The number of food poisoning cases relating to salmonella-tainted cases has risen to more than 1,000, according to an Associated Press news report. Two Iowa farms that have jointly recalled over half a billion eggs, for potential salmonella contamination, have connections to a supplier, who apparently has a history of health, safety, animal welfare and employment violations over the years. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the number of illnesses estimated as high as 1,300, is expected to grow even higher.
Supplier Austin DeCoster owns Wright County Egg, the original farm that recalled 380 million eggs on August 13, 2010 after they were linked to more than 1,000 reported cases of salmonella poisoning. Another of Austin DeCoster's companies, Quality Egg, supplies young chickens and feed to both Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms, the second farm that recalled another 170 million eggs a week later.
Health, Safety and Labor Violations
The list of fines and violations for the supplier DeCoster Egg Farms is long. In 1997, the company agreed to pay $2 million in fines to pay off citations relating to health and safety violations. Labor department officials likened the conditions there to a sweat shop. Hazard included unguarded machinery, electrical dangers, exposure to harmful bacteria and other unsanitary conditions. In 2000, the state of Iowa designated DeCoster as a "habitual violator" of environmental regulations.
The state imposed penalties on the supplier and prevented them from building new farms. In 2002, the company faced allegations of employment discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse, which they settled for $1.5 million. In 2007, there was an immigration raid at the farm, which led to the arrest of 51 workers. Most recently, in 2010, Maine Contract Farming, which took over from DeCoster, paid $25,000 in penalties and a $100,000 fine over allegations of animal cruelty.
Liability Issues in Food Poisoning Cases
Federal officials are still trying to establish a connection between DeCoster and the salmonella-tainted eggs. Meanwhile, the company is already facing two lawsuits relating to the egg recall. One lawsuit is from distributor Dutch Farms, which is alleging that the company used unauthorized cartons to package and sell eggs under its brand without its knowledge. Another is a personal injury lawsuit from a person who said they became ill after consuming eggs in a salad at a Wisconsin restaurant.
Based on this news report, it appears that the supplier of the tainted eggs has not only had a history of health and safety violations, but also a history of hiring undocumented workers, discrimination and poor treatment of workers and animals. I hope federal officials will conduct an in-depth investigation into these farms and the violations that occurred there. If it is determined that negligence or wrongdoing on the part of these companies caused the salmonella outbreak, then the companies involved can be held liable. Victims who suffered salmonella poisoning because of these contaminated eggs can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of diagnostic tests, hospitalization and other related damages. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.
Have you become sick recently as a result of eating eggs? We would like to hear from you.
SLS Consulting