Washington Ground Beef Outbreak

Pritzker Ruohonen is currently representing victims of E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef. In the last several months, over 27 million pounds of ground beef have been recalled due to possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Washington State Department of Health has reported that 6 confirmed cases of E. coli in Washington have been associated with "Northwest Finest" ground beef sold at Safeway, QFC, and Fred Meyer.

Below is the Washington State Department of Health news release regarding the E. coli outbreak linked to ground beef sold at Safeway, QFC, and Fred Meyer stores in Washington. Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading E. coli litigation law firm, is providing it here as a public service. The firm represents E. coli victims and their families throughout the country. To contact a lawyer at the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the Pritzker | Ruohonen online consultation form.

Washington State Department of Health: Beef alert issued by feds following E. coli cases in Washington and Oregon

OLYMPIA¾ (August 30, 2007) An E. coli outbreak that has sickened six people in Washington has led to a federal consumer alert for ground beef products made by Interstate Meats, based in Oregon.

The illnesses were reported in late July and the first week of August. In addition to Washington, two cases connected to the company’s products have been reported in Oregon. The Washington cases included one child and five adults in King, Island and Clallam counties. Two people were hospitalized and have since recovered.

The alert was ordered by the U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service for products sold under the brand name, "Northwest Finest." The products subject to this public health alert include:

16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 7% FAT, NATURAL GROUND BEEF." The label bears a UPC code of 752907 600127.
16-ounce packages of "Northwest Finest 10% FAT, Organic GROUND BEEF." No UPC code is available.

Each package also bears the establishment number "Est. 965" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection as well as a sell-by date between August 1 and August 11.

The ground beef products were produced on various dates between July 19 and July 30 and distributed in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The affected products were available for sale at Safeway, QFC, and Fred Meyer locations in Washington. This ground beef may have been available at other stores, so all consumers are advised to check their freezers for these products.

Although these products should no longer be available for purchase, consumers may have purchased them when they were on store shelves and may still have them in their freezers. Any frozen ground beef should be checked and discarded as necessary.

E. coli O157 causes mild to severe intestinal illness and may cause serious kidney complications. Symptoms include diarrhea, which may contain blood; abdominal cramping, and vomiting.

Information on safe food handling and preparation is available on the Washington State Department of Health Food Safety Program Website (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/food/food.htm) and the Food Safety Inspection Service Website (www.fsis.usda.gov).

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Foodborne Outbreaks

Iowa E. coli: Raw apple cider may be associated with an Iowa E. coli outbreak.
University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) E. coli: At least 8 people have been sickened, 7 of them students.
Michigan E. coli Lettuce: A Michigan E. coli outbreak has been associated with bagged iceberg lettuce distributed by Aunt Mid's Produce Company.
Aunt Mid's Lawsuit: People in Michigan, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Oregon have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak.
University of Michigan and MSU E. coli Lawsuit: 7 students at Michigan State University and 3 students at the University of Michigan have contracted E. coli infections.
Hendricks Farm Campylobacter outbreak associated with Hendricks Farm & Dairy in Telford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Oklahoma E. coli: An Oklahoma E. coli outbreak may be linked to a Locust Grove restaurant.
Nebraska Beef Lawsuit: Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled millions of pounds of beef products and has been linked to 2 outbreaks.
Massachusettes E. coli: A Massachusettes E. coli outbreak has been linked to Nebraska Beef products and Coleman Meat products.
Whole Foods Market Lawsuit: The Whole Foods Market E. coli outbreak is part of the Massachusettes E. coli outbreak above.
Virginia E. coli - Goshen Scout Reservation: Dozens of scouts were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to beef.
Georgia E. coli - Barbecue Pit Lawsuit
Ohio E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Michigan E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Multi-State Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak: Tomatoes have sickened hundreds of people throughout the United States.
Minnesota Preschool E. coli: Outbreak associated with Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, Minnesota.
Washington E. coli Lettuce: Outbreak associated with commercial romaine lettuce.
Texas Salmonella Saintpaul - Tomato: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
New Mexico Salmonella Saintpaul Linked to Tomatoes: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
Hepatitis A - La Mesa California Chipotle - Lawyer and Lawsuit: San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak
Salmonella - Puffed Rice Recall and Puffed Wheat Recall: Malt-O-Meal cereal recall.
Minnesota Salmonella - Milford Valley Farms Lawsuit: Frozen chicken product.
Salmonella - Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe Recall: Cantaloupe from Honduras.
Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Lawsuit: Recall of Dole, Chiquita and other brands.
Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
Alabama E. coli - Church Supper: Outbreak associated with Eastern Shore Baptis Church.
E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
Listeria - Whittier Farms Recall and Lawsuit: Miscarriage and death linked to milk.
Hawaii Salmonella - Tuna Recall and Lawsuit
Salmonella - Safeway Ground Beef Recall and Lawsuit