Our firm’s San Diego personal injury attorneys have recently learned that lettuce from 23 states have been recalled due to product liability concerns over an E. coli outbreak.  Investigators have linked the tainted lettuce back to a farm in Yuma, Arizona, but are not releasing the name of the grower.

Lettuce from Yuma, AZ might be responsible for E. coli outbreak.

E. coli concerns have prompted a recall of lettuce from 23 states (Source: 10TV.com)

Earlier this week, Freshway Foods of Sidney Ohio conducted a product liability recall of lettuce that was shipped and sold in 23 states around the U.S., possibly causing an E. coli outbreak that has personally injured 19 people at least.  Three people have reported near wrongful deaths in conjunction with their illnesses.

The E. coli laced romaine lettuce and salad being recalled is applicable only to Fresh Food supplies with a May 12, 2010 “best if used by” date, as well as “grab and go” salads that are available for purchase at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets and Marsh grocery stores around the country.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health agencies, those documented as being stricken ill with E. coli have been students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio State in Columbus and Daemen College in Amherst, New York.

“Experience tells us that the point of contamination is likely at the farm level, which can then be spread during the entire processing chain,” said FDA spokesman Ira Allen and added that no contamination of E. coli has been traced back to the processing plant.

Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin are the states where the tainted lettuce was sold.  So far, California has not been added to the E. coli outbreak list.

Our firm’s personal injury attorneys urge you to take part in this recall if you think you have purchased lettuce that’s a potential product liability.  Contact the Food and Drug Administration by clicking here or calling 888-INFO-FDA.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney or click here to submit your case for a FREE online review.

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However, Nestle’s official stance is that no new instances of E. Coli have been found, nor has the main production plant been shut down due to product liability worries while adjustments are made.  Fortunately, none of the infected cookie dough logs have been shipped so no recall is necessary in the current market.

At our San Diego firm, the personal injury attorneys have kept a close eye on  claims surrounding infected food products that can cause consumers a large amount of pain and suffering that takes them by surprise.  What really concerns our attorneys with this case is that cookies are a treat for kids, meaning that if all of the contaminated dough is not recalled quickly, then there could be an increase in children’s injuries due to E. Coli (O157:H7) injestion.

When Serious Accidents got in touch with a Nestle representative, they stated that “no official recall with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was underway, nor is there any new samples of cookie dough have been found to have E Coli traces in them on the market.”  

Nestle Toll House cookie dough may have traces of E. Coli, similiar to the ones found in June, 2009. (Source: The New York Times)

The New York Times confirms that there has been no new outbreak from people eating Toll House cookie dough because the contaminated batch “was never sent out into the market.”  However, reporter William Neuman, who originally broke the story, did write that “in tests that Nestle did they discovered E. Coli in their product.”  On the Toll House website, a statement has been released to inform customers that there will a lack of refridgerated cookie dough on shelves for the next few weeks, but it does not make reference to an E. Coli finding.  Safety enhancements and extra testing has recently been conducted, because this is not the first time that the baking company has had a problem with a defective food product.

Last year, there was an outbreak of E. Coli in Nestle Toll House cookie dough and that case of product liability that almost lead to the wrongful death of one woman who at some of the dough in its raw state.  The total number of product liability claims from the outbreak added up to 72 people across 30 states in the U.S. who need medical treatment after eating the cookie dough.  Extra measures were put in place after the 2009 contaimination, but new testing recently reveiled that Nestle’s product still has a trace of E Coli that could harm people who eat it and urge everyone to not eat the product in its raw form.

E. Coli, depending on the strain, can be a harmful bacteria that affects the digestive system, produces kidney problems, and in the most extreme cases can lead to instances of paralysis.  According to Nestle, their factories have implemented a new type of heat-treated flour that is put through extremely high temperatures before it is used to reduce the chances of E. Coli or salmonella from getting into a product.

The San Diego personal injury lawyers at our firm put themselves in the place of the consumer:  you will make the choice if you want to eat something from a company, who, in the past has had bacteria samples found in their products or if you are going to trust a major conglomerate to stand behind the sanitary quality of what they are selling.  Right now, there’s no real way to know how the cookie crumbles.

What do you think about this story?  Would you feel safe eating this cookie dough, even though Nestle reports that the tainted ones are not currently on the market?

Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.

Recipe For Liability: Nestle Cookie Dough And E. Coli is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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The strain of E.coli — referred to as O157:H7 — has caused serious complications in Linda Rivera and nine other people who developed a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome.  The condition causes the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells, acute kidney failure and a low platelet count.

Our San Diego personal injury attorneys are well aware of the products liability problems that come from tainted food products.  Recalls issued due to food contamination in cookie dough as well as pistachios and certain beef products have led to new laws being put in place to prevent them from happening again and give the government more power when contaminated goods are discovered.

Linda Rivera is one of ten people who have contracted a strain of deadly E.coli (O157:H7) that has caused her health to deteriorate.

This past July, legislation was approved by Congress that gives the Food and Drug Administration more power to find sources of outbreaks and give the government the ability to issue a recall instead of waiting for food producers to pull tainted products off the markets.

Rivera was not lucky enough, and her health began to decline a week after she ate the dough.  First, Rivera’s kidneys shut down causing her to go into septic shock.  After that, part of her colon became contaminated and had to be removed.  Gallbladder inflammation followed which was later removed.  Finally, her liver stopped working.

E.coli O157:H7 is usually linked to beef because the bacteria lives in cow intestines and the intestines of animals like goats.  Recently, the bacteria has shown up in weird places, such as some leafy greens and now, cookie dough.

“People just don’t really understand how horrible food-borne illness is,” said William Marler, a Seattle-based food-safety lawyer representing Rivera’s family.  “They think food-bourne illness is a tummy ache and diarrhea.”

When the Center for Disease Control made the connection between E.coli and Nestle’ cookie dough in June, the cookie company recalled almost 4 million packages of dough according to a company spokeswoman.

The personal injury lawyers at our San Diego firm warn consumers about potential food-borne illnesses because you never know what you could be putting into your body.  With the recent recalls of many different food products, consumers need to be as careful as ever to prevent becoming sick with a potentially deadly disease.

If you have eaten something that you believe may be contaminated, seek out medical treatment by a physician right away to diagnose if there is a danger to your health.

Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.

Wrongful Death Possible For Woman Who Ate Cookie Dough is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

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The steps taken are a response to a variety of food-borne illnesses over the last three years.  Foods like spinach, pistachios and cookie dough are just some of the few that have caused illness and injury to consumers.

Peanuts were one of many products linked to food-borne illness which has caused new regulation and prevent cases of products liability.

Our firm’s San Diego personal injury attorneys believe that farmers and companies, who manufacture food for consumers, need to take extra precautions with their products.  Food and drinks can be especially vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.  When companies cannot protect consumers from products liability, we rely on the government to step in and take action.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the responsibility to make sure consumers are buying and consuming products safe to eat and drink.  Food illnesses make 25 percent of Americans sick every year and cause about 5,000 wrongful deaths every year.  The FDA’s recent mistakes have created doubt in the minds of government officials.

“Americans are dying because the Food and Drug Administration does not have the authority to protect them, and American producers and agriculture are being hurt,” said John D. Dingell, a representative from Michigan.

The new laws would place new regulations on food producers and importers.  An annual $500 registration fee will be assessed to food producing companies to help fund increased FDA inspections, enforcement and related activities like food-safety research.

The new laws requires food manufacturers to identify the risks they face and create controls to prevent contamination.  New inspection frequencies would also be put in place.  The FDA will also inspect high-risk facilities at least once a year and low-risk facilities every three years.

Consumers should never be fearful about the food or drinks they put in their system.  Unfortunately, we live in a world where food-borne illness and contamination makes it difficult to trust what we eat and drink.  The personal injury lawyers at our San Diego firm urge the government to take as much action necessary to make sure consumers get all the nourishment from food without illnesses.

If you think that you have eaten a contaminated food, seek out the best medical treatment you can find and do it as soon as possible.

Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury lawyer — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.

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An E.coli outbreak  was linked to Colorado meat-packer JBS Swift & Company for beef it sent to 13 states on April 21 and 22, 2009.

Meat contaminated with E.coli has led to injury in at least four states.

Our San Diego firm’s personal injury lawyers know mistakes can be made and some products can be tainted with harmful bacteria, but those same producers should issue a recall as soon as possible to prevent product liability related injuries.

On June 19, 2009, the child was rushed to an emergency room with severe stomach pains.  The child spent almost three weeks in the hospital and suffered liver failure.  As a result of the contaminated meat, his kidneys are functioning at only 30 percent of normal.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed at least 23 people in nine states have gotten sick with a strain of E.coli with a particular fingerprint of the virus and required medical treatment for their illness.  According to the lawsuit, the child’s E.coli matched that fingerprint.

Swift announced a voluntary recall on June 24th, after the CDC found a link between the company’s meat and illnesses caused by the virus.

The San Diego personal injury attorneys at our firm believe all food companies should make contaminant-free products.  Unfortunately, we still live in a world where we can becoming sick from what we eat.  As a result, precautions need to be taken at every stage from the manufacturer to your kitchen to prevent injury or wrongful death from harmful food-born bacteria.

Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury lawyer — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.

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Dozens of people have become violently ill after eating raw Nestle’s Toll House cookie dough, as it has been contaminated with the E. coli virus.  After 34 personal injuries required hospitalization — with nine suffering kidney failure — Nestle USA has issued a product recall since, even after cooking the dough, E. coli could remain on your hands or survive if not cooked well enough.

Our firm’s personal injury attorneys in San Diego know that manufacturers have a responsibility to make sure that their goods are free of products liability and their services are safe for consumers.  The Food and Drug Administation (FDA) exist to help hold companies to this responsibility.  When a defective product causes someone personal injury, we can help that person file a personal injury claim to recover money for lost earnings,  receive help paying their medical bills and any pain and suffering.

So when the FDA found E. coli at a Nestle plant in Virginia, the food company voluntarily issued a product recall of 300,000 cases of its dangerous cookie dough.

There are some issues, however, with this product recall.  Through a loop-hole, Nestle — and other companies — are not required by law to share safety data with inspectors.  In fact, Nestle balked at consumer safety, attempting to avoid an FDA probe into the E. coli outbreak, and Nestle soon found itself in a product liability lawsuit.

Many are worried about the U.S. food safety system, but maybe some new laws could help the FDA prevent food-related injuries.  These new proposed laws could give the FDA the administrative power to initiate a product recall on its own.

In the meantime, the FDA wants consumers to know that E. coli can appear in unexpected places, and that we should all follow these simple food safety instructions:

• Keep cold food cold.
• Keep hot food hot.
• Never eat something raw that should be cooked.  Remember, cooking foods well done kills most germs.

This all sounds simple, but as you read above, many people have eaten raw food.  As San Diego personal injury lawyers, we hope you take notice of the FDA’s warnings and avoid personal injury from infected foods.

Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury attorney as to how we may help you.  We look forward to providing good advice to help you make smart decisions about your case in either English or Spanish.

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Nestle's cookie dough is causing personal injury when eaten raw.

Madison was on the verge of kidney failure when doctor’s determined E. Coli bacteria was the cause of her bloody diarrhea and vomiting.  The culprit of her personal injury was Nestle cookie dough which was pulled off the shelves due to a products liability that caused the personal injury of over 70 Americans.

Our products liability attorneys believe companies who are responsible for goods that are eaten by consumers should make sure their products do not cause personal injury or wrongful death.  If Nestle’s cookie dough is the root of the E. coli outbreak, then the company should be responsible for any personal injury it caused.  Remember, all of this comes after Nestle was not prepared to cooperate with the Food and Drug Administration over the possible product liability.

Madison’s family is seeking damages to cover an expected $50,000 to $100,000 in medical bills for Madison’s stay at Sky Ridge Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.

The company is focused on completing the recall of Nestle Toll House cookie dough.  Nestle announced the recall during a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation “because the health and safety of our customers is so important,” the company.

Children’s injuries happen every day because of a wide range of reasons.  The worst injuries are the ones that could have been prevented and if Nestle had carefully inspected their cookie dough for safety Madison would not have suffered a personal injury and gone through a traumatic experience at such a young age.

As products liability attorneys, we believe when those companies fail to do what they are responsible for in providing food that is safe to eat, hiring an experienced products liability attorney will help clients get a settlement to help pay for medical bill costs as well as pain and suffering.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced products liability attorney and personal injury lawyer. We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

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JBS Swift Beef Company has expanded its product liability recall of beef due to E. coli.

Our firm’s San Diego personal injury lawyers believe companies who are responsible for goods that are eaten by consumers should make sure their products do not cause personal injury or wrongful death.

E. coli can cause a stomach flu or more serious personal injury like kidney failure which can lead to wrongful death.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers a web page dedicated to knowledge and methods to prevent E. coli from causing personal injury.

An earlier recall involved about 41,000 pounds, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that all the beef products in the expanded recall were produced April 21 and are in boxes marked “EST. 969,” a package date of “042109″ and a time stamp ranging from “0618 to 1130″.

The products liability recall covered products that were made April 21-22, 2009 and shipped to 13 states including California, Arizona and Oregon.  Personal injury and illnesses in 24 cases in those states led to an expansion of the recall.

When going to the supermarket or butcher to get your meat products, E. coli is one of the things to be mindful of.  Consumers can only do so much to protect themselves, so companies who prep and package meat products should take all precautions possible to prevent personal injury or illness from E. coli bacteria.

The personal injury attorneys who work at our San Diego firm believe when those companies fail to do what they are responsible for in providing food safe to eat, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney will help clients get a settlement to help pay for medical bill costs as well as pain and suffering.

Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury attorney — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.

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Our San Diego firm’s personal injury attorneys believe that if a loved one or you suffer a personal injury due to a products liability such as cookie dough, the maker of that product should be held accountable for any pain and suffering you endure.  We confront cases frequently when companies fail to manufacture products that are safe to use by consumers.

The E. coli outbreak in 29 states sickened at least 69 people, including 34 who ended up in the hospital.  Most of those sickened were teenage or preteen girls, and no deaths have been reported.  The E. coli strain can cause personal injury such as bloody diarrhea, dehydration and even wrongful death among people with weak immune systems.

Suppose a loved one or you suffered a personal injury such as food poisoning or dehydration as a result of consuming a food product. Would you not want the maker of the food to be held responsible for their product that resulted in your pain and suffering?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer from our San Diego firm in the event of catastrophic injury as a result of unsafe products can help you receive a settlement that can help pay for any medical bills related to the products.  Information is vital when defective products can lead to personal injury or wrongful death.  We want everyone to feel safe in the products they use and not at risk for pain and suffering because a product liability slipped through the cracks.

Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury attorney — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.

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JBS Swift Beef Co. spokesman Chandler Keys said Thursday the recall is voluntary and no illnesses have been reported.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the products were produced on April 21-22 and were shipped to distributors and retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

Suppose a loved one or you consumed a food product and became violently ill from the food.  Would you not want the food manufacturers to be held liable for the pain and suffering you endured?

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced personal injury lawyer.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

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