Sludge Watch ==> EcoliO157 Attorney: Recent outbreaks traced to meat products 'cause for concern'

[Maureen Reilly]

E. coli attorney: Recent outbreaks traced to meat products 'cause for 
concern'

05.jun.07
Marler Blog
Bill Marler

http://www.marlerblog.com/2007/06/articles/lawyer-oped/e-coli-attorney-recent-outbreaks-traced-to-meat-products-cause-for-concern/index.html

In April of 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announced that the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 infection traced to ground 
beef products had significantly declined. CDC attributed the decline to the 
implementation of a new set of recommendations from the United States 
Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in 
2002 and the beef industry’s subsequent enhancement of food safety systems, 
including testing and control measures.

In a press release issued on April 14, 2005, USDA Secretary Mike Johanns 
stated:


“The continued reduction in illnesses from E. coli O157 is a tremendous 
success story and we are committed to continuing this positive trend in the 
future. These results demonstrate that through innovative policies and 
strong and consistent enforcement of inspection laws, we are protecting the 
public's health through a safer food supply.”

It is true that since 2002, there has been a general decline in the number 
of E. coli cases traced to red meat, and an increase in the number of E. 
coli cases traced to fresh produce, namely bagged lettuce and spinach. But 
in the last weeks E. coli outbreaks traced to beef products have underscored 
the importance of continued efforts to protect the public from E. coli in 
meat.


1. On June 4, FSIS warned consumers to discard ground beef products produced 
by United Food Group, LLC, of Vernon, California, after its products were 
traced as the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. United Food Group 
issued a recall of approximately 75,000 pounds of potentially contaminated 
ground beef, which was confirmed as the source of at least twelve E. coli 
O157:H7 illnesses among residents of several Western states and British 
Columbia. Most of the products were sold under the Moran's label at 
Albertsons stores in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and Save-A-Lot stores in Arizona, 
California, and Nevada.


2. On May 29, the Fresno County Department of Community Health issued a 
press release stating that it was investigating an E. coli outbreak among 
Fresno County residents. As of May 31, eleven people had been confirmed ill 
with E. coli O157:H7 infections as part of the outbreak, and the Health 
Department had inspected the “Meat Market” in Northwest Fresno, a potential 
source of the outbreak. The outbreak investigation is ongoing.


3. On May 11, FSIS announced that Davis Creek Meats and Seafood of 
Kalamazoo, Michigan, was recalling approximately 129,000 pounds of beef 
products due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The recall was 
issued in response to a Michigan Department of Community Health 
investigation into the E. coli illnesses of two Michigan residents. The 
potentially contaminated beef products were distributed in Arkansas, 
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.


4. On May 10, FSIS issued a recall notice to consumers who may have 
purchased ground beef products made with beef trim products produced by PM 
Beef Holdings, LLC, of Windom, Minnesota. PM Beef Holdings recalled 
approximately 117,500 pounds of beef trim products, which were sold to 
distributors and retail outlets in Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The beef trim products were 
subsequently ground and sold under different retail names. Minnesota and 
Wisconsin health officials traced at least seven E. coli illnesses to 
consumption of the ground beef products, which were purchased at Lunds or 
Byerly’s stores in the two states.


5. On April 20, FSIS announced the recall of 107,900 pounds of frozen ground 
beef products produced by Richwood Meat Co., of Merced, California, stating 
that the California Department of Health Services had discovered E. coli 
contamination during an investigation. The ground beef products were 
distributed to stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.


6. Also on April 20, FSIS and the Pennsylvania Department of Health warned 
consumers that steak products produced by HFX, Inc. of South Claysburg, 
Pennsylvania, and sold at Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea Restaurants, a 
Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain, were potentially contaminated with E. 
coli O157:H7. The announcement came after an investigation linked several E. 
coli illnesses to consumption of the steaks at Hoss’s. HFX recalled 
approximately 4,900 pounds of meat products.
Marler Clark has been retained by victims of many pf the above-listed E. 
coli outbreaks, and has been contacted by several more who are seeking legal 
representation. Bill Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark, commented on 
the recent outbreaks: “This recent up-tick in E. coli cases traced to meat 
products is certainly cause for concern. I hope we’re not seeing a reversal 
in all the progress that has been made in recent years to curb E. coli 
contamination in meat processing plants.”