A Nebraska-based meat packer is recalling more than 40,000 pounds of ground beef products that were shipped to institutions and distributors in California and other states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, the meat, produced by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. was also shipped to 15 other states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted tests on samples, which detected the presence of the deadly E. coli bacteria in the ground beef products. Other states affected by this recall include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The recall includes 10-pound chubs of chuck fine ground beef 80/20, packed in cases containing eight chubs. USDA officials said that they discovered the problem through "routine monitoring." So far, no illnesses have been reported linked to these defective products. Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact Tyson at 866-328-3156.

E. coli Symptoms

In California, during 2008, 242 cases of E. coli were reported, according to the California Department of Health's web site. E. coli infections typically cause abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea with bloody stools. Young children and the elderly are at the highest risk for becoming infected with E. coli and developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which can lead to serious kidney damage or even death.

Tips to Avoid Infections

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers several tips to guard against E. coli contamination. First, cook all ground beef products thoroughly. Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. It should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not eat ground beef that is still pink in the middle. If a restaurant serves you an undercooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Also, ask for a new bun and a clean plate. While cooking in your own kitchen, keep raw meat away from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.

Protecting Your Rights

If you have been sickened by contaminated meat, isolate the food and preserve it so it can be tested in a lab to determine what the contaminants are. Seek immediate medical attention and contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will help protect your legal rights and best interests. Negligent food producers can be held liable for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

Ground Beef Recalled for Possible E. coli Contamination is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

A California food company has issued a recall for 6,141 cartons of cilantro in seven states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, Salinas-based Pacific Cilantro recalled the herbs in seven states after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors found salmonella in a sampling of the products. So far, no illnesses or fatalities have been reported. The recall has been issued in seven states including California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri, as a precaution. Those who have these products in their homes are asked to return them. The herbs were grown by Salt River Farming in the Phoenix area.

Statistics Relating to Food Poisoning Cases

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are approximately1.4 million cases of salmonella food poisoning in the United States each year. Only 40,000 of those cases are actually reported. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that there are 5,000 instances of fatal food poisoning cases each year caused by a variety of defective products.

Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning

The symptoms of salmonella poisoning can be extremely painful and traumatic. The most common signs of salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping or pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and bloody stools. In many instances, salmonella infection could lead to several days of hospitalization. Salmonella infection may also, in certain cases, result in serious injuries or death. There are certain strains of salmonella that cannot even be treated with antibiotics. These infections often affect the very young, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems.

Compensation for Food Poisoning Victims

If you have become ill as a result of consuming these defective products, it would be in your best interests to isolate the food item and preserve it, so it can be tested in a lab for the presence of disease-causing germs or contaminants. In such cases where a negligent food producer or retailer may be involved, victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, diagnostic tests, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Victims of food poisoning would be well advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will better advise them about their legal rights and options.

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A California farm is voluntarily recalling bags of chopping romaine lettuce due to food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, True Leaf Farms of Salinas is recalling 90 cartons of lettuce, which is believed to have been contaminated with listeria bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the company that a sample taken as part of a random check tested positive for listeria. The recall covers products with a "use by" date of September 29, 2011 and a bag and box code of "B256-46438-8."

This listeria recall comes at a time when the nation is witnessing one of the most deadly listeria outbreaks, which has been linked to cantaloupe from Jensen Farms in Colorado. The outbreak involving the tainted cantaloupes has so far caused 16 deaths and 72 illnesses in 18 states including California. Listeria is a type of bacterium that can survive even in room temperatures. Although we may not hear about listeria as often as we do about E. coli or salmonella, this type of infection has the potential to be deadly. In the United States the last known large listeria outbreak happened on 1998 when 21 people died as a result of eating contaminated hot dogs and deli meat.

Symptoms of Listeria Infection

The most common symptoms of a Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, a stiff neck, and headaches. Those who are older and have compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to these infections. Pregnant women are particularly at risk because listeria can be extremely harmful to fetuses, resulting in birth defects, miscarriages or stillbirths.

Liability Issues in Food Poisoning Cases

It is unclear from these reports if anyone has been sickened or killed as a result of consuming the tainted lettuce. It is important that consumers who have these defective products at home immediately discard them if they have not been consumed or opened. If you have eaten the tainted food, isolate the remainder of the food in a separate bag or box and preserve it so it can be tested in a laboratory for evidence of contamination.

Negligent food producers or those who fail to follow federal and state safety standards can be held liable for the injuries and illnesses their food products cause. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, diagnostic tests, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will better advise victims or their families about their legal rights and options.

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Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. is recalling its f&e-brand organic baby spinach over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, this food recall was issued due to concerns that the spinach could be contaminated with listeria, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children or those with weak immune systems. The company, which is based in El Segundo, California, said the recall was issued after one bag of spinach tested positive for listeria. The products involved in this recall have an "enjoy by" date of August 1, 2011 and were sold in Fresh & Easy stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.

Food Poisoning Statistics

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that there are 5,000 instances of fatal food poisoning cases each year. It is even more disturbing to note that the number of safety inspections has fallen sharply in recent years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which monitors food producers nationwide, inspects fewer than 25 percent of food production facilities each year. Also, nearly 75 percent of all food facilities have gone five or more years without an FDA inspection.

Symptoms of Listeria Poisoning

Reports state that these defective products that were recalled have been contaminated with listeria. This type of bacterial infection, also known as Listeriosis, has the potential to cause serious injury or death. The most common symptoms of listeria poisoning include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, the victim may experience symptoms such as headache, stiffness, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Listeria infection can have devastating consequences for pregnant women. The baby may die unexpectedly before birth or experience a life-threatening infection within the first few days of birth.

Liability Issues

If you have been sickened as a result of consuming a certain food, it is important that you label the food, isolate it and preserve it, so it can be tested in a lab for the presence of disease-causing germs or contaminants. The food producer or even the retailer can be held liable for injuries and illnesses caused by contaminated food. Victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, diagnostic tests, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will better advise victims in such cases about their legal rights and options.

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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.

Suppliers of Salmonella-Tainted Eggs Had History of Violations, Report States is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

As California personal injury lawyersand consumer attorneys, BISNAR | CHASE has been a staunch supporter of consumer rights and organizations such as Public Citizen that have championed the cause of auto safety and consumer rights. They have fought against corporate greed and inadequate government safety regulation. Robert Weissman was recently named president of Public Citizen. Weissman succeeds Joan Claybrook, who, for the last 27 years, had served at the helm of the organization.

In her tenure, Claybrook provided Public Citizen with inspirational leadership, boundless energy and good humor, strategic vision and the force of her personality. She has been deeply committed to advancing health and safety, defending victims of corporate wrongdoing, and working for a better and more responsive democracy.

Consumer Group's Accomplishments

For nearly four decades, Public Citizen has been at the forefront of advocacy on the most crucial issues of the day. Their accomplishments are many. Most recently Public Citizen won a U.S. Supreme Court case affirming the rejection of the drug industry's claim to immunity from pharmaceutical liability lawsuits in Michigan. Last year, the group successfully pushed members of the Congress to pass legislation to strengthen the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In 2005, Public Citizen's petition prompted a new rule that required auto manufacturers to notify car dealers about the most dangerous vehicle defects. Other important auto safety issues that Public Citizen has tirelessly campaigned and lobbied for include, reducing truck drivers' hours; new auto safety legislation in connection with failure of seatbelts in rollover crashes; and helping reverse an auto safety regulation that allowed the installation of ineffective tire monitoring gauges. This is only a sampling of Public Citizen's accomplishments, for which, all Americans should be grateful.

An Important Role

We need more safety advocates such as Public Citizen to uphold consumer rights and highlight important auto product liability issues. They have done a remarkable job of being watchdogs and collectively speaking, holding the feet of many irresponsible drug and auto makers to the fire. I would like to welcome Robert Weissman and wish him the very best to keep Public Citizen at the forefront of consumer rights advocacy.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement on June 22, 2009 warning consumers about salmonella-contaminated pistachios that were packed and distributed from a plant in Anaheim. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, FDA issued a food-borne illness alert cautioning consumers not to eat California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands of pistachios repacked by Orca Distribution West Inc. located in Orange County. Orca reportedly received and repacked pistachios recalled by California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc.

Federal officials believe that these pistachios may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The contamination was found after FDA inspectors visited Orca as part of their audit checks to follow up on Setton's product recall. Although Orca repacked and distributed products subject to Setton Pistachio's recall, Orca had not made a public announcement regarding the products, which is why the FDA issued the news alert to warn consumers. These recalled products were apparently distributed to retail locations in airports and hotels nationwide. The California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards brands of pistachios were packaged in clear 6-ounce flexible plastic Ziploc bags, UPC Number: 8 10826011162 with Sell By Dates of 7/30/09 and 8/30/09. Consumers who have bought these salmonella-tainted pistachios are urged not to eat them.

The most common signs and symptoms of salmonella infection includes nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping or pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and bloody stools. In many cases, salmonella infection could lead to several days of hospitalization. Bisnar | Chase has represented victims of salmonella poisoning who suffered long-term adverse effects as well.

Given the potential seriousness of a salmonella infection, I'd question why this Orange County food producer did not recall these salmonella-contaminated pistachios earlier while knowing that the California company where they came from had recalled them. If you or someone you love has been sickened as a result of consuming these pistachios, please contact experienced Orange County food-borne illness attorneys to find out more about your legal rights and options. The food producer that caused your food-borne illness could be held liable and you could be compensated for your medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization and other related expenses. If you suspect you have suffered salmonella poisoning from these pistachios, you would also be well-advised to file a report with the Orange County Health Care Agency. For more information, please visit their Web site (www.ocfoodinfo.com).

Salmonella Contamination Detected in Orange County Pistachios is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

Nestle has voluntarily recalled all varieties of its popular brand of prepackaged and refrigerated Toll House Cookie Dough due to the risk of contamination with E. Coli 0157:H7 bacteria that cause serious food-borne illnesses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, through an alert, is warning consumers who have any of these cookie dough products in their home to discard them. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers can still become sick by getting the bacteria on their hands and other cooking surfaces.

Retailers, restaurant owners and operators and those involved in other types of food service operation have been cautioned by the FDA not to sell or serve any Nestle Toll House prepackaged and refrigerated cookie dough products that are included in this product recall because of the serious risk of E. Coli infection. Since March 2009, there have been 66 reports of illness involving the Nestle brand of cookie dough products.

So far, 25 people were hospitalized with serious symptoms. Seven of the food-borne illness victims developed a severe complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause life-threatening kidney failure. Most of these cases apparently develop after several days of diarrhea – often bloody – due to infection with a specific strain of Escherichia coli (E. Coli). Both children and adults may develop HUS after E. Coli infections.

E. Coli infections typically cause abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea with bloody stools. Young children and the elderly are at the highest risk for becoming infected with E. Coli and developing HUS, which can lead to serious kidney damage or even death. So far, no deaths have been reported as a result of these E. Coli contaminated Nestle cookie dough products.
If you have eaten any of these Nestle pre-packaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough products and have experienced any of these adverse symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately. You should also report your illness to state or local healthcare authorities. For a complete list of these recalled products, please visit Nestle's Web site (http://www.nestleusa.com/PubNews/PressReleaseLibraryDetails.aspx?id=133CC131-A79F-4E84-9C43-C9F99FE5BC99).

If you have suffered serious illnesses or complications as a result of E. Coli infections associated with Nestle cookie dough products, please consult with experienced personal injury attorneys, who will secure fair compensation from the negligent food manufacturer to help cover your medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization and other expenses you may have incurred as a result of your illness. If you believe a certain food product was the source of your illness, you would be well-advised to stop using that product immediately, but preserve it so it may be tested for the presence of such bacteria.

Food-Borne Illness Caused by E-Coli-Tainted Nestle Cookie Dough Products is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers