E. Coli Food Poisoning Outbreak Caused By Contaminated Ground Beef

 Posted on April 18, 2019 in Food Poisoning

By Tim Tomasik

In the United States, we expect the food purchased at restaurants and grocery stores to be safe to eat. Unfortunately, incidents in which people contract foodborne illnesses are all too common. This was demonstrated recently when a large number of people became ill after consuming ground beef. People who have experienced a food poisoning injury should contact an attorney to determine their options for pursuing compensation from the parties responsible.

E. Coli Illnesses Reported in Six States

In March of 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began receiving reports of E. Coli infections in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. As of April 12, 2019, 109 cases have been reported, and 17 of the victims have been hospitalized. The CDC believes that ground beef is the source of the infections, but it has not identified a supplier, distributor, retailer or brand of meat which may be responsible. 

The CDC has not recommended that people avoid eating ground beef or that restaurants or stores avoid selling the product. Rather, meat should be properly handled during preparation to avoid cross-contamination, ground beef should be properly stored and refrigerated, and dishes should be fully cooked to the proper temperature to ensure that any contaminants are killed.

E. Coli Infections

E. Coli is a bacteria that is commonly found in the intestines of people and animals, and some strains that can cause illnesses may be spread in contaminated food or water. An E. Coli infection can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory illness, and blood or urinary tract infections. Symptoms usually appear three to four days after consuming contaminated food, and they may last for five to seven days.

Some strains of E. Coli, including those identified in this most recent outbreak, are known as “Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli,” or STEC. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, this type of E. Coli can also cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure.

Contact a Chicago Food Poisoning Attorney

If you have contracted a foodborne illness, you may be able to pursue compensation from the parties who were responsible, such as a grocery store that sold contaminated food, a restaurant that did not properly prepare meat, or a distributor that supplied infected products to consumers. At Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, we can help you receive the compensation you deserve that covers the costs of your medical care, any income you have lost because you were unable to work, and the pain and suffering you have experienced. To schedule a free consultation with our Cook County personal injury lawyers, contact us at 312-605-8800.

Sources:

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/ground-beef-responsible-e-coli-outbreak-six-states-141700588.html?soc_src=newsroom&soc_trk=com.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail&.tsrc=newsroom

https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o103-04-19/index.html