E. Coli Outbreak Caused by Ground Beef

Since last month, 156 people have become ill with E. Coli food poisoning throughout 10 states. Two of those victims live right here in Virginia. Twenty of the victims needed to be hospitalized. Fortunately, there have been no deaths reported from this outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began receiving reports of the outbreak in March and have determined that the source of the E. Coli is ground beef. Victims report consuming the food at restaurants and at home. As of today, the agency has been unable to identify a brand of meat, supplier, distributor, or retailer that may be responsible.

The CDC has not yet recommended that consumers avoid eating ground beef or that retailers and restaurants stop selling the product. Instead, the agency recommends that consumers make sure to handle the meat properly while preparing in order to avoid any cross-contamination. The beef should be refrigerated, and all dishes should be fully cooked to the proper temperature in order to make sure that any E. Coli contaminants are killed.

Food Poisoning

When consumers purchase food in grocery stores and restaurants, there is an expectation that what they are buying is safe to eat. Unfortunately, as this latest incident shows, the contraction of foodborne illnesses happens too frequently. Any victim who has experienced a food poisoning injury should contact a personal injury attorney to find out how they can hold the party or parties responsible for the contamination responsible.

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E. Coli is a bacteria that is often found in the intestines of animals – and people – and some strains of this bacteria can trigger illnesses that are spread in food and water. When someone has been infected with E. Coli, they often have symptoms that include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, urinary tract infections, and respiratory illnesses. These symptoms show up within three to four days of consuming the infected food and can last up to one week.

The strain of E. Coli that the CDC has identified in this latest outbreak can also cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which puts the victim at a high risk of kidney failure.

Let a Virginia Food Poisoning Attorney Help

If you or a loved one has contracted a foodborne illness, you may be able to pursue compensation from the party or parties responsible for the contamination. This could be the grocery store where you purchased the food, the restaurant you ate at that failed to cook the food properly, or the distributor that sold infected food to consumers.

As Shapiro & Appleton, our Virginia food poisoning attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve for the medical expenses you have incurred, the income you have lost while recovering, and the pain and suffering you suffered. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with a member of our legal team, call our office today.