E. coli in Hazelnuts Sickens 3 in Minnesota
Our Minnesota E. coli attorneys are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Minnesota that has been associated with eating in-shell hazelnuts (also known as filberts) purchased from bulk bins at retail food stores. Three cases have been identified in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin, and one in Michigan.
In Minnesota, all three cases were male and over 50 years of age. Cases were residents of Hennepin, Redwood, and Stearns counties. Two were hospitalized and have claims against responsible parties for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
“E. coli O157:H7 infections are preventable with adequate sanitation measures,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “The victims of this outbreak have the right to seek justice from all parties responsible for what they went through and the future harm those illnesses may cause.” Contact our law firm for a free consultation.
The victims of this E. coli outbreak became ill between December 20, 2010, and January 28, 2011. All of the cases have reported eating in-shell hazelnuts from grocery stores. Of these, six purchased them from bulk bins at these stores and the other case reported purchasing similar product in a repacked form. Four of the cases reported purchasing the hazelnuts as part of mixed nuts.
Agriculture agencies in the three states and the California Department of Public Health traced hazelnuts consumed by cases to California producer wholesaler D. DeFranco & Sons. This firm has recalled all hazelnut and mixed nut products distributed from November 2, 2010, to December 22, 2010. Recalled product was shipped to stores in Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
List of Minnesota Stores Affected by D. DeFranco Hazelnut Recall
AITKIN
PAULBECKS COUNTY MARKET
171 RED OAK DR.
ALBERT LEA
NELSON’S ALBERT LEA
1619 WEST MAIN STREET
ALBERTVILLE
COBORN’S
5698 LA CENTRE AVE NE
ANNANDALE
MARKET PLACE
660 ELM ST EAST
AURORA
ZUP’S AURORA
16 E 3RD AVE S
BABBITT
ZUP’S BABBITT
#1 COMMERCE STREET
BATTLE LAKE
LARRY’S FOODS
102 GILBERTSON ST W
BELLE PLAINE
COBORN’S
1010 E. ENTERPRISE DR.
BEMIDJI
LUEKENS VILLAGE FOODS
609 WASHINGTON AVE S
MARKET PLACE NORTH
2000 PAUL BUNYAN DR
BIG FORK
KOCIAN’S FAMILY MARKET
402 RAJALA MILL ROAD
BIG LAKE
COBORN’S
621 ROSE DRIVE
BOWLUS
PSYCKS MARKET
153 MAIN ST
BRAINERD
SAVE FOODS
701 INDUSTRIAL PARK RD SW
SUPER ONE
7895 EXCELSIOR RD
BUFFALO
COBORN’S
205 1ST STREET SOUTH
Caledonia
QUILLIN’S CALEDONIA
510 Vista Dr
CASS LAKE
TEALS MARKET
604 Lyle Chisholm Drive
CLOQUET
SUPER ONE
707 Highway 33 S # 13
COLD SPRINGS
TEALS MARKET
300 MAIN STREET
COOK
ZUP’S FOOD MARKET
U.S. 53
CROSS LAKE
REEDS COUNTRY MARKET
35561 COUNTY ROAD 3
DELANO
COBORN’S
1400 BABCOCK BLVD E
DULUTH
KENWOOD SUPER ONE
1316 W ARROWHEAD
LAKESIDE SUPER ONE
5928 E SUPERIOR STREET
PIGGLY WIGGLY
4020 WOODLAND AVENUE
PLAZA SUPER ONE
15 S 13TH AVENUE E
SUPER ONE DULUTH
5401 BURNING TREE RD
SUPER ONE WEST DULUTH
5300 BRISTOL STREET
WHOLE FOOD’S COMMUNITY COOP
610 E. 4TH ST.
EDEN PRAIRIE
KOWALSKI’S
16500 W 78TH STREET
ELK RIVER
COBORN’S
19424 EVANS AVE N W
ELY
ELY NORTHLAND MARKET
1230 EAST SHERIADEN STREET
EVANSVILLE
NELSONS STORE
103 MAIN
FAIRMONT
HYVEE
907 SO. STATE ST.
FARIBAULT
NELSON’S
430 NORTHWEST 2ND AVENUE
FERGUS FALLS
SERVICE FOODS
321 WEST LINCOLN AVENUE
FERTILE
AL & LAURA FOODS
309 South Mill Street
FOLEY
COBORN’S
P O BOX 428
FOSSTON
PALUBICKIS MARKET
107 NORTH KAISER
FRIDLEY
BOB’S PRODUCE RANCH
7620 UNIVERSITY AVE
GLENCOE
COBORN’S
2211 11TH STREET EAST
GRAND MARAIS
GENE’S IGA
431 East Highway 61
GRAND RAPIDS
OGLES MARKETPLACE
503 NW 4TH STREET
SANDSTROMS
2057 E HWY 2
HASTINGS
COBORN’S
225 33RD ST WEST
HAWLEY
TONY’S SUPERVALU
1515 HARTFORD STREET
HENNING
B & D FOODS
525 Douglas Avenue
HIBBING
SUPER ONE HIBBING
1101 EAST 37TH ST
HOYT LAKES
HOYT LAKES IGA
237 Cty Highway 110
HUTCHINSON
CASHWISE
1020 SOUTH HWY 15
INTERNATIONAL FALLS
INTERNATIONAL FALLS SUPER ONE
1313 3RD STREET
ISANTI
RIVERSIDE MARKET
400 EAST DUAL BLVD
La Crescent
QUILLIN’S LA CRESCENT
24 South Walnut
LITTLE FALLS
COBORN’S
1101 2ND AVE N E
LONG PRAIRIE
COBORN’S
645 LAKE STREET SOUTH
SAVE STORE
800 Commerce Road
MELROSE
COBORN’S
105 EAST MAIN STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
KOWALSKI’S
2440 HENNEPIN AVE
MOORHEAD
CASHWISE
EAST HIGHWAY 10
MOOSE LAKE
MARKET PLACE
HWY 73 SOUTH
MORA
COBORN’S
710 FRANKIE LANE
MORRIS
WILLIES SUPER VALU
25 East 7th Street
NASHWAUK
FRED’S I.G.A.
202 2ND STREET
NEW PRAGUE
COBORN’S
200 ALTON AVE SE
NEW ULM
CASHWISE
1220 WEST RIDGE ROAD
OAK PARK HEIGHTS
KOWALSKI’S
5801 NEAL AVE N.
OLIVIA
TERRYS HOLIDAY MARKET
1002 WEST LINCOLN
OSSEO
DEAN’S SUPER MARKET
312 CENTRAL AVENUE
OTTERTAIL
CARRS GROCERY
320 N State Highway 78
OWATONNA
CASHWISE
495 WEST NORTH ST.
PARK RAPIDS
COBORN’S
209 WEST 1ST STREET
J & B FOODS
101 EAST 4TH ST
PERHAM
DEANS COUNTRY MARKET
211 MARKET DR
PIERZ
PIERZ FOODS
233 MAIN ST. N
PIPESTONE
COBORN’S
115 SECOND AVENUE N E
Plainview
Lanning’s Food Center
215 1st Street Southwest
PRINCETON
COBORN’S
1100 7TH AVE. SOUTH
RAMSEY
COBORN’S
7900 SUNWOOD DRIVE
RANDALL
GOSCHS STORE
517 PACIFIC AVENUE
REDWOOD FALLS
TERSTEEGS HOLIDAY MARKET
1111 EAST BRIDGE
RICE
JANSKIS GROCERY
PO BOX 9
ROCHESTER
HYVEE – BARLOW PLAZA
1315 6TH ST NW
ROSEAU
DOUG’S SUPER MARKET
610 3RD STREET NW
U-SAVE
508 3RD STREET N.W.
SANDSTONE
CHRIS FOOD CENTER
320 STATE HWY 123
SARTELL
COBORN’S
1725 PINE CONE ROAD SOUTH
707 1ST AVE N
SAUK CENTRE
COBORN’S
214 12TH STREET
SCHAEFER’S
411 SINCLAIR LEWIS
SAUK RAPIDS
COBORN’S
110 1ST ST S
ST CLOUD
CASHWISE
250 33RD AVE. SOUTH
CASHWISE – EAST
1001 4TH ST. SE
COBORN’S
2118 8TH STREET – CENTENNIAL PLAZA
900 COOPER AVE SOUTH
ST JAMES
SUPER FAIR FOODS
518 ARMSTRONG BLVD. NORTH
ST PAUL
KOWALSKI’S MARKETS
1261 GRAND AVENUE
ST. JOSEPH
COBORN’S
1500 ELM ST.
STAPLES
ERNIES FOOD MARKET
1230 U.S. HWY 10
SWANVILLE
BOB & FRANS
309 DEGRAFF AVE
THIEF RIVER
SUPER ONE #587
1525 NORTHLAND PLAZA – HWY 59 SOUTH
TOWER
ZUP’S BIG DOLLAR
315 MAIN ST
TWO HARBORS
SUPER ONE #528
802 11TH STREET
UPSALA
PAUL & KATHY’S GROCERY
BOX 310
VIRGINIA
F & D MEATS
1108 8 1/2 STREET SO
SUPER ONE # 459
601 4TH STREET N
SUPER ONE #509
1117 17TH STREET SO
WADENA
MASON BROTHERS COMPANY
222 4TH ST NORTHEAST
SUPER ONE #534
120 IRONWOOD AVE.
WAITE PARK
CASHWISE
113 S WAITE AVENUE
CASHWISE
113 S WAITE AVENUE
WALKER
SUPER ONE #452
701 Michigan Ave W
WARREN
DALES FOODS
422 North Minnesota Street
WARROAD
DOUGS SUPER MARKET
310 MAIN AVE N E
WHITE BEAR LAKE
KOWALSKI’S MARKETS
4391 S LAKE AVENUE
WILLMAR
CASHWISE
1300 SE 3RD STREET
Winona
Rochester Wholesale Fruit
350 W 2nd St
Minnesota E. coli and HUS Law Provides Victims With Valuable Evidence
Under Minnesota law, health professionals must report E. coli O157 infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
In a recent article in the Journal of Food Protection, Minnesota health officials explained what happens when a Minnesota resident is diagnosed with E. coli O157:
All Minnesota residents with a culture-confirmed E. coli O157 infection are routinely interviewed with a standard questionnaire about symptom history, food consumption, and other potential exposures occurring in the 7 days prior to onset of illness.
Clinical laboratories are required to forward all O157 isolates to the MDH Public Health Laboratory for confirmation and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtyping. PFGE subtypes are entered into the National Molecular Subtyping Network for Foodborne Disease Surveillance (PulseNet) database. PulseNet is the national electronic communications network for public health laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Swanson 2005, see below)
This information is used to:
- Uncover national and local outbreaks
- Track ongoing outbreaks
- In the hands of an experienced Minnesota E. coli lawyer, to provide victims with evidence of the source of an outbreak
If you have questions about your E. coli O157 case, our Minnesota E. coli lawyers are available to provide you with answers based on years of E. coli and HUS litigation experience. These cases involving significant amounts of complicated, scientific information, and our lawyers have used that evidence to obtain multi-million-dollar recoveries for our clients.
To contact Pritzker Olsen law firm for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online consultation form.
Reference: ELLEN SWANSON LAINE, JONI M. SCHEFTEL, DAVID J. BOXRUD, KEVIN J. VOUGHT, RICHARD N. DANILA, KEVIN M. ELFERING, AND KIRK E. SMITH, Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Associated with Nonintact Blade-Tenderized Frozen Steaks Sold by Door-to-Door VendorsJournal of Food Protection, Vol. 68, No. 6, 2005, Pages 1198–1202.
Minnesota Petting Zoo Linked to E. coli Outbreak
Our law firm is investigating a possible E. coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with the petting zoo at Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest near Jordan, Minnesota. The firm is representing a 3-year-old boy who appears to have contracted the disease from a llama at the petting zoo. The child spent 11 days this month in a Twin Cities hospital fighting hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a life-threatening complication of an E. coli O157 infection.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) found a strain of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of a llama at the petting zoo that genetically matched the strain of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened the 3-year-old.
At least one other person who recently visited Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Petting Zoo may also have contracted E. coli HUS.
The petting zoo has been voluntarily and temporarily shut down. The apple orchard at Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest is not associated with this potential E. coli outbreak.
E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most common and most dangerous kinds of intestinal disease agents associated with animal contact. Pritzker, who also represents victims of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at this year’s National Western Stock Show in Denver, said it is a well-known and preventable danger.
“Despite state guidelines recommending sanitation measures to ensure the safety of visitors to petting zoos, it appears the operator of this facility did not follow all of these guidelines,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “The Minnesota Department of Health regularly sends these guidelines to businesses with petting zoos. This outbreak might have been prevented if this business had put safety first.”
For a free consultation with an attorney regarding your E. coli poisoning case, please call 612-338-0202, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form.
Minnesota E. coli-HUS Lawsuit Settled
The following information is provided by Pritzker Olsen, a Minneapolis, Minnesota, law firm that represents E. coli-HUS victims throughout the United States. Attorney Fred Pritzker has appeared on the CBS News, Fox’s “Geraldo Live,” and other programs discussing food litigation and food safety. He was named a “Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer” and a “Top 40 Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer” in the August 2009 edition of Minnesota Law & Politics. He is also listed in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
“Food manufacturers like Cargill should be held responsible when their products make someone sick,” stated Attorney Fred Pritzker. “It is my job as a food safety attorney to make sure that happens.”
The parents of an eleven-year-old Minnesota girl have reached a confidential settlement with Cargill in a case involving frozen ground beef patties contaminated with E. coli, according to news reports.
The frozen ground beef patties were lined to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in 2007.
[The young girl] spent over a month in the hospital after becoming ill with an E. coli O157:H7 infection. She developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome [HUS] and spent over three weeks on kidney dialysis as her physicians fought to save her life. Her medical bills were nearly $350,000.
She is now at a high risk of developing End Stage Renal Disease and incurring millions of dollars in future medical expenses. (Food Safety News)
In response to the E. coli outbreak, on October 6, 2007, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation recalled approximately 845,000 pounds of frozen ground beef patties produced at its Butler, Wisconsin plant.
The frozen ground beef patties were produced on various dates from August 9 through August 17, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments (including Sam’s Club), restaurants and institutions nationwide. Each label bears the establishment number “Est. 924A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Read more about the Cargill hamburger recall.
To contact Pritzker Olsen about an E. coli-HUS lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker, or submit our online form for a free consultation.
Reference: Suzanne Schreck, Cargill, Victim Settle E. coli HUS Case, Food Safety News, October 8, 2009: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2009/10/cargill-victim-settle-e-coli-hus
Toll House Cookie Dough Outbreak in Minnesota: Lawyer for E. coli and HUS Victims
Our Minnesota law firm is investigating a multistate E. coli outbreak that has been associated with Nestle Toll House cookie dough. Our Minnesota lawyers are nationally recognized in the area of E. coli litigation. Our lawyers have appeared on CBS News, Fox’s “Geraldo Live,” KARE-TV, KSTP-TV, WCCO-TV and other programs discussing food litigation and food safety. If you or a loved one has contracted an E. coli infection after consuming Nestle Toll House cookie dough, please contact our law firm for Toll House lawsuit information at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.
Nestle USA has issued a recall of refrigerated Toll House cookie dough. The Toll House recall included the products listed at the end of this blog post.
At least six people in Minnsota ages 2 to 18 have been sickened in this Toll House cookie dough outbreak. This is just in from the Minnesota Department of Health:
E. coli O157:H7 cases linked to eating raw Toll House brand cookie dough
Consumers urged to discard or return Nestle’s cookie dough productsState health officials are investigating six cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Minnesota residents associated with eating a popular brand of raw, commercially packaged cookie dough.
Routine monitoring by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) found that the cases of illness were all caused by E. coli O157:H7 with the same DNA fingerprint. The individuals became ill between May 3 and June 11. All six reported eating raw cookie dough of the Nestle’s Toll House brand.
The cases range in age from 2 to 18 years of age; five (83 percent) are female. One was hospitalized. All have recovered.
Minnesota’s cases are linked by the same DNA fingerprint to cases of E. coli infection in at least 66 people in 28 states. In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the vast majority of the people interviewed reported eating raw cookie dough of the same brand.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The FDA advises that if consumers have any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their home that they throw them away. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces.
Toll House cookie cough products are typically stocked in the refrigerator cases of many grocery and warehouse- type stores in Minnesota and around the country. Over a dozen varieties are sold in plastic tubs, plastic tubes, and rectangular packages. Retailers, restaurateurs, and personnel at other food-service operations should not sell or serve any Nestle Toll House prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough products subject to the recall.
It has not yet been determined how the E. coli bacteria got into the cookie dough, but the FDA is working with the Nestle company to answer that question. “Cookie dough, whether purchased in a tub from the store, or made at home from scratch, should not be eaten raw,” said Carlota Medus, epidemiologist in the foodborne illness unit with MDH.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is assisting with the ongoing investigation in Minnesota. MDA’s lab is testing product collected from retail stores and from ill consumers’ homes.
Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 illness include stomach cramps, and diarrhea, often bloody diarrhea, with little or no fever. Most people recover in approximately 5 to 10 days. E. coli O157:H7 infections sometimes lead to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure. People typically become ill two to five days after eating contaminated food.
Those who develop such symptoms after consuming this product should contact their health care provider immediately. E. coli disease should not be treated with antibiotics, which can cause additional complications.
Toll House Cookie Dough Outbreak:
Recalled Toll House Products
Consumer
Description Unit Code (UPC)
Nestle Toll House Cookie & Brownie Dough
COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH BAR
Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62231 3
Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 11308 8
Chocolate Chunk bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62235 1
Walnut Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62233 7
Jumbo Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62237 5
Oatmeal Raisin bar 16.5oz 0 50000 06219 5
Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62244 3
Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12178 6
Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62242 9
Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12188 5
Mini Brownie Bites bar 16oz 0 50000 62227 6
Fudgy Brownie With Peanut Butter Filling 19oz 0 50000 00820 9
COOKIE DOUGH TUB
Chocolate Chip tub 40oz 0 50000 62246 7
Chocolate Chip tub 80oz (5 lb) 0 50000 00934 3
Sugar tub 40oz. 0 50000 62253 5
Gingerbread tub 40oz 0 50000 44060 3
Peanut Butter tub 40oz 0 50000 44062 7
TUBE (CHUB) DOUGH
Chocolate Chip tube 16.5oz 0 50000 62239 9
Chocolate Chip tube 32oz 0 50000 00400 3
ULTIMATES COOKIE BAR DOUGH
Ultimates Peanut Butter Cups, Chips & Chocolate
Chunks bar 16oz 0 50000 00922 0
Ultimates White Chip Macadamia Nut bar 16oz 0 50000 00923 7
Ultimates Chocolate Chip & Chunks with Pecans bar 16oz 0 50000 00925 1
Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers 16oz 0 50000 00926 8
Ultimates Turtles bar 16oz 0 50000 00928 2
Ultimates Peanut Butter Lovers bar 16oz 0 50000 00507 9
Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Caramel Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44066 5
Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44069 6
SEASONAL COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH
Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 12009 3
Valentine Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00931 2
Fudgy Brownies With Raspberry Filling 19oz 0 50000 20090 0
Easter Eggs Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 52009 1
Easter Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00932 9
Easter Swirled Mini Brownie Bites bar 18 oz 0 50000 20093 1
Red, White & Blue Swirled Choc Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00937 4
Halloween Pumpkin Pals Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 06217 1
Halloween Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00929 9
Halloween Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00088 3
Christmas Shapes Sugar Cookies 15.5oz 0 50000 00505 5
Christmas Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00930 5
Christmas Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00089 0
Limited Edition Mint Swirled Chocolate Chip 16oz 0 50000 00827 8
Discontinued Varieties
Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44056 6
Easter Brownie Bar 18oz 0 50000 00518 5
Easter Bunnies Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44058 0
Halloween Sugar Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 00829 2
Christmas Sugar Cookie Tube 16oz 0 50000 00448 5
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Tub 48 oz. 0 50000 62229 0
