E. Coli

Low-temperature electron micrograph of a cluster of E. coli bacteria, via the USDA.

An 8-year-old from Braintree has recently passed away after he ate food tainted with E. coli. What started out as a seemingly innocuous stomach bug quickly turned violent when the boy’s parents noticed he was fatigued and had bloody diarrhea. He was then immediately taken to an emergency room and transferred to Children’s Hospital in Boston when his condition worsened. Tragically, the boy passed away in a matter of ten days, despite the efforts of the doctors at Children’s.

E. coli infections usually come from eating food that has been contaminated with it. The bacterium is dangerous to human beings because it secrets when it infects the intestine. E. coli in children and the elderly causes additional complications beside bloody diarrhea, including renal failure, anemia, dehydration and organ failure. Most E. coli infections resolve on their own and require no treatment, but can turn dangerous quickly.

Currently, there is no E. coli vaccine available for humans. To prevent E. coli from entering into our homes, the CDC recommends cooking and washing food thoroughly and drinking pasteurized and/or treated fluids, such as fruit/veggie juice and milk. The CDC also recommends to avoid touching or eating any foods that may be contaminated with animal or human waste and to wash your hands thoroughly after each and every trip to the rest room and encounters with pet waste.

As foodborne illness attorneys in MA, Mazow | McCullough, PC, has extensive experience pursuing justice on the behalf of those who have been injured as a result of a failure to keep food safe. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured and sickened clients and have a depth of experience and knowledge to help you recover for your serious injury. Please contact us today at 978-744-8000 or rem@helpinginjured.com to speak with an attorney regarding your rights.

E. coli bacteria

1.8 million pounds of ground beef shipped to Massachusetts has been recalled due to suspicions it may have been tainted with E. coli. The products, produced by Wolverine Packing Co., were dated between March 31, 2014 and April 18, 2014 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food Safety an Inspection Service.

E. Coli Tainted Ground Beef Linked to 11 Cases

So far, 11 illnesses have been linked to the meat sold for restaurant use in four New England states. E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps and tenderness, bloody stools and nausea with vomiting. Some people, once infected, do not notice any of the symptoms and may spread the bacteria to others without noticing. Once the bacterium spreads to the intestines, the problems begin. The symptoms will oftentimes be accompanied with a high fever.

Oftentimes, and if left untreated for relatively short periods of time, E. coli can cause kidney failure and sometimes long-term disability or even death in some children and older adults.

Call a MA Foodborne Illness Attorney

As foodborne illness attorneys in MA, Mazow | McCullough, PC, has extensive experience pursuing justice on the behalf of those who have been injured as a result of a failure to keep food safe. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured and sickened clients and have a depth of experience and knowledge to help you recover for your serious injury. Please contact us today at 978-744-8000 or rem@helpinginjured.com to speak with an attorney regarding your rights.

Due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination, the Valley Meat Company in Modesto, Calfornia, is recalling approximately 1 million pounds of beef products from the market. Products include frozen ground beef patties and bulk ground beef products.

E. Coli Illnesses From Tainted Beef Products

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the government learned of the problem on July 15, when the California Department of Public Health notified them that a small cluster of  E. coli O157:H7 illnesses had been reported in 6 patients. This count has now risen to 7.

If you believe you have been infected by E. coli, you can download Mazow | McCullough, PC’s Legal First Aid Kit: E. coli (PDF). This explains the symptoms of E. coli and gives you a checklist of medical and legal steps to take.

The CDC has stated that there are now 26 confirmed cases of E. coli 0145 linked to shredded romaine lettuce sold under the Freshway brand and Imperial Sysco brand. These cases include people with E. coli in Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Recall of Lettuce Tainted with E. Coli

Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio, has issued a recall for all romaine lettuce products sold under their brand for food service outlets, wholesale, and in-store retail salad bars and delis. Supermarkets have not been affected.

Sufferers have reported symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. More serious complications of E. coli include HUS, a severe infection that most commonly affects the elderly and infants.

With more and more E. coli cases arising in Massachusetts, Mazow | McCullough have been working to inform the public of its dangers. We’ve developed a legal first aid kit that outlines the first steps you should take if you think you have E. coli.

And if you or a family member has been affected by E. coli, contact the personal injury attorneys at Mazow|McCullough for advice on your potential legal case.