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Ohio E. coli Outbreak
Law Firm and Lawsuit


Ground Beef E. coli UPDATE TO OHIO E. COLI INFORMATION BELOW: Our law firm has filed a lawsuit in Ohio against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of Zachary Everhart, a victim of the E. coli outbreak that has sickened people in Michigan (Michigan E. coli), Ohio (Ohio E. coli), Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Utah and Georgia (Georgia E. coli). Contact us regarding the lawsuit: 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or email attorney Fred Pritzker.

The information below is from a June 25 press release issued by the Ohio Department of Health. We have added updates in brackets.


E. coli Outbreak in Ohio and Michigan Linked to
Kroger Ground Beef

COLUMBUS (June 25, 2008) (Updates in brackets) - Ohio departments of Health and Agriculture confirmed today that a raw ground beef sample provided by an Ohio E. coli O157:H7 case is linked by genetic fingerprinting to the multistate outbreak in Ohio and Michigan. Test results released today verify the E. coli present in the beef sample shares the same genetic fingerprint with the bacteria that has sickened [22] Ohioans in recent weeks [and at least 21 people from Michigan, one prerson from Georgia (12 cases may eventually be included) one person in Indiana, one person in Kentucky and one person in New York].

Ground BeefInformation submitted with the positive beef sample indicates the product was purchased at the Kroger Marketplace in Gahanna [Ohio]. [CDC reports that other Kroger ground beef samples have also tested positive with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7.] It is important for consumers to realize beef purchased from other sources may also be tainted, and steps should be taken to protect themselves from foodborne illnesses.

“Food safety is the No. 1 priority of the Ohio Department of Agriculture,” said Director Robert Boggs.  “The department is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to perform a traceback investigation to find the source of this ground beef.”

[The CDC has reported that epidemiological and microbiological evidence points to Kroger ground beef as being the source of this outbreak. Read about the legal implications of this link and a Kroger E. coli lawsuit. The Ohio Department of Health and the CDC have also associated Nebraska Beef, Ltd. with this outbreak.]

A second sample, purchased by a consumer from a Kroger in Fairfield County, was sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Consumer Analytical Lab in Reynoldsburg and tested negative for E. coli O157:H7.  No further tests were necessary.

The Ohio Department of Health and local health departments in six counties continue to investigate [25] Ohio cases of E. coli O157:H7 that have been linked genetically and epidemiologically to cases in Michigan. The [25] cases being investigated are in the following counties:

  • Franklin [eleven confirmed, three probable]
  • Delaware (one confirmed)
  • Fairfield (four confirmed)
  • Lucas [three confirmed, one probable]
  • Seneca (one confirmed)
  • Union (one confirmed).

“Reports of foodborne illnesses tend to increase in the summer months and Ohioans should be aware of steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Ohio Health Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. “E. coli infection is a serious illness that is preventable.”

Summary of Ohio E. coli Outbreak of June 2008:

  • Our law firm has filed a lawsuit against Kroger Co. and Nebraska Beef, Ltd. on behalf of a victim of this outbreak.
  • 21 cases of E. coli O157:H7 confirmed in Ohio.
  • These 21 cases are part of an E. coli Outbreak that includes 22 Michigan E. coli cases, Georgia E. coli cases, and cases in Kentucky, Indiana and New York.
  • Ground beef purchased at Kroger stores tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7.
  • The CDC reports that a statisically-significant number of people sickened by E. coli in this outbreak reported consuming and/or prepared ground beef purchased from Kroger.
  • Kroger recalled an undetermined amount of ground beef in response to this outbreak (Kroger Recall).
  • Nebraska Beef, Ltd. recalled over 5 million pounds of beef trim and other ground beef components in response to this outbreak (Nebraska Beef Recall).



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