Washington Injury Attorney Blog

Costco, the Issaquah-based big box store, is sending letters to customers who purchased JBS steaks, ribs and ground beef between April 28th and May 28th after the meat has been linked to E-coli infection in 23 people across nine states. Costco is asking that customers return all affected products still in consumer's possession to Costco for a full refund.

Specific information about the recall can be found on the JBS Swift web-site at www.jbsswift.com.

The Centers for Disease Control says they have linked 23 cases of E-coli infection to JBS beef. Of the 23 people who have become ill, 12 people have had to be hospitalized and two people have developed the serious and sometimes deadly HUS kidney condition.

It is costly and sometimes difficult to sue for damages after cases of E-coli infection. However, patients who develop severe kidney problems, which may be a life-long condition, may be able to obtain compensation for damages it there was negligence in the food preparation or handling of the food product.

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill due to a foodborne illness, contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case. We have successfully obtained compensation for victims of E-coli illness. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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Nestlé USA's Baking division has issued a recall of Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products after there have been reports of people sickened with E-coli 0157:H7 , a foodborne pathogen, after eating the raw cookie dough.

The Food and Drug Administration says that the strain of E-coli has not been detected in the product but due to health and safety concern, the company is voluntarily recalling the products.

The FDA advises people that raw cookie dough should never be eaten and that message is written on the product packaging.

Washington State Department of Health said that they believe five people in our state have been made ill by the cookie dough and two of those five had to be hospitalized.

The recall includes all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough.

Escherichia coli (E-coli) O157:H7 is a food-borne bacterium which can cause severe illness including hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) which is a life threatening-condition which can cause permanent kidney damage, life long health problems and even death. Every year there are approximately 60 deaths in the United states caused by E-col O157:H7.

Signs and symptoms of severe symptoms include severe and acute bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal cramping.

People who have become seriously ill because a negligence during the manufacturing or product packaging are entitled to file a civil suit to ask for compensation for damages including medical costs and for pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill due to a foodborne illness such as salmonella and E-coli, you should contact a personal injury attorney who has experience in representing people with serious illness because of food contamination.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health are investigating a possible Salmonella contamination of pistachio nuts sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Incorporated.
Setton, a California company, is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the U.S.

According to Seattle's local television station, King5.com, the FDA is warning consumers to avoid eating pistachios or foods that contain the nuts until the investigation provides definitive proof as to source of the contamination.

The FDA reports that the contamination is not limited to just one strain of Salmonella.
The Salmonella bacteria is a food borne illness which can sicken people with symptoms of stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea and fever. Usually, symptoms are gone within 7-10 days. However, in the elderly and frail, young children and babies and those with compromised immune symptoms, Salmonella can cause serious illness if it gets into the blood stream including arthritis, endocarditis, arterial infections and even death.

The roasting of nuts should kill Salmonella if it is done properly but the nuts can become contaminated after roasting by mice, rats or birds reports King5.

For more information, see What is FDA Advising Consumers Regarding Pistachios and Pistachio Products.

If you or a loved one has serious illness due to food borne illness, you should contact a personal injury law firm with experience in this area of law. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing victims of food poisoning and food borne illness. With our help, you may be able to obtain compensation for your medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

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The Seattle Times reports that Union International Food Co., of Union City, California, issued a recall on March 30 of some of their spice products which are sold in Washington State and other Western States because of potential Salmonella infection. The spices are mainly sold to wholesalers, distributors, restaurant suppliers and restaurants. However, their white and black pepper are packaged 5 oz retail containers .

According to the report, 42 people have become ill including four in the Portland, Oregon area. Health officials initiated an investigation after a multi-state Salmonella outbreak and discovered the Salmonella in an open container of Lian How White pepper at a restaurant where several victims of the illness ate.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the young, the frail and elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal cramping. In the young and elderly, the Salmonella infection can get into the bloodstream and cause severe illness including arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

Lian How brand spices and Uncle Chen brand white pepper and black pepper are effected by the recall. Check the www.ufunionfood.com web-site for more information or call the company information line at 510-471-6799.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious Salmonella infection which required hospitalization, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in representing people with food borne illness. With the help of The Farber Law Group, you may be able to recover your medical costs and compensation for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

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Food borne pathogens such as Salmonella are in the news a lot lately with the massive peanut products recall. How would you know if your illness was caused by Salmonella or another food borne pathogen?

There are two categories of food poisoning:

1. A toxin in the food that has spoiled. A classic example of this is a church picnic where everyone got ill after eating the potato salad that had not been refrigerated properly.
   
2. A bacteria or virus that has contaminated the food. Salmonella and e-coli are examples of these.

Salmonella is mostly commonly found in under cooked eggs and poultry but the Georgia peanut case has show us that it can also be in other food items.

Symptoms of salmonella:

• Symptoms usually occur 12 to 72 hours after eating the food.
  
• Symptoms will include nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea, and sometimes bloody diarrhea.
  
• A fever may or may not be present.

If you have these horrible flu-like symptoms, make sure you do not become dehydrated and drink plenty of fluids. It is often very difficult to tell the difference between the flu and a food-borne illness unless you go see your doctor or go to the emergency room and they take a specimen test of the patient's stool.

Approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the U.S. every year but the number of infections probably 30 times higher than that. One interesting thing to note is there are more cases in the summer than winter.

A person should recover from salmonella in 1-2 weeks. However, in some cases -- the elderly, small children and people with compromised immune symptoms, the illness can become very severe and even life threatening. Children five years old or younger have the highest rate of diagnosed infections. Around 400 persons die each year due to acute salmonellosis.

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 food borne illness. If you or a loved one has had a serious illness requiring hospitalization, or a loved one has died, due to a food borne illness, you should contact a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury attorney specializing in cases such as these can help you recover compensation for your medical costs, damages and for pain and suffering. At The Farber Law Group, a personal injury firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we have more than 30 years experience representing victims and their families.

Contact The Farber Law Group at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com.

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A Kent, Washington company, Lucy's Enterprises , has issued a recall on their chicken burger product. The recall includes 13,776 pounds of frozen ground chicken products because they may contain plastic and bone fragments. Specifically, the company is recalling chicken burgers distributed nationally by Trader Joe's markets. The chicken burgers are sold in 16-ounce packages as "Trader Joe's, Chile Lime Chicken Burgers" with the date code "3158" on the side of the box.These may be dangerous products and pose a choking hazard.

Trader Joe's and Lucy's have received some customer complaints about finding the foreign materials in the chicken patties. There have been no reports of injuries at this time. Lucy Enterprises Customer Relations Department number is (253(872-0783 and Trader's Joes number is (626)599-3817.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a Class I Recall and considers the product a High health risk. Check their web-site to find out more: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_008_2009_Release/index.asp

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have serious injuries due to defective products. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, contact The Farber law Group today. With our help, you may recover your medical bills and compensation for damages.

Call us at 1-800-244-9087 or e-mail attorney@hgfarber.com. We have offices in Seattle and Bellevue to assist you.

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The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Cougar Mountain Baking Co., based in Seattle, is another company voluntarily recalling products due to the recent salmonella outbreak caused by peanut products distributed by the Peanut Corporation of America. They are recalling boxes of their Gourmet Cookies that contain peanuts or peanut butter. They are also recalling a cookie dough product.

No illnesses have been linked to products distributed by Cougar Mountain in stores in Washington, Oregon, California and New York and also distributed through mail-order.

The list of products in the Salmonella Typhimurium recall is very lengthy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration office has a Recall List which can be searched. Click here to search the list: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

We have written several articles about the peanut recalls in the past month. More than 636 people have been made ill and nine deaths have been traced to a type of salmonella found in a Peanut Corporation of America plant in Georgia. There have been more than 2,000 products recalled

OUR RECOMMENDATION

Check the FDA Recall list often as products are being added to the recall list on a daily basis. We recommend you check packaging and look for the contents. Throw out foods in your home are on the recall list. Skip foods with peanuts or peanut products for now. Err on the side of caution.

Salmonella can be deadly. People with compromised immune symptoms, the very young and the elderly are especially susceptible to severe illness.

This information is provided by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury attorney firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue and we represent people who have become seriously ill from foodborne illness and the families of those killed.

Contact us today if you have questions about your case.

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The Seattle Times reports today that Crown Pacific Fine Foods of Kent, Washington is recalling their sugar free milk chocolate peanuts because the peanuts used were recalled by Peanut Corporation of America. The Peanut Corporation of American is a Georgia-based company whose peanuts products have been associated with a recent outbreak of foodborne illness.

The Food and Drug Administration has linked an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium illness to peanut butter and peanut paste produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at a processing plant located in Blakely, Georgia. The FDA found the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium associated with illness in an unopened container of peanut butter which indicates that the peanut butter was contaminated at the processing plant. To-date, illness has only been linked to peanut butter and peanut paste, not peanuts.

The milk chocolate peanuts produced in Kent were distributed by the Houghton Market in Kirkland in 5-pound bags. The brand name is Koppers, Sugar Free Milk Chocolate Peanuts. There are no known illnesses due to this product.

The PCA salmonella outbreak has sickened more than 500 people in 43 states and at least one death has been connected. The family of a 73-year-old woman who died has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Peanut Corporation of America. Salmonella is a bacterium which can make people ill with severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and high fever. In severe cases, it can cause death.

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill from a foodborne illness or a loved one has died, you should contact a personal injury attorney with experience in foodborne illness. At The Farber Law Group, we have more than 30 years experience in represent personal injury cases. With offices in Seattle and Bellevue, we are here to help you.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

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The family of Shirley Mae Almer, age 72, whose death may have been as a direct result of the salmonella- tainted peanut butter she ate, have filed a wrongful death suit in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis. The family is asking for damages of more than $50,000 according to Forbes.com.

In filing the lawsuit, Almer's family says that the negligence of Peanut Corporation of America, the manufacturer, and King Nut, the distributor, caused Almer's death.

More than 390 products containing peanut butter or peanut paste manufactured at Peanut Corporation of America's Georgia plant have been recalled including snack cakes, ice cream, cookies and dog biscuits. The CDC has found four separate strains of salmonella bacteria at the plant and have traced one strain in common with 501 people in 43 states who have been sickened after consuming peanut butter products manufactured at the plant. For a complete list of recalls, check the FDA's web-site here: "Search for Peanut Butter Product Recalls."

Salmonella is a foodborne illness which causes abdominal cramping and severe diarrhea in infected people. It can be deadly to the young, the elderly or people with compromised immune systems. According to the report, Almer was recovering from cancer treatments and other ailments when she became sickened because of salmonella.

A wrongful death suit can be filed on behalf of a deceased person by their family. A family may be able to recover damages if it can be proved that a person or entity's negligence caused their loved ones death.

The Farber Law Group, an experienced personal injury attorney firm with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, may be able to help you if you have had a family member die due to someone else's negligence. Wrongful death can arise from car accidents, work-related injuries, falls at property that was not properly maintained or due to foodborne illness provided by a food manufacturer or restaurant.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

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The Seattle Times reports that dog treats sold in Washington State and seven other states are being recalled due to fear that they might contain peanut paste or peanut butter. Peanut butter and paste and products that contain it have been linked with over 486 cases of salmonella infection in humans in the last few months including six deaths. More than 100 people have had to be hospitalized as well. There have been at least three cases in King County linked to the outbreak.

The article says that Albertson is voluntarily recalling a pet treat called Happy Tails. PetSmart is recalling varieties of its Great Choice dog biscuits. The fear is that the pet food treats might contain salmonella contaminated with the peanut butter or peanut paste. While veterinarians don't think that pets are in danger because most of them are immune, their owners who feed them the dog treat might get infected with the bacteria.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacteria which can cause severe stomach cramping and diarrhea in people who come in contact with it. The elderly, young children and people with compromised immune systems may contract severe illness requiring hospitalization and some cases even result in death.

For a list of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Peanut Butter Product Recalls, click here:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm/ .

If you or a loved one has become seriously ill or a loved one has died due to foodborne illness, you should contact a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group, with offices in Seattle and Bellevue, has more than 30 years experience representing victims of food poisoning. With our help, you may recover compensation for medical costs, loss of wages and damages caused by the food poisoning.

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The largest O111 E-coli outbreak in U.S. history happened this past year in northeastern Oklahoma. In this outbreak, more than 300 people became ill after eating at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove. Locust Grove is about an hours drive from Tulsa. Now, five months later, scientists are saying they will probably never be able to pinpoint how the bacteria got into the restaurant reports The Tulsa World.

In this outbreak, of the 300 sickened, one man died and more than 70 people became so ill that they had to be hospitalized. The outbreak caused millions of pounds of beef products to be recalled, most distributed by Nebraska Beef, Ltd. The beef was recalled because it is often the source of E-coli infections along with leafy greens and unpasteurized dairy products and apple juice.

Department of Health scientists have been pretty smart in tracking down the culprit in an E-coli outbreak. With advances in DNA testing, a single source of infection can often be identified. However in this case, the state epidemiologist for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Dr. Kristy Bradley, says they believe they will never be able to pinpoint exactly how the bacteria got into the restaurant. She says, “We feel we did a very complete epidemiological investigation. We looked at numerous specimens from employees who had fallen ill to water to the food and environmental surfaces.”

E-coli O111 is a form of bacteria that is usually foodborne. It can cause mild illness in some including stomach cramping, fever and diarrhea. In others -- especially the very young, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions -- the bacteria can be very serious leading to complications which can result in death.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We have experience in representing people who have serious illness due to foodborne illness. In one case, we recovered over a million dollars for a young boy who contracted E-coli from a Washington fast food restaurant.

Contact The Farber Law Group for a free case evaluation.

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An article in The Seattle Times reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to avoid foods that contain peanut butter including cookies, crackers, snack cakes and ice cream. This warning comes after one strain of salmonella bacteria is suspect in making at least 500 people sick across the United States, three of them in King County, Washington.

The spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Health, Donn Moyer, says of those made sick in our state, none have had to be hospitalized.

For now, the FDA is saying that the cause of the salmonella traces back to a production facility in Blakely, Georgia and the Peanut Corporation of America. While the salmonella does not appear to be in jars of peanut butter sold through grocery stores, it has been traced to peanut paste and peanut butter which is used in an ingredients in other products including Perry's Ice Cream products, Little Debbie sandwich crackers, Keebler cookies and crackers, and other products made by Kellogg. To see the complete list of recalled products, click here: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph/products.html If you have any of these products in your house, the FDA urges you to throw them away.

In our previous blog posting, we discussed that the Salmonella Bacterium, of type Typhimurium has been conclusively linked to the King Nut brand of peanut butter through genetic testing. Since then, the FDA has widened the brands and types of foods they are scrutinizing as the contamination seems more widespread.

For more information about the recall,you may want to read the FDA web-site http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html

Salmonella is a bacterium which can cause severe stomach cramping, diarrhea, high fever and illness in people. In the very young, elderly and those with compromised immune systems, the infection can even cause severe illness and even death if not treated correctly and promptly with antibiotics.

This information is provided by The Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury firm in Seattle and Bellevue and we have successful recovered compensation for clients who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness. The effects of foodborne illness can be seriously debilitating and have impact that compromises a person's health for a life time. We help our client recover compensation for medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group if you or a loved one has become seriously ill due to a foodborne contaminant.

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The Seattle Times reports that King Nut Companies of Salon, Ohio has issued a re-call of their "King Nut" and "Parnell's Pride" brand of peanut butter because of salmonella infection, a foodborne illness, linked to the brand. According to the Centers for Disease Control, they have "conclusively linked" these brand of peanut betters to the salmonella outbreak. While these brands are not sold at the retail level, they are available to institutions such as restaurants, schools, universities and hospitals. King Nut is the distributor of the brands which are manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America. To read about the FDA recall, click here: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/kingnut01_09.html

The salmonella outbreak may be nationwide but so far the outbreak seems to be affecting seven states with approximately 400 people with illness. Heidi Kassenborg of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture recommends that anyone with a King Nut or Parnell's Pride brands with a lot code beginning with the number "8" to "throw it out."

CDC officials can trace salmonella back to its source by making a genetic match. The salmonella in this peanut butter case is of type Typhimurium which has been linked to 11 cases in Washington State in 2008.

Salmonella infection can cause fever, severe diarrhea and abdominal cramping, usually 12-72 hours after exposure. Physicians diagnose the infection through a stool sample. The illness can last four to seven days and most people recover without any treatment. However, the elderly, small children, infants and those with impaired immune systems may become severely ill. If the infection spreads to a person's bloodstream it can cause death unless antibiotic treatment is initiated promptly.

This information is brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We are a personal injury firm with locations in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington with experience representing people who have serious illness due to foodborne illness. With our help, you may recover compensation for your injuries including medical costs and pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today.

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A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) entitled
Multivalent bacterial inhibitor protects against toxins says that a new inhibitor called (s)-PolyBAIT, shows promise in protecting people against the effects of the Shiga toxin which is the form of E-coli which causes hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

HUS is a potentially fatal condition which is a result of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 form of the E-coli bacterium. HUS can cause permanent kidney damage and life-long health problems and death. Transmission is often foodborne in undercooked meats, unpasteurized dairy products and juices, and contaminated raw vegetable products including lettuce, sprouts and spinach.

Used with traditional antibiotics, the new inhibitor may be very effective in fighting the most severe of E-coli infections.

We are seeing many new advances in the fight against the E-coli bacteria. This is good news as more than 5,000 people die each year from foodborne illness and many more become seriously ill. The elderly, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and small children are especially susceptible to the ravages of foodborne illness.

The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in investigating and reviewing claims for serious injuries and illness sustained as a result of food poisoning which could have been prevented.  If you, a friend or family member have been diagnosed with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), kidney damage or other serious injury as a result of E-coli food contamination, contact us for a free case evaluation.

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The Everett Clinic in Snohomish County, Washington, has discovered a cluster of E-coli cases with 14 of their patients testing positive for the bacteria. Snohomish County health department officials are trying to determine the cause of the infection according to The Seattle Post Intelligencer.

Of the 14 infected patients, only 1 was hospitalized. The patients are from 9 to 75 years of age.

A cluster of 14 cases is rare as Snohomish County usually experiences only 16-20 infections in an entire year.

Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill from the disease. In extreme cases, patients can have severe consequences including kidney failure.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people who have become seriously ill due to foodborne illness. We successfully recovered a settlement for a boy who became seriously ill after eating at a fast food restaurant.

Contact The Farber Law Group to discuss your case.

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At least six people have become sickened by the E-coli virus in Snohomish County. Health District officials are investigating the cause but say that at least six cases have been confirmed.

Doctors have been alerted about a possible cluster of E-coli cases. If a doctor suspects Enterohemorrhagic E-coli, including E-coli O157:H7 infection, the physician is asked to notify the Health Department immediately.

Transmission of E-coli can include undercooked meat, unpasteurized diary products, pizza, salamis and other cured meats, contaminated raw vegetable products and restaurants.

Symptoms include dehydration, diarrhea and bloody stool, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you or a loved one has become seriously ill because of a food product that was mishandled by a restaurant or food supplier, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical costs and for pain and suffering.

Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

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Approximately 600 homes in the Lake Symington area, west of Bremerton, have been advised to boil their tap water because West Sound Utility District has detected E-coli in the water according to the Kitsap Sun.

Affected homes are between Holly Road on the south, Larson and Glory lanes on the north, Big Beef Crossing on the east and Coho Run on the west.

E-coli was found during routine water sampling tests. The cause is unknown and crews are working to determine the cause and will disinfect the water system.

Residents are advised to boil their water for at least one minute or use bottled water for personal hygiene, drinking, food preparation, dish washing and making ice.

Read the Washington Department of Health News Release.

E-coli is one of the most common foodborne or water borne diseases. Symptoms of E-coli infection occur within several hours of consuming contaminated food or water. The Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a particular virulent form of the bacteria which can cause severe illness.

If you need an attorney for a case of serious illness due to E-coli contamination, 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.

Contact The Farber Law Group  today for a free consultation. For more information about foodborne disease, see our Foodborne Illness Resources.

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Sprouters Northwest, Inc. of Kent, Washington have voluntarily recalled a variety of packages of "Alfalfa Sprouts" after a the Health Department found a link to an outbreak of Salmonella. According to the Washington State Department of Health, nine people have been sickened in Washington and four in Oregon. The recall asks that people not eat any products from Sprouers Northwest that contain alfalfa sprouts.

According to the Department of Health, illnesses due to Salmonella Typhimurium, first occurred in early August. People from Clark, Island, King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties reported illness; two had to be hospitalized.

The Department of Health said that there are usually between 600-800 cases of Salmonellis illness per year in Washington. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and vomiting.

People who have become ill after eating sprouts should contact their doctors. Salmonellis can cause serious illness, especially in children, the very old and people with compromised immune systems. In some cases, it can even cause dath.

For more information on Salmonella, see the Department of Health fact sheet.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We represent people with serious illness due to foodborne disease. We also represent the families of those people who have died after a foodborne illness.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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The Washington State Department of Health is advising all Clallam County customers of Estates, Inc. water system to boil their drinking water after tests revealed that it is contaminated with E-coli.

According to the Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, they are working closely with the water system to determine the source of the contamination.

Approximately 350 homes between Sequim and Port Angeles along Woodcock Road and Kitchen-Dick road are affected. However, no illnesses have been reported.

Tap water should be boiled for at least one minute before it is used in drinking, brushing teeth, making ice or in food preparation.

E-coli is one of the most common forms of foodborne illness. Symptoms usually begin a few hours after contact and they include dehydration, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, headache, severe abdominal pain and nausea. Foodborne illness is also a major cause of reactive arthritis. One of the worst forms of E-coli is O157:H7 which is especially serious in the elderly, very young and people with compromised immune systems.

If you or a loved one has a serious illness due to a foodborne illness, you may need a personal injury attorney with a specialty in this area of law. Contact The Farber Law Group with more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious injuries and the families of those who have died.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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A Bellingham-based seafood company has issued a recall of their 4-ounce package of cracked pepper smoked salmon after they found the presence of listeria moncytogenes -- an organism which can cause foodborne illness -- in routine testing of one package. No illnesses have been reported.

Trans-Ocean Inc. has recalled lot number 54933-2 "Cracked Pepper Style Smoked Salmon" according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recall affects product shipped to seven states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. The company has suspended shipping and distribution of the product while the Food and Drug Administration investigates.

Listeria monocytogenes is often a foodborne organism which can sometimes be fatal infection in the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and children. Listeria can cause miscarriages and still births. Symptoms of the infection include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. If you need an attorney because of a serious illness due to a foodborne illness and food poisoning, contact The Farber Law Group. We have won a sizable settlement for a young boy became seriously ill after contracting a foodborne illness from a fast food company.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

For more information on foodborne illness and for resources, see our Resource guide.

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Last month we wrote about three people in Thurston County and six people in Pierce County in Washington State who became ill with E-coli after eating tainted lettuce. A few of these victims were so sick they had to be hospitalized. Now one, of those victims, Heather Whybrew, a Pacific Lutheran University student and a resident of Federal Way, has filed suit in King County Superior Court.

According to The News Tribune, Whybrew names Northwest Fruit and Produce Inc. and other unidentified growers, shippers and packers in her suit.

The Center for Disease Control reports that there are about 73,000 cases of E-coli O157:H7 every year in the U.S. and about 60 deaths. Some times the affects of the illness can last a lifetime. Severe kidney problems may be a lingering effect.

This information was brought to you by Washington Injury Attorney blog, a service of The Farber Law Group. We successfully won a sizable settlement for a Washington State boy who became seriously ill after eating at a fast food restaurant.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to food poisoning, salmonella, E-coli or another foodborne illness, contact The Farber Law Group today for a free case evaluation.

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The two owners of a Cowlitz dairy farm have plead guilty to a charge of "distribution of adulterated food" as a result of a E-coli outbreak caused by milk from their dairy, reports The Seattle Times. Michael and Anita Puckett, owners of the Dee Creek Farm, will be fined $100,000and may serve up to one year in prison.

In December 2005, there was a major E-coli outbreak in Washington State traced back to milk the dairy distributed. Eighteen people became ill and three children were hospitalized with HUS, a severe kidney disease which often leads to lifelong health problems and permanent kidney damage.

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the E-coli outbreak, they found that the dairy did not have sanitary conditions. The dairy did not provide hand washing facilities and they could not prove that they tested for the bacteria which is required of a licensed dairy. In addition, Dee Creek Dairy distributed unpasteurized milk which is against the law unless one has a license to do so. The Puckett's did not have a license.

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)is a life threatening condition that is a result of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacterium . The Center for Disease Control reports that there are approximately 73,000 cases of E-coli O157:H7 infection per year in the U.S. resulting in approximately 60 deaths. Undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized dairy products, cured meats and unpasteurized juices are often the culprits.

Many times an E-coli outbreak can be traced to the negligence of the food producer in the packaging or manufacturing process. In the case of this Cowlitz dairy, the Puckett's did not follow many of the sanitation requirements to produce their product.

In preparing a lawsuit for a case like this, the personal injury attorney must prove negligence. Because HUS is often a life-long condition, damage awards can be significant because the victim should be compensated for current and future medical costs and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has become ill because of food poisoning or a foodborne illness, contact The Farber Law Group. We have received significant financial awards for our clients in past cases involving a fast food operator in Washington State.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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According to the KiroTV.com, three people in Thurston County and six people in Pierce County in Washington State have become ill with E-coli after eating tainted lettuce. A few of these victims has been hospitalized.

Health Department officials said they are tracking down the source of the tainted lettuce but that it appears not to be sold in stores, rather the infection is traced to a "restaurant, a cafeteria or a food vendor."

The World Health Organization estimates there are 76 million cases of food poisoning a year in the United States. Of those cases, approximately 5,000 people die. Foodborne illness is especially dangerous to the elderly, pregnant women, young children, infants and those with compromised immune systems.

One form or E-coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, is an especially dangerous strain which can cause HUS kidney failure.

If a food vendor fails to follow strict hygiene rules and serves contaminated food, they many be liable for damages including medical costs incurred by the food poisoning victim. The Farber Law Group, a Washington E-coli attorney, has more than 30 years experience in representing people with serious illness due to food poisoning. In the past, we won sizable settlements for our client, including for one young boy who became seriously ill after eating at a popular fast food restaurant chain.

Contact us today for a free case case consultation.

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The Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) announced that the will be testing for additional strains of E.coli. Last Fall, Kayla Boner, an Iowa teenager died of a common E.coli bacteria that the FDA does not routinely test for. Since the early 1990's, the FDA's testing has been for the 0157:H7 strain of the bacteria. Since Boner's death, the FDA has decided to test for other strains including the 0111 bacterial that killed Boner.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that E.coli 0157 infections sicken 73,000 people a year and kills about 60. Other strains, however, can also be deadly. The FDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that they will begin to focus on six other E.coli bacteria: 026, 0111, 0103, 0121, 045 and 0145. FSIS executive associate, Elizabeth Hagen, says these groups of E.coli may be responsible for up to 75% of the non-0157:H7 illness.

The start date for the new testing has not yet been announced.

Foodborne illness can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in pregnant women, young children, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly. Complications can include severe hydration and shutdown of major organs like the kidneys.

If you or a loved one has been hospitalized or become severely ill due to food poisoning, you should contact a personal injury attorney with expertise in the field. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing victims of foodborne illness. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating a possible link between salmonella food positioning and Malt-O-Meal cereal. People have apparently been sickened in by the same salmonella strain in 21 states, however no cases have been reported in Washington State. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths.

Malt-0-Meal is recalling its Puffed Rice and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals with "Best if Used By" codes between April 8, 2008 and March 18, 2009. If you have cereal on your shelf marked with these dates, the company urges you to dispose of them. Recall information can be found on the company's web-site at www.malt-o-meal.com/recallinfo/.

Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning include:

• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Diarrhea and bloody diarrhea
• Abdominal crams

Salmonella poisioning can be especially dangerous to the very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

If you or a family member has become seriously ill due to a food-borne illness, you should contact a personal injury attorney. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people with foodborne illness. Contact The Farber Law Group today for a free consultation. Click here for Foodborne Illness resources.

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The Seattle Times reported today that nine Washington State residents, including two elderly women living in King County, have been sickened by Salmonella. One woman was hospitalized and King County health officials said that both women are recovering.

The cantaloupe originated in Honduras where they were grown and packed by Agropecuaria Montelibano. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an alert and asked that the cantaloupe be removed from stores and from food service. They also urge all consumers to return any cantaloupe to their grocers to determine if it was provide by Agropecuaria Montelibano.

Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness in the United States. The most common symptoms of the disease is vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, chills and stomach cramps. Serious complications can include dehydration and sometimes death, especially in the young and the elderly.

The King County Health Department has a fact sheet on the disease.

If you or a family member has become seriously ill due to Salmonella, contact The Farber Law Group. The Farber Law Group has more than 30 years experience in representing people that have become seriously ill because of food-borne illness.

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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year 325,000 Americans are hospitalized and approximately 5,000 die from foodborne infections such as E. coli. While most healthy people recover quickly from the illness which causes stomach cramps and severe diarrhea, the young, immuno-compromised and the elderly often become very ill because of the disease. In the past year, we have seen recalls of bagged salads and frozen pizza because of potential E. coli or salmonella contamination.

In 1993, an E.coli outbreak at a fast food restaurant chain in Washington State sickened hundreds and killed four children. The Associated Press (AP) interviewed Alyssa Chrobuck who was sickened at the age of 5 in the infamous Jack-in-the-Box case. Now a college student, Chrobuck feels lucky to be alive because her major organs started to shut down after she was infected. Her parents were told that she would die. She recovered from the initial illness but has suffered health effects ever since and takes eight medications daily.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a serious complication of E. coli poisoning. HUS is a form of severe kidney damages which is fatal in 10% of the cases. HUS survivors experience serious health problems that linger, sometimes for a lifetime.

E. coli is a common bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals. Many strains are harmless but one dangerous strain, O157:H7 produces a powerful poison. People are sickened if E. coli gets into their food or water source. This happens when proper hygienic practices are not maintained such as washing hands and food properly.

If you or a family member has been hospitalized because of a foodborne illness such as E. coli or if a loved one has suffered serious health complications or died due to a food-borne illness, you may be eligible to receive compensation for damages and medical costs. Contact The Farber Law Group who has been successful in obtaining awards for victims of E.coli. Because of the lingering health effects of E. coli, you need to make sure your rights are preserved.

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Posted In: Foodborne Illness

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