Apr. 2010 | Salmonella Hvittingfoss | 102 | Lettuce, tomatoes, and olives served at Subway restaurants |
Jan. 2010 | E. coli | 260 | Lettuce grown in France |
Dec. 2009 | Norovirus | 16 | Lettuce |
Aug. 2009 | SalmonellaTyphimurium | 27 | Lettuce |
Aug. 2009 | Salmonella spp | 124 | Romaine lettuce; Recalls issued by Tanimura & Antle, Inc. (lettuce), Muranaka Farm, Inc. (parsley), and Frontera Produce (cilantro) |
Jul. 2009 | SalmonellaTyphimurium | 145 | Shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms |
May. 2009 | Norovirus | 10 | Lettuce, onion, and tomato in chicken salad |
Nov. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 130 | Romaine lettuce |
Oct. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 2 | Chopped shredded iceberg lettuce (Michigan) |
Oct. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 43 (Johnathan’s Family Restaurant), 21 (Little Red Rooster Restaurant), 12 (M.T. Bellies Restaurant) | Lettuce |
Oct. 2008 | Norovirus | 64 | Tomato relish, lettuce-based salad |
Aug.-Sep. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 74 | Lettuce from Aunt Mid’s Produce Company (California) |
Aug.-Oct. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 13 | Spinach (Oregon) |
May. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 10 | Prepackaged lettuce |
May. 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 6 | Pre-packaged salad |
May 2008 | E. coli O157:H7 | 9 | Lettuce (California, U.S.) |
Apr. 2008 | Salmonella Branderup | 12 | Green salad, tomato |
Jul. 2007 | Shigella sonnei | 72 | Salad |
Jul. 2007 | E. coli O157:H7 | 26 | Lettuce |
Feb. 2007 | Norovirus | 8 | Lettuce |
Jan. 2007 | Norovirus | 9 | Salad |
Nov. 2006 | E. coli O157:H7 | 78 | Lettuce |
Oct. 2006 | E. coli O157:H7 | 205 | Pre-packaged baby spinach from Dole Food Company (California) |
Sep. 2006 | Norovirus | 9 | Salad |
Sep. 2005 | E. coli O157:H7 | 34 | Prepackaged bagged lettuce from Dole Food Company |
Jun. 2006 | SalmonellaTyphimurium | 18 | Lettuce, tomatoes |
Oct. 2005 | E. coli O157:H7 | 12 | grapes, green; lettuce, prepackaged |
Nov. 2004 | E. coli O157:H7 | 6 | Lettuce, unspecified |
Jul. 2004 | Salmonella Newport | 97 | Iceberg lettuce |
Nov. 2003 | E. coli O157:H7 | 19 | Spinach, unspecified |
Oct. 2003 | E. coli O157:H7 | 16 | Spinach, unspecified |
Sep. 2003 | E. coli O157:H7 | 51 | Lettuce-based salads, unspecified |
Nov. 2002 | E. coli O157:H7 | 60 | Romaine lettuce |
Jul. 2002 | E. coli O157:H7 | 32 | Romaine lettuce from Spokane Produce (Washington) |
Jul. 2002 | E. coli O157:H7 | 55 | Caesar salad |
Nov. 2001 | E. coli O157:H7 | 20 | Lettuce-based salads, unspecified |
Oct. 2000 | E. coli O157:H7 | 6 | Salad |
May 2000 | Campylobacter jejuni |
13 | Salad |
May 2000 | Norovirus | 3 | Salad |
Feb. 2000 | Norovirus | 7 | Salad |
Oct. 1999 | E. coli O157:H7 | 45 | Lettuce, salad |
Oct. 1999 | E. coli O157:H7 | 47 | Salad |
Oct. 1999 | Norovirus | 16 | Salad |
Sep. 1999 | E. coli O157:H11 | 6 | Lettuce |
Sep. 1999 | Norovirus | 115 | Lettuce |
Sep. 1999 | E. coli O111:H8 | 58 | Salad |
Aug. 1999 | Norovirus | 25 | Salad |
May 1999 | Norovirus | 28 | Salad |
Feb. 1999 | E. coli O157:H7 | 72 | Lettuce |
May 1998 | E. coli O157:H7 | 2 | Salad |
May 1996 | E. coli O157:H7 | 61 | Lettuce |
Oct. 1995 | E. coli O153:H46 | 11 | Lettuce |
Sep. 1995 | E. coli O153:H47 | 30 | Lettuce |
Sep. 1995 | E. coli O157:H7 | 21 | Lettuce |
Jul. 1995 | E. coli O153:H48 | 74 | Lettuce |
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 Clarkhave represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $650 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 Smithand Linda Rivera.
If you or a family member became ill with an E. coliinfection 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.