Salmonella: Banquet Pot Pies

URGENT BANQUET POT PIE OUTBREAK AND LAWSUIT INFORMATION: Below is the Wisconsin Department of Health press release regarding Banquet and generic brand pot pies that may be contaminated with Salmonella. As of October 19, 2007, 22 people in Wisconsin have contracted Salmonella infections associated with Banquet pot pies and generic store-brand pot pies. Pritzker | Ruohonen, a leading food poisoning litigation law firm, is providing the Wisconsin press release as a public service. The firm is currently representing several victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, including the family of a woman from Wisconsin who died as the result of food poisoning.

Pritzker | Ruohonen has a national practice, and attorneys at the firm have been interviewed by The New York Times, TheWall Street Journal, Lawyers USA and other publications. In recognition of their accomplishments, Fred Pritzker and Rich Ruohonen have been named "Super Lawyers" by a state legal magazine. To contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.

POT PIES LINKED TO WISCONSIN SALMONELLA CASES

The following is information from the Wisconsin Department of Health.

October 2007 - State health officials are advising people not to consume frozen pot pie products that may be linked to 22 Salmonella illnesses in 15 Wisconsin counties. The USDA announced a recall of the following 7 oz. single serving brands bearing an establishment number "P-9" or "Est. 1059" printed on the side of the package:

Brands most commonly sold in Wisconsin:

Banquet (sold at many stores)

Great Value (sold at WalMart)

Kirkwood (sold at Aldi)

Other Brands:

           Albertson's (sold at Albertson's)

           Food Lion (sold at Food Lion)

           Hill Country Fare (sold at HEB)

           Kroger (sold at Kroger)

           Meijer (sold at Meijer)

           Western Family (now discontinued)

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is advising consumers not to eat or to discard these chicken or turkey pot pie products until it is able to determine the source, products and potential production dates of contamination and to verify proper cooking instructions for these not-ready-to-eat products. These pot pie products, that may be the source of illness, have "P-9" printed on the side of the package.

Health officials will continue to monitor for additional cases, so please watch for Salmonella symptoms, which typically appear 18 to 36 hours after exposure, but can occur as quickly as 12 hours - or as long as 72 hours - after exposure. People exposed to Salmonella bacteria may experience mild to severe diarrhea, abdominal pains, fever, and occasionally vomiting for several days. Bloodstream infections are infrequent, but can be quite serious, particularly in the very young or elderly. Most people with Salmonella will recover on their own, but it’s important to drink fluids to prevent dehydration. If you have any questions about your symptoms, contact your health care provider.

Salmonella is a bacterium that affects the intestinal tract, but can rarely affect urine, the bloodstream or other body tissues. It’s spread by (1) eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or (2) by direct or indirect contact with fecal material from infected people or animals.

You can take precautions below to help protect yourself against Salmonella:

Always wash your hands, utensils, cutting boards and counters with hot soapy water before and after food preparation - especially after preparing meat, poultry, eggs or seafood.
Parents should stress proper handwashing habits to their children. If you are unable to wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol hand sanitizer.
Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods. Never place cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, eggs or seafood.
Refrigerate or freeze food and leftovers within two hours.
Place meats on the bottom shelf to prevent blood from dripping onto other foods.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats.
Avoid drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk or fruit juices (e.g., apple juice or apple cider).

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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