Washington Injury Attorney Blog

The wife and daughter of Othon Cortes of Miami have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines and Sky Chefs, an airline catering company, alleging that food contamination of a chicken meal that Cortes consumed on a Barcelona to New York flight on May 18 caused him to become ill and led to his fatal heart attack.

The family is asking for $1 million in damages.

Cortes experienced symptoms of food poisoning including severe stomach cramps and extreme thirst that came on suddenly after he arrived at JFK and not long after he consumed his airline meal. Cortes went ahead and boarded his Miami connecting flight where he experienced a cardiac emergency with symptoms of nausea and shortness of breath. American Airlines landed the plane at Norfolk but Cortes was deceased by the time the flight landed.

Cortes' family claims that the meal was contaminated with Clostridium perfingens bacteria, the third leading cause of food poisoning in the United States.

The bacteria can grow in food that is prepared properly but if too much time elapses before it is served bacteria germination can occur and bacterial colonies can form.

Most times when food is contaminated by C. perfingens it is not lethal

Sky Chefs is attempting to dismiss the case against them saying:

"Based upon the allegations in the complaint it is not possible that Sky Chefs is the responsible party because we did not cater the Barcelona flight in question."

There are a lot of unanswered questions about this case. Most cases of food contamination do not present for 12 to 24 hours. The claimants will need to provide an autopsy report which reveals the presence of perfingens and show how that bacteria contributed to Corte's death.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious illness due to foodborne illness and the family of those who have died.

Source: Passenger dies in-flight, family says airline to blame
By Tanya Mohn, msnbc.com contributor
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Continue reading "Family files wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines and Sky Chefs saying food poisoning was a factor in man's death" »

A deadly Listeria outbreak has killed at least 23 and caused more than 166 people to become ill. The Listeria outbreak is linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe from Jensen farms in Colorado. People in 20 states have reported illness, however, there have been none reported at this writing in Washington state.

Listeria is a foodborne illness and symptoms of the infection may take a while to develop but they can include severe fatigue, muscle aches and disorientation. Most of the people who have become ill from this outbreak have been hospitalized.

One form of Listeriosis, a disease caused by the Listeria bacteria, has a mortality rate of 25%. Two complications of Listerioris is sepsis, a systemic inflammator response and infection, and meningitis.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of investigating how the cantaloupes caused so many to become ill.

In this Listeria infection outbreak, most of the patients were elderly and had frail health. Listeria is an opportunistic infection and like E-coli and Salmonella, it can threaten the life of the elderly, pregnant women, the very young and people with compromised immune systems.

President Obama recently signed a food-safety law which will increase inspections of fields and processing plants before illness strikes and people die. Currently, the FDA only sporadically inspects farms and usually only after foodborne illness strikes.

People who become ill from foodborne illness and the family of those who have died are advised to seek the counsel of an experienced foodborne illness attorney. With expert legal representation, victims can often obtain compensation for their medical costs and for their pain and suffering.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have successfully represented clients who have become ill due to foodborne illness. In one case, we obtained a $1.5 million judgment for a victim of E-coli illness in Washington state.

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Continue reading "Deadly Listeria outbreak kills 23 and sickened 166" »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with Vita Food products has issued a recall of 8,088 4 oz. packages of smoked salmon due to the fact that they may be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytoges. The salmon was sold in Safeway stores across the nation including in the western states of Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.

The salmon is sold under the label Vita Class Premium Slicked Smoked Atlantic Nova Salmon and it is sold nationwide through Safeway, Publix and Winn-Dixie stores. The sell by date and code of DEC 15 2011 01961B is on the packages.

Consumers with this product should seal the product in a plastic bag or container and return it to the store where purchased. Vita Foods is asking consumers with this SELL BY Date and Code to call 800-989-8482 during the hours of 8am to 5pm (Central Time Zone) Monday through Friday.

Listeria contamination can cause serious food borne illness. Listeria can cause serious infection which can be fatal to young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Listeria infection can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

Systems of Listeria infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Persons with any of these symptoms should contact their physician for advice and go to an emergency room for treatment.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness and the family of those who have died. With our help, you may recover compensation for your medical costs and non-compensatory damages including pain and suffering.

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Continue reading "More than 8,000 packages of smoked salmon recalled due to listeria fears" »

A woman who is described as "elderly" has died and four people have been hospitalized after an outbreak of E-coli illness linked to strawberries grown at the Jaquith Strawberry Farm near Newburg, Oregon. Six other people have become ill due to the outbreak reports The Daily Astorian.

Those that have become ill were infected with the E-coli O157:H7 strain, which is one of the most virulent strains.

Dr. Paul Cieslak of the Oregon Public Health Authority says that the source of the E-coli bacteria appears to be from deer fecal matter which contaminated the strawberries.

The tainted fruit has been pulled from farm stands and farmer markets.

E-coli O157:H7 is associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a very serious complication which causes kidney failure. The woman who died succumbed to kidney failure caused by the disease. One report said that at least one other victim also contracted hemolytic uremic syndrome. The elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk for this serious complication.

It is not easy to track down the source of an E-coli infection. Health investigators start with interviewing patients about where they shopped and what they ate. Patient's don't always accurately remember eating a particular food. Tracing infection to a fruit or vegetable can be very difficult because when sold at farm stands, they are not labeled with lot or other identifying numbers.

Tenacious health investigators in this case, however, pinpointed the source of infection to Jacquith Strawberry Farm.

Since the source of the infection has been found, no new cases of the illness should emerge from fresh berries but the fear is that someone may have frozen the berries which could be still cause illness.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness and the family of those who have died.

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Continue reading "E-coli death and illness linked to tainted Oregon strawberries" »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that papaya distributed by Agromod Produce, Inc. may be the cause of a salmonella outbreak in 23 states including Washington. The FDA warms consumers to not eat papayas from Agromod Produce, Inc.

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are investigating the cause of the salmonella outbreak which has sickened 97 people and hospitalized 10.

The FDA warns consumers that if you do have papayas distributed by Agromod, you should discard them in a sealed container so that animals or people do not eat them.

The FDA tested incoming shipments of papayas from Mexico and found that two papaya samples had the same strain of salmonella -- Salmonella Algona -- that caused the outbreak. All papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011 have been recalled.

While the most serious illness occurs in the young and very old, the average age of those people who became ill is 20.

Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and these symptoms usually appear between 12 to 72 hours after consumption of the affected fruit. The illness can last between four to seven days.

Salmonella infection can be deadly if it spreads from the intestines to the blood stream. If it spreads, it must be treated with antibiotics.

For more information, see the FDA web-site.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become ill due to foodborne illness and the family of those who have died.

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The recent outbreak of E-coli in Europe has killed 35 and health authorities fear the death toll could rise as victims still remain hospitalized. Authorities are hopeful that the outbreak is waning as fewer cases are cropping up.

According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that 3,255 people have become ill from the Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria.

There are many strains of the bacterial and most strains are harmless while others can cause serious food poisoning. The Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain is one of the most virulent and deadly forms.

How is E-coli O157:H7 different?

Escherichia coli O157:H7 often causes bloody diarrhea and, in some cases, it can lead to kidney failure. The young, elderly people and people with compromised immune systems are the most vulnerable to this sometimes deadly complication.

E-coli O157:H7 is so virulent because it releases Shiga-like toxins.

How is it transmitted?

Though E-coli O157:h7 is rare; it can live in the intestines of some cattle. It is transmitted when food or water is contaminated and is then ingested.

Scientists have found it to be virulent; a small amount of the virus can cause infection.

While this recent outbreak involved sprouts, undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk and juices, raw produce and salami have been culprit in other outbreaks. Waterborne transmission can occur from contaminated lakes or pools.

The organism is often spread from person-to-person and outbreaks have occurred at day care centers where the illness spreads quickly and through a group of people.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of E-coli O157:H7 is bloody diarrhea and acute abdominal cramps. Fever is not usually associated with the illness.

In 2-7% of those infected, the E-coli infection causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is a syndrome in which the red blood cells are damaged, the person has a low platelet count and renal (kidney) failure occurs. This is a medical emergency and 5-10% of those with this severe complication succumb to the disease.

How is it diagnosed?

Besides the obvious symptoms, E-coli infection is confirmed through the testing of a stool culture.

What is the treatment?

The treatment for E-coli calls for victims with the severe form to be hospitalized so they may receive fluid and antibiotics as well as anti diarrheal medications.

When the patient has HUS, they are usually placed in an intensive care unit and receive blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.

Recent Outbreaks in the U.S.

In 2009, approximately 66 people were sickened by an outbreak which was believed to be from contaminated Nestle Toll House cookie dough.
In 2007, there were several outbreaks due to ground beef and Topps Meat Company and United Food Group did a massive recall of ground beef.

In 2006, there were two significant E-coli O157:H7 outbreaks. The first was thought to be traced to green onions served by Taco Bell and the second is bagged spinach.
In 2002, ground beef was the culprit in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Western states including Washington.

Continue reading "When E-coli turns deadly" »

Investigators searching for the source of E-coli contamination which killed 31 and sickened thousands, mostly in Germany, has been found says John Dalli, European commissioner for health and consumer policy. The source of the contamination has been liked to an organic farm. Dalli said, "The source of contamination is now identified, and the epidemiological findings are backed by laboratory results. EU consumers and trade partners shall now have full confidence as regards the safety of EU's vegetables."

Authorities have been searching for the source of the food borne illness for weeks and, at first, Spanish cucumbers seemed the likely culprit. Officials are still recommending people avoiding eating cucumbers and other fresh vegetables.

Tracking down a foodborne illness can be very difficult. Investigators interviewed those with diarrhea, those hospitalized, and those with the severe complication of HUS kidney syndrome, on what and where they ate and the ingredients contained in the foods they ate.

Even thought the source of the contamination -- the German organic farm -- has been found, investigators still have not determined the source of the contamination whether it was in the water, animals nearby or if the plant seeds were contaminated.

E-coli and salmonella contamination of bean sprouts has caused illness in the U.S. in the past. The warm and humid conditions required for growing sprouts can be havens for the propagation and growth of both e-coli and salmonella bacteria. Sprouts have been the source of almost 40 foodborne illness outbreaks in the past 20 years.

Continue reading "Bean sprouts from organic farm cause of European E-coli outbreak says health official" »

So far 16 people have died in Europe because of E-coli infection linked to tainted vegetables. The death toll may rise as upwards of 1,150 have become sickened.

Hundreds of people have become sickened in several European countries including Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden but the only deaths so far have been in Germany.

373 people in Germany are said to have been sickened with the most deadly form of E-coli,
Escherichia coli O157:H7. This form of the bacteria can have life-threatening complication, a kidney condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

Another 796 people have become ill with the enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, also known as EHEC, bacteria.

At this point it is unclear the exact source of the E-coli contamination but there appears to be a strong link to cucumbers from Spanish Almeria and Malaga as the source of infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the E-coli outbreak is "very large and very severe."

Symptoms of E-coli infection includes severe and acute bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. A diagnosis is made by culturing a stool sample.

When an E-coli infection can be traced to a particular manufacturer or packaging process, victims may pursue a legal claim for damages against the producer, manufacturer or distributor of infected food sources.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness caused by negligence.

Continue reading "16 killed, hundreds sickened in European E-coli outbreak" »

The United States Depart of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Creekstone Farms Premium Beef of Arkansas City, Kan, has issued a recall for approximately 14, 158 pounds of ground beef because of possible e-coli O157:H7 contamination. The meat was sold is large packages and was likely repackaged and sold under different brand news.

At this time, there has been no reports of associated illness.

According to the Seattle PI.com, the beef was produced on February 22 and was shipped to Western states including Washington.

E-coli O157:H7 is a bacterium which causes foodborne illness in humans that consume it . This is the most virulent form of e-coli and can cause serious illness among the old, the young and people with compromised immune system. This form of the bacterium has been known to cause hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) which can cause a permanent and sometimes deadly kidney disease.

Consumers should always adhere to safe ground beef preparation techniques which include:

• Washing hands with warm and soapy water.
  
• Washing knives, dishes and cutting boards that come in contact with the beef.
  
• Keep raw meat and fish and poultry from other foods.
  
• Cook ground beef to at least an internal temperature of 160° F. 
  
• Refrigerate raw meat within two hours after purchase or within one hour if the temperature is
  90° F. 

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become serious ill due to foodborne illness.

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Stores in Washington state and in the Pacific Northwest including Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Pank N' Save, are cooperating with a recall of some products containing fresh broccoli from Taylor farms after there was an isolated instance of a test sample testing positively for the bacterium Listeria onocytogenes organism. No foodborne illnesses have been linked to the recalled foods.

Taylor Farms Pacific is a Northern California company that sourced the broccoli used in a variety of cooked and fresh grocery products and deli trays between February 7 to March 7, 2011.

The Seattle Times has a list of the recalled products as well as the Safeway web-site.

Customers who have questions about the recall can contact Safeway at 1-800-SAFEWAY or Taylor Farms at 209-835-6300.

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium found commonly in soil, streams, plants, sewage and food. It has been found in uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milks and uncooked meats The bacteria rarely causes a lethal food-borne infection called listeriosis. Though listeriosis is rare it can manifest as meningitis.

Foodborne illness kills about 5,000 people in the U.S. every year and causes approximately 325,000 hospitalizations. When a restaurant or food supplier falls below hygiene rules set forth by the State, they may be liable for negligence in the case of serious illness or death.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber La w Group. If you need an attorney for a case of serious illness due to food poisoning, The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience. Herbert G. Farber, Esq., won a sizable settlement for a Washington State young boy who became seriously ill after eating at a popular fast food restaurant.

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Continue reading "Stores in Washington recall some products containing fresh broccoli" »

Sprouters Northwest, a local grower of fresh sprouts located in Kent, Washington, has issued a recall of several of their sprouts products after the Oregon Health department found a possible link to people who became ill due to salmonella and the Sprouter's Northwest's products.

According to a report by Seattle's King 5 news, two people were sickened in Oregon and four people in Washington due to the salmonella bacteria. The illnesses occurred between December 4 and December 17.

Salmonella is a foodborne illness which can be caused by consuming contaminated food. One form of the bacteria is Salmonella Enteritidis which is linked to chicken eggs; it causes approximately 142,000 reported cases of illness every year resulting in approximately 30 deaths.

Symptoms of foodborne illness can include dehydration, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.

Recalled Products

The recall includes the following products, all with a "best by" date of 1/16/11 and earlier:

• 4 oz. (UPC 8 15098 00201 6) and 5 oz. (UPC 0 33383 70235 3) containers of Clover sprouts.
  
• 1-lb. bags of Clover (UPC 0 79566 12351 5), and 2-lb. trays of Clover (UPC 0 79566 12362 1).
  
• Clover Onion sprouts in 4 oz. (UPC 0 79566 12361 4) and 5 oz. (UPC 0 79566 12361 4) containers.
  
• Deli sprouts in 4 oz. (UPC 8 79566 12305 4) and 5 oz. (UPC 0 33383 70267 4) containers.
  
• Spicy sprouts in 4 oz. (UPC 8 15098 00202 3) containers.
  
• Brocco sandwich sprouts in 4 oz. (UPC 8 15098 00028 9) containers.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious illness due to foodborne illness and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

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Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, Washington has issued a voluntary recall of all its cheese after it was identified as a possible source of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 infection. Oroville is located 4 miles south of the Canadian border in Washington state.

The company issued the recall after people in Washington, Oregon and Minnesota became ill with foodborne illness. Though the persons that became ill could not positively identify the cheese that had eaten before they were sickened, Sally Jackson issued the voluntary recall. The cases of E-coli were found to be linked to each other through testing.

All of Sallly Jackson brand cheeses are made from unpasteurized milk from goats, sheep, and cows. Jackson has been making cheese for 30 years and this is the first time any illness has been linked to her cheese which is sold at top restaurants and gourmet shops.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a a form of E-coli bacterium which causes more serious illness than the other forms of E-coli. It's most serious complication is hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) which is a potentially life-threatening condition which affects a person's kidneys. Every year in the U.S. approximately 60 people die due to this rare condition.

E-coli is a food-borne illness and can be transmitted by undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized dairy and juice products, salamis and other cured meats, pizza and raw contaminated vegetables including sprouts and spinach.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have suffered serious illness due to foodborne illness. With our help, you may be able to obtain compensation for your damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Source:
The Seattle Times
Okanogan County artisan cheese linked to E.coli recalled
Posted: December 17, 2010

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The Texas Department of Health Services has shut down all food processing by a San Antonio plant after four people died after contracting listeriosis after eating celery that had been processed at the Sangar Produce and Processing plant.

In addition to the four deaths, Texas health department authorities believe that six other people contracted listeriosis due to eating contaminated celery.

Listeriosis is a food-borne illness caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria which is found in soil, water and in animals. Vegetables can become contaminated if soil or manure is used as fertilizer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 2,500 people contract listeriosis every year and it is a factor in 500 deaths per year. People with compromised or immature immune symptoms, including small children, the elderly and people with underlying disease. Pregnant women are more susceptible to the illness and contract it at a rate of 20 times greater than other adults and it can cause the death to the fetus.

Symptoms of listeriosis can last up to 10 days and include fever, muscles aches and vomiting. One of the side effects of the infection is that it can spread to the nervous system, causing meningitis.

The Department of Health can close down a plant if it believes that products supplied by the plant are "an immediate and serious threat to human life or health."

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to a http://www.seattlecaraccidentlawyerblog.com/Washington food-borne illness including those sickened from restaurants or through processed food. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

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Continue reading "Four listeriosis deaths linked to celery from Texas processing plant" »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with Abbott has announced of recall of Similac, Isomil and Go & Grow powdered infant formula after the presence of a common beetle was found in the product which could potentially cause a foodborne illness in a baby.

The FDA says that the formula containing the beetles pose no immediate health risk but babies who drink the formula which contains beetles or larvae could experience gastrointestinal discomfort including diarrhea or refusal of food.

Pediatric Associates with offices on the Eastside including in Bellevue, Factoria, Redmond and Sammamish recommends that babies who have symptoms of nausea, diarrhea or refusal to eat for more than a few days should contact their physician.

You can find out whether your baby's formula has been recalled b:

• Search the FDA's database
  
• Visit Abbott's web-site and type in the lot number
  
• Call Abbott at 1-800-986-8850

There have been some complaints that Abbott did not list some of the recalled products on their web-site and that the Abbott web-site could not handle the demands of customer visits and calls. Some parents have complained that after they requested return shipping labels for the product, the labels took more than 10 days to arrive.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a product liability law firm and we represent clients who have been seriously injured due to a dangerous or defective product.

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The United States Food and Drug Administration along with Hallmark Fisheries of Charleston, Oregon has issued a recall of several some of their packaged crab meat products because they have the potential for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Routine testing by Hallmark Fisheries revealed the presence of the bacteria; no illnesses have been reported.

Listeria monocytogenes is a virulent foodborne pathogen which can sicken people and in 20-30% of the cases, results in death. Listeria is the leading cause of foodborne illness-related deaths in the United States and every year, approximately 2,500 cases of serious illness and 500 deaths result from the bacterium.

The bacterium is especially virulent in newborns, who can suffer meningitis as a result of infection, the elderly and the infirm. Healthy individuals can also suffer illness and it can cause miscarriage and stillbirths in pregnant women.

According to the FDA Press Release, the crab meat is sold under the Hallmark, Peacock, Quality Ocean International and Yaquina Bay brands which were distributed mostly to food service companies in Washington, Nevada, Oregon and California.

The codes for the recalled products are:

CP 232 4A (A-H)
CP 233 4A (A-F)
CP 235 4A (A-F)
CP 236 4A (A-G)
CP 238 4A (A-H)
CP 239 4A (A-C)
CP 240 4A (A-B)
CP 242 4A (A-C)
CP 243 4A (A-H)
CP 244 4A (A-E)

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages including medical costs, lost wages and for pain and suffering.

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The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 1,500 people have become ill with salmonella food poisoning this summer after eating contaminated eggs. The CDC had a massive egg recall after cases of Salmonella Enteritidis spiked. Usually, the CDC sees approximately 1,000 cases of salmonella in the summer, but this year, the number shot up to 2,600 because of the egg contamination.

Consumers, however, can reduce their risk of salmonella illness by taking some precautions. One cannot tell by looking at an egg if it is contaminated or not and the bacterium can be in both the inside and outside of the egg.

Eggs involved in the latest recall include those that were packaged with the following labels:  Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Farm Fresh, Lund, and Mountain Dairy.

Tips to reduce Salmonella Enteritidis infection:

• Keep eggs adequately refrigerated which keeps any bacteria that might be present from multiplying. Proper refrigeration temperature is less than 45 degrees.
• Throw away any cracked or dirty eggs.
• Thoroughly cook eggs until both the egg white and yolk are firm.
• Eat eggs promptly after cooking.
• Promptly refrigerate any foods containing eggs.
• Do not eat raw eggs.
• Avoid dishes in restaurants that have raw or runny eggs including Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad with a dressing made of raw eggs.
• Young children and elderly adults or those people with compromised immune systems should avoid eating raw or under cooked eggs.

Symptoms of food poisoning can be mild or severe. For healthy adults, food borne illness runs its course in a few days or weeks. However, in the very young, the frail elderly or people with compromised immune symptoms, food poisoning can result in dehydration, hospitalization or even death.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious illness due to food contamination in the greater Seattle - Tacoma - Bellevue metropolitan area and the families of those killed. With our help, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages which may include medical costs, loss of wages and for pain and suffering.

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The Bellevue Reporter reports that Chung Po Liu, 69, of Bellevue, has entered a guilty plea for conspiring to illegally import more than $40 million of Chinese honey into the United States.

Lui was indicted along 11 other individuals and six companies.

Some of the imported honey was found to be contaminated with an antibiotic which is banned in food in the U.S.

Liu and his co-conspirators altered documents and product labels to make it appear that the honey was being imported from Russia, the Philippines and other countries to avoid tariffs and custom duties. The illegal imports spanned a seven year period from 2002 to 2009.

The Food and Drug Administration does not believe that any one was sickened by the honey.

Liu entered a plea agreement so prosecutors may recommend a prison sentence of up to two years.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have developed serious illness due to foodborne illness or contamination and the family of those who have died. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The FDA, along with Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, has issued a recall of 380 million eggs after a salmonella outbreak sickened people in four states.

The Seattle Times reports that no eggs sold at Albertsons, Safeway, Fred Meyer or QFC stores in Washington state have been recalled.

Salmonella is a foodborne illness which can sicken people when they consume contaminated food. Salmonella can cause serious illness resulting in hospitalization and even death in a few cases. The very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk for serious illness.

Symptoms of foodborne illness can include severe dehydration, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, sever abdominal cramping and vomiting.

If you need an attorney for a case of serious illness due to food poisoning, The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing clients who contracted foodborne disease due to the negligence of another or entity. Herbert G. Farber, Esq., won a sizable settlement for a young Washington State boy who became seriously ill after eating at a popular fast food restaurant. 

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

See the Egg Safety Center for more information about this recall.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with Goya Foods, Inc., has announced a precautionary recall of 14 ounce packages of Frozen Mamey Pulp after seven cases of Typhoid, a foodborne illness, in two western states.

The recalled pulp was distributed in western states at retail outlets including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that five of the people that came ill with typhoid drank smoothies or milkshakes prepared with frozen mamey fruit pulp. Four of the victims used the pulp made by Goya Foods.

The FDA tested sample packages of the product and found that one tested positive for the bacteria that causes typhoid.

Typhoid fever is caused by the Salmonella tyhia bacteria. It is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacteria.

Symptoms of Typhoid fever include a fever that progressively increases, profuse sweating, gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Complications of typhoid can include intestinal hemorrhage, peritonitis, encephalitis and dehydration.

Typhoid can kill if it is not treated. Antibiotics are the general course of treatment including rehydration therapy.

For more information contact Goya at 1-800-275-4692 or see the FDA's web-site.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious injury due to foodborne illness and the family of those killed. With our help, you may recover compensation for your damages.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that almost one in 25 outbreaks of foodborne illness such as salmonella, norovirus and E-coli can be linked to fresh guacamole or salsa served by restaurants and delis.

Guacamole and salsa are more easily contaminated than some foods because they contain ingredients that come from many sources and they also contain many raw ingredients. If they are not prepared using sanitary prep conditions and if they are not properly refrigerated, bacteria has a chance to grow. Both dishes are made in large batches, so even a small amount of bacteria can infect many diners.

According to the CDC, in 20008, more than 1,400 people were sickened by salmonella and the source of the outbreak was traced back to Serrano and jalapeño peppers used in salsa. The CDC note that outbreaks of foodborne disease due to salsa come from the commercially prepared salsas that one purchases at grocery stores but from homemade salsas prepared at restaurants and delis.

Foodborne illness can cause vomiting, acute stomach cramping and diarrhea. In some cases, victims require hospitalization. In extreme cases, some victims suffer severe complications such as kidney disease.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness and the family of those who have died.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or attorney@hgfarber.com to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

Source:
CDC.gov
Salsa and Guacamole Increasingly Important Causes of Foodborne Disease
July 12, 2010