I am on a plane (delayed flight) finally bound to Chicago via Minneapolis – tell me why I am going to a Food Litigation Conference in Chicago in November? Last week we filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a woman who died before her time – from eating Listeria-tainted cantaloupe. Here is my
November 2011
Third Turkish Pine Nut Salmonella Lawsuit Filed in New York
This is the third lawsuit the firms have brought against New Jersey-based Turkish pine nut importer Sunrise Commodities.
The complaint (#11CV6581T), filed in New York Federal District Court in Rochester, alleges that on October 18, 2011 Melissa Catalino and her six-year-old daughter consumed pine nuts that were purchased from a local Wegmans Food Mart. …
Raw Milk and Cheese Outbreaks 1998 to 2011 – 96 outbreaks with 1,666 illnesses
With two raw milk E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks in the news (one in Washington and one in California) that have sickened at least eight – five with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, I thought an updated chart of over a decade of raw milk and raw milk cheese outbreaks would be timely. Download: Outbreaks from Unpasteurized…
Another Raw Milk Dairy E. coli Outbreak in Washington and a bad month for Raw Milk
Over Thanksgiving week, Cozy Vale Creamery’s raw milk products were recalled because they were linked to three E. coli O157:H7 illnesses and after environmental swabbing at the facility discovered that locations in the milking parlor and processing areas were contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. At least two of those cases were children who…
The Opinionator of the New York Times, Mark Bittman, what he is thankful for
Here is part (and surprisingly) said he was thankful for:
There are days when it seems — both in and out of the food world — that Everything Is Going Wrong. That makes it easy enough to complain, and I’m not alone in doing so routinely. Nothing tastes the way it used to. Even pricey…
Raw Milk Myth Buster 1 – Organic Pastures 2006 Raw Milk E. coli Outbreak was caused by Spinach
Myth:
Organic Pastures and the Weston A. Price Foundation continue to repeat that the 2006 E. coli O157:H7 Raw Milk Product Outbreak was caused by Spinach.
Fact:
– 2006 Organic Pastures outbreak, illness onsets ranged from 9/6 to 9/24
– 5 patients had definite exposure to raw milk or raw milk products produced by Organic…
Cozy Vale Creamery’s Raw Milk Linked to Three E. coli Illnesses in Washington
Environmental testing also positive.
Cozy Vale Creamery’s raw milk products are being recalled because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 after being linked to three illnesses.
The Cozy Vale Creamery’s whole and skim milk and cream are distributed through seven retail outlets in Pierce, Thurston and King counties. The products being recalled all…
Listeria Cantaloupe Wrongful Death Lawsuit filed in New Mexico against Jensen Farms, Frontera and Auditors Primus Labs and Bio Food Safety
Before her Listeriosis illness, the decedent, Florence Wilcox, was a 96-year-old resident of Hobbs, Lea County, New Mexico. Ms. Wilcox lived independently and remained very active. In fact, she was named 2011 “Patron of the Year” at the local public library. Ms. Wilcox frequently purchased and ate cantaloupes. On at least one occasion in the…
179 Salmonella Heidelberg Illnesses in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and Minnesota Linked to Schreiber Processing
According to the CDC, between April 1 to November 16, 2011, a total of 179 illnesses due to Salmonella Heidelberg with this PFGE pattern were reported in states where the “kosher broiled chicken livers” were distributed. The number of ill persons identified in each state the product is distributed to is as follows: New York…
Jensen Farms, and for that matter Frontera, are Strictly Liable for Selling Listeria-Tainted Cantaloupe – Criminal Charges Aside
Michael Booth and Jennifer Brown stepped into a conflicted area in their story today – “Criminal charges hard to pin on farm where listeria-tainted cantaloupes originated” – although the headline writers got it wrong.
Although in my opinion the likelihood of felony charges is remote, misdemeanor charges are certainly a possibility. Here is the law:…