Hazelnut E. coli Outbreak Lawyer
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has posted a final update on the hazelnut E. coli outbreak that sickened people in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. The April 7th CDC update reported the following E. coli outbreak highlights:
- As of April 1, 2011, eight persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli serotype O157:H7 were reported from Michigan (1), Minnesota (3), and Wisconsin (4).
- Laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on in-shell hazelnuts recovered from a patient’s home identified E. coli O157:H7 matching patient isolates by DNA analysis.
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About the Hazelnut E. coli Outbreak
Collaborative investigative efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies associated this outbreak with eating in-shell hazelnuts (also known as filberts). Most of the in-shell hazelnuts were purchased from bulk bins at retail food stores. Source tracing identified a common distributor for the hazelnuts consumed by ill persons: DeFranco & Sons in Los Angeles, California. Laboratory testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on in-shell hazelnuts, the California Department of Public Health on mixed nuts containing in-shell hazelnuts, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on mixed nuts containing in-shell hazelnuts identified E. coli O157:H7 matching the outbreak strain by DNA analysis.
The wholesaler sold the nuts to four distributors who sold them to stores in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Also included in the recall are Sunripe Hazelnuts, Sunripe Large Hazelnuts in one-pound. packages, and Sunripe Mixed Nuts in two-pound and four-pound packages, all with a sell-by date of June 30, 2011.
Consumers should not eat any of the recalled hazelnuts, and restaurants and food service operators should not serve them. Consumers, retailers, and others who have any of the recalled hazelnuts should dispose of them in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can to prevent people or animals from eating them.
Hazelnut E. coli Lawsuit
Victims of this hazelnut E. coli outbreak should contact an E. coli lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. regarding the right to compensation from liable parties. Possible compensation may include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Other damages
Attorneys at Pritzker Olsen represent people sickened by nuts. They represented three of the people who died after consuming contaminated peanuts. For a free consultation about a hazelnut E. coli lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
Attorneys Investigating Campylobacter Outbreak in Winona, Minnesota
Our attorneys are investigating a Campylobacter outbreak in Winona, Minnesota, that may be linked to a restaurant. The Minnesota Department of Health is contacting victims of this outbreak to let them know that they are part of the outbreak.
Video: Attorney Brendan Flaherty Discusses Campylobacter Lawsuits
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a Campylobacter infection (campylobacteriosis), contact our Minnesota attorneys for a free consultation.
Our Campylobacter litigation team represents victims and families nationwide. Our clients have mild to serious symptoms, and some of them developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which can cause paralysis.
Hazelnuts E. coli Outbreak: Minnesota E. coli Attorney
Minnesota E. coli attorney Fred Pritzker has won millions for E. coli victims and has a national reputation in the areas of E. coli litigation and food safety. As this E. coli outbreak linked to hazelnuts (filberts) became public, Mr. Pritzker was speaking at a food safety conference in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“This outbreak is another example of how our food safety system is broken,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “Victims of this outbreak suffered severe pain because these nuts were exposed to fecal matter that carried E. coli O157:H7. How did nuts come in contact with feces?”
To date, seven cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection have been associated with eating in-the-shell hazelnuts purchased from bulk bins at retail food stores. Three cases have been identified in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin, and one in Michigan. All three Minnesota cases were male and over 50 years of age. They were residents of Hennepin, Redwood, and Stearns counties. Two were hospitalized.
An investigation traced the source of the nuts for all seven individuals back to California producer wholesaler D. DeFranco & Sons. D. DeFranco has issued a recall for these products. The wholesaler sold the nuts to four distributors who sold them to stores in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Read hazelnuts recall lawsuit attorney information.
If you were sickened by this outbreak and would like a free consultation with Fred Pritzker or another E. coli attorney at Pritzker Olsen law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or 612-338-0202. Our attorneys have extensive experience litigating E. coli claims. See our E. coli lawyer blog.
Hartmann Dairy Farms Linked to Campylobacter – Attorney MN
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that additional illnesses have surfaced linked to the consumption of raw dairy products from the Hartmann dairy farm, located in Sibley County, Minnesota.
These illnesses were reported by health care providers as required under Minnesota law. When MDH followed-up with the individuals to determine the possible causes of their illnesses, the people reported that they had consumed raw milk and all those that could identify a source named Hartmann dairy farm. The lab tests supported this when testing showed that the Campylobacter bacteria were genetically identical to organisms found in animal and environmental samples taken on the Hartmann farm this past summer.
“We’re concerned that people are continuing to get sick after consuming products from this farm,” said MDH Foodborne Diseases Unit Supervisor Kirk Smith. “We’re also concerned that some people who became ill were given the Hartmann dairy product by friends or neighbors who did not tell them the source.”
“While we are very concerned about the ongoing illnesses associated with this one farm, this isn’t just about one farm selling raw milk and making people sick,” Smith said. “This also is about the inherent risk of any raw milk. People need to think carefully about those risks before consuming raw dairy products from any source, and people need to know that the risks are especially high for young children.”
Hartmann dairy farm was linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in May and June, 2010. At that time, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture ordered Hartmann to desist milk sales until the unsanitary conditions at the farm were resolved. Hartmann farm was also directed by the MDA to comply with the state law that allows for the sale of unpasteurized milk ONLY on the farm at which the milk was produced. The MDA has not determined how the recently sickened people acquired the product.
For more information about the risks of raw milk, visit the MDH Food Safety website
Attorney for Campylobacter Investigation
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. has been involved in practically every major outbreak of Campylobacter and other foodborne pathogens, including E. coli and Listeria. We immediately launch an independent investigation into the outbreak to determine and preserve evidence.
Contact a Minnesota Campylobacter lawyer at 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or complete our online contact form. Our consultations are free and we do not get paid unless and until we win your case.
Egg Lawsuit Attorneys To Tour Hillandale Farms and Wright County Egg Facilities
Salmonella egg lawsuit news and information from food safety lawyers: More than 1,600 people have been sickened in the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak associated with eggs from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, according to federal health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lawyers representing Salmonella victims will tour the production facilities.
Campylobacter Lawsuit Information From Food Safety Lawyers
A Campylobacter lawsuit may be filed after a person has been sickened with Campylobacter bacteria by contaminated food. Contact a Campylobacter lawyer today to discuss your case.
Campylobacter is a bacteria commonly associated with raw or undercooked poultry. One does not have to consume that poultry to become sick. Campylobacter bacteria can easily cross-contaminate other foods too, for instance, if raw poultry product touches the lettuce that goes into a salad, a person can get sick from that salad. Food safety attorney Brendan Flaherty discusses how this happened in a Campylobacter case he handled, and also discusses the complications that can arise from Campylobacter food poisoning, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This is an autoimmune nervous system disorder that can lead to paralysis. The food safety attorneys at Pritzker Olsen are currently representing a Campylobacter victim who was paralyzed after drinking raw milk that was contaminated with this pathogen.
