E. Coli Outbreak - Nebraska Beef
On August 8, 2008 Nebraska Beef recalled an additional 1.2 million pounds of meat after a cluster of Boston illnesses was traced to Whole Foods, whose processor, Coleman Natural Meats, purchased the meat from Nebraska Beef. As many as 30 illnesses are reported in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Canada. On August 14, Nebraska Beef added another 160,000 pounds to the recall, bringing the total to 1.36 million pounds. Numerous stores and supermarkets have initiated voluntary recalls.
49 confirmed cases have been linked both epidemiologically and by molecular fingerprinting to the first part of this outbreak, 21 in Michigan and 20 in Ohio, 4 in Georgia, and one each in New York, Kentucky, Indiana, and Utah. Onset of illness in these patients occurred from 5/27/08 to 7/1/08. Twenty-seven ill persons have been hospitalized. One patient has developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Kroger initiated a voluntary recall on June 27, but did not name their meat supplier. Marler Clark filed the first lawsuit stemming from the outbreak on the morning of June 30. Late that night, the FSIS announced that the tainted meat had been traced back to Nebraska Beef Products, and a recall of 531,707 pounds of ground beef products was initiated. On July 2, the Kroger recall widened to 20 states. On July 3, the Nebraska Beef recall was widened to include 5.3 million pounds.
Marler Clark has been contacted by over a dozen individuals and families who believe they are linked to this outbreak. Two lawsuits have been filed on behalf of victims in Ohio, and two on behalf of Georgia victims.
A timeline of developments:
August 14, 2008 - Nebraska Beef widens its August 8 recall by another 160,000 pounds, bringing the total of the new recall to 1.32 million pounds.
August 8, 2008 - Nebraska Beef recalls an additional 1.2 million pounds of meat after the Boston illnesses are traced to Whole Foods, whose processor, Coleman Natural Meats, purchased the meat from Nebraska Beef. As many as 30 illnesses are reported inCalifornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Canada.
August 8, 2008 - A second Georgia lawsuit is filed on behalf of a Moultrie woman sickened in the outbreak.
August 4, 2008 - Six illnesses in Boston appear to be a genetic match to the multi-state outbreak.
July 21, 2008 The first lawsuit in the Georgia cluster is filed on behalf of a Moultrie couple.
July 18, 2008 Utah is added to the list with one illness, three more Georgia cases are genetically matched.
July 16, 2008 The CDC confirms that one of the 8 Southwest Georgia cases matches the genetic fingerprint of the cases in OH, MI, KY, IN, and NY.
July 15, 2008 Three states report cases that genetically match the E. coli present in the Ohio and Michigan outbreak - New York, Kentucky, and Indiana. So far, each state is reporting one case. The Kentucky victim lives near Ohio, but the other two have not traveled to either of the main outbreak states.
July 9, 2008 Marler Clark files a second E. coli lawsuit against Nebraska Beef on behalf of a Pickerington, OH resident.
July 3, 2008 - Nebraska Beef recall widens to a total of 5.3 million pounds of beef products processed between May 16 and June 26 2008.
July 2, 2008 - Kroger widens the recall to include more than 20 states.
June 30, 2008 PM: FSIS announces that the tainted Kroger beef has been traced back to the Nebraska Beef Company, which is recalling 531,707 pounds of ground beef components.
June 30, 2008 AM Marler Clark files the first E. coli lawsuit on behalf of a New Albany resident infected after eating ground beef from Kroger.
June 27, 2008: The products subject to recall include all varieties and weights of ground beef products bearing a Kroger label sold between May 21 and June 8 at Michigan stores, as well as Kroger stores in Columbus and Toledo, Ohio. These ground beef products also include a sell-by date between “05/21/08” and “06/08/08.” The Kroger consumer hotline number is 800-632-6900.
The Michigan Department of Community Health has confirmed 17 E. coli O157:H7 cases that are genetically linked and over half of those cases have either prepared or consumed hamburger meat from Kroger. 11 of these cases required hospitalization. The 17 genetically linked E. coli O157:H7 cases are in seven Michigan counties including Eaton (1), Macomb (3), Washtenaw (4), Saginaw (1), Genesee (1), Wayne (3) and Oakland (4). In addition there are 8 other cases under investigation.
The Ohio Department of Health is reporting 22 confirmed and probable cases of E. coli O157:H7, 18 of which are confirmed and linked to the outbreak in Michigan and Ohio. The cases are in Franklin (10 confirmed, 1probable); Delaware (1 confirmed); Fairfield (4 confirmed); Lucas (1 confirmed, 3 probable); Seneca (1 confirmed); and Union (1).
6/27/08 - The supplier of the meat has not yet been released. Michigan is reporting 16 cases of E. coli, Ohio is reporting 19. Not all have been genetically linked; testing continues.
6/25/08 - E. coli is traced to ground beef purchased at Kroger stores. With illnesses nearing 30 in Michigan and Ohio, Marler Clark calls for a recall.
Later that day, Kroger issues a voluntary recall for its ground beef products. The products subject to recall include all varieties and weights of ground beef products bearing a Kroger label sold between May 21 and June 8 at Michigan and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio Kroger retail establishments. These ground beef products also include a sell-by date between “05/21/08” and “06/08/08.” Complete recall information can be found here
E. coli illnesses began showing up in central Ohio in mid-June, 2008. This was paralleled by a sharp increase in E. coli cases in Michigan. By June 20, officials had genetically linked many of the Ohio and Michigan cases; the days that followed, the outbreak was traced to ground beef from Kroger stores.
- Nebraska firm expands beef recall, USDA says
- More Nebraska Beef Recalled Despite Assurances
- Massachussetts Investigates 6 E. coli Cases
- More E. coli Suits to Come in Georgia
- First Georgia E. coli Suit Filed
- Georgia joins list of outbreak states, CDC says
- E. coli Linked to Beef Now Reported in 5 States
- E. coli Illness Warnings, Recalls Came Weeks Late
- A Second E. coli Victim Files Lawsuit Against Nebraska Beef
- USDA Expands Ground-Beef Recall to 5.3 Million Pounds
- Experts Don’t let E. coli Dampen Holiday Cookouts
- Beef Recall Hits Oregon, Washington
- E. coli-Infected Resident to Sue
- Seattle, Cleveland firms file E. coli lawsuit in state
- 12 new E. coli Reports Being Investigated
- E. coli cases Still Popping up Throughout Central Ohio
- Kroger recalls ground beef over E. coli fears; 32 stricken in Ohio, Michigan
- Ohio Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination
- Marler Clark Calls for Kroger Ground Beef Recall
- E. coli found in Local Beef
- Ground Beef Might be Cause of E. coli Outbreak
- 10 Ohio E. coli Cases Linked, 9 Michigan Also a Match