Palama Meat Company is voluntarily recalling some ground beef products processed at its Kapolei plant in Hawaii that  between April 9-21 due to possible E. Coli contamination.  Approximately 4,500 cases of ground beef-related products are affected.  To date, Palama Meat has recovered about 40% of the product affected by this recall.

Consumers who have any of the following products are asked to return the product to point of purchase for a refund.  The following products with any of the associated Lot Codes are subject to recall.  A label with the production Lot Code is on every case and the production Lot Code is the date of production in a six-digit number in a Year Day Month (YR DY MO) format: (more…)

A man who claims he fell violently ill with Salmonella poisoning after eating at Casa Fiesta in late April is suing the restaurant. Kody Dewitt, who is seeking over $25,000 in damages for the hospital bills and hardships he claims he suffered from eating Salmonella-tainted food at Casa Fiesta, filed the lawsuit in Huron County Common Pleas Court this week. The lawsuit follows an Ohio Department of Health investigation into 26 confirmed cases of Salmonella food poisoning wherein all of the patients ate at Casa Fiesta at 196 Milan Avenue, according to Tim Hollinger, Huron County health commissioner.

The lawsuit contends that soon after Dewitt ate at Casa Fiesta on April 25, he fell terribly ill, requiring hospitalization; he lost wages because of the Salmonella poisoning; and he sustained bodily injury and permanent damage that will forever limit his earning capability. Local news agencies report that other people who claim they were sickened by Salmonella-tainted food at Casa Fiesta plan to sue. (more…)

Two women who were hospitalized for several weeks due to E. coli infections that were linked to tainted lettuce in a Wendy’s meal are suing the popular fast food chain.  Dozens of people attending an education conference in June 2006 fell ill after eating food from Wendy’s.  The women say they ate the contaminated food at a Wendy’s restaurant in North Ogden, Utah and the lawsuits were filed this week against Wendy’s International in Salt Lake City federal court.  Lesiel Calvert and her husband, who live in Weber County and Megan Richards and her husband, who live in Cache County, filed the lawsuits.  The lawsuits seek an unspecified amount of money.

Escherichia coli is a relatively common bacteria found in the human digestive tract is normally harmless; however, some strains, including those linked to food poisoning, are serious and can cause fatal blood poisoning, cystitis, and deadly septicemia.  In the United States, E. coli is the leading cause of food-borne illness.  About 73,000 people are infected and 61 people die from it E. coli each year.  And, last year alone, over 22 million pounds of beef and vegetables were recalled due to E. coli outbreaks. (more…)

The number of confirmed Salmonella infections at Princeton has risen to 16, including 15 students and one staff member. The source of the Salmonella remains unknown, and the Princeton Regional Health Department (PRHD) has been working with New Jersey state officials to conduct preliminary food history surveys with both infected and healthy students. The data collected so far points to the Frist Gallery as being a possible source of infection, PRHD health officer David Henry said. Health officials have been investigating the Princeton Salmonella outbreak since last week, when six cases of the food-borne illness were first confirmed. They are working to determine if more than 70 other cases of stomach illnesses there are related to the outbreak.

The survey results are not yet conclusive because a large percentage of the student population eats at the Gallery on a regular basis, Henry noted. Meanwhile, Princeton has taken several precautionary measures to minimize students’ risk of exposure, according to University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt ’96. “The University is taking steps … to prevent further infection,” Cliatt said, explaining that Dining Services has “stopped serving some of the types of food that are commonly connected to salmonella infections.” No new cases have been reported since the precautionary measures were put in place. “As of this point, the last date of onset of symptoms from the confirmed cases was April 30,” Cliatt said. “This was before the University took precautionary steps to remove some food items from service and to close some food stations at Frist.” Cliatt added that lab results on stool samples collected from 59 other suspect cases are pending. (more…)

Salmonella cases at Princeton University now number at least 10, and as many as 73 other people are showing symptoms of the food-borne illness. So far, investigators have not been able to link the Salmonella to any one source, but they continue interviewing victims with both confirmed and suspected cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Salmonella bacteria sicken 40,000 people every year. Although the true number could be much higher, because it is estimated that for every case of Salmonella poisoning reported, two others are unreported. Salmonella causes fever, abdominal pain, nausea, gas and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms appear within 36 hours of exposure, and usually last four to seven days. In very severe cases, Salmonella can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Salmonella can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, Salmonella can cause a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult- to- treat condition that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. (more…)

Gourmet Boutique of Queens, New York is recalling about 286,000 pounds of fresh and frozen beef, pork, and poultry products that may be contaminated with listeria, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said this weekend.  The recall is a Class I alert, which carries the highest priority and is only issued when there is a “reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”  The Gourmet Boutique recall affects products sent to supermarkets and food stores nationwide and was the second such action in two months for the company.

The company recalled nearly three-dozen products, including fresh foods sold under the names Gourmet Boutique Curry Chicken Salad, Gourmet Boutique Turkey Club Twister, and Jan’s Buffalo Bob tortilla wrap sandwiches.  Frozen products include Archer Farms mini beef, pulled-pork, and chicken burritos.  Salad products possibly containing contaminated meat were recalled and produced between April 19 and 24; frozen products were produced between October 23 and April 23.  Many of the recalled fresh products bore May 2 or 3 “sell by” or “best before” dates. (more…)

New Jersey state health officials are investigating six confirmed cases of salmonella at Princeton University to determine if they are related to 70 other cases of stomach illnesses there.  Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, said health officials would interview those patients reporting a stomach illness since last week.  Cass Cliatt, Princeton spokeswoman, confirmed that the patients who tested positive for the salmonella bacteria had more severe symptoms than the others, who possibly caught an unrelated virus.

University doctors started testing for salmonella last Friday when they noticed an unusual number of students reporting stomach problems, Cliatt said.  At that time, doctors began recording patients’ recent eating histories.  The first findings of salmonella came back Tuesday.  A common source to explain the illness has not been determined. (more…)

In the wake of this year’s Hallmark/Westland meat recall, representing the largest such recall in US history, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting that two of this country’s largest meat processors, “were slapped with humane handling violations.”  The violations were discovered during a governmental review as part of the National School Lunch Program.

Earlier this year, Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company recalled 143 million pounds after plant workers were caught on videotape forcing unfit cattle into slaughter.  At least 37 million pounds of that meat was used for school lunches and federal nutrition programs, according to the USDA.  The recall came three weeks after the Humane Society of the US released videotapes from an undercover investigation exposing Hallmark/Westland workers abusing sick and injured cattle.  Meat from “downer” cattle—animals too ill or injured to walk—is not generally released into the food supply to help prevent against the deadly, brain-wasting “mad cow” disease.  The Hallmark/Westland cattle were unable to stand at the time of slaughter, although they passed inspection earlier.  When this occurs, packers are required to alert USDA veterinarians so they can decide if the animal can be slaughtered for food. (more…)

Early last week, over 400 people reported being stricken with food poisoning after eating at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Kent, Colorado.  The Chipotle restaurant chain’s Denver corporate office has agreed to pay treatment costs for those who fell ill after eating at Chipotle recently.  The last official tally released by local health officials April 21 reported 428 total cases.  Chipotle officials say the suspected norovirus incident was contained to the Kent restaurant.

Food tests from Chipotle did not confirm the virus’ origin; however, investigators confirmed that norovirus is to blame.  In a recent statement, Monty Moran, Chipotle president and COO, said Chipotle established a claims program and reimbursement process for medical expenses related to the norovirus outbreak.  “Investigators have informed us that they believe that the illness was caused by a norovirus, not by anything in our food, equipment, or our food supply,” Moran said.  “We plan to assist people who believe their illness was caused by a visit to our restaurant with reimbursement of related health care expenses.  Food safety is, and always has been, our highest priority.” (more…)

Early last week, over 450 people reported they were stricken with food poisoning after eating at the Chipotle Mexican Grill in Kent, Ohio.  That city’s health department sent food and biological samples from sick customers to the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus.  Food tests from the Chipotle Mexican Grill did not confirm the virus’ origin; however, investigators confirmed they collected sufficient information to state that norovirus is to blame.

Last week, city Health Commissioner John Ferlito said that Ohio Department of Health tests of stool samples came back positive for norovirus.  ‘’It was definitely a norovirus outbreak,'’ Ferlito said Monday. ‘’It looks like people ingested it through the food.  How it got into the food, I can’t ascertain at this moment.'’  Results of the food tests came up negative for fecal coliform, a bacteria often found in human waste, Ferlito said and Ohio Department of Health spokesman Kristopher Weiss said there is no specific test for norovirus in food. (more…)