I have been suing companies over contaminated ground beef for more than thirty years, and I had hoped I would not be writing this kind of alert in 2026. Yet here we are. Nine people in California — most of them children — were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 after eating beef kofta at The
A little over a year ago, in January 2025, I wrote in this space asking a simple question about the November 2024 E. coliO157:H7 romaine outbreak: why would the FDA not tell the public who grew, processed, and sold the lettuce that sickened 89 people across 15 states, hospitalized 36, gave 7 of them
Whole genome sequencing results show that the beef kofta samples collected by FSIS and produced at Olympia Food Industries (Est. 18743) matched the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. FSIS continues to coordinate with the California Department of Public Health and local health departments in California on the outbreak investigation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Most people who survive Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) recover, yet a meaningful minority are left with lasting neurological problems, and in adults some of that injury declares itself only well after the acute illness has resolved.
The baseline recovery figures are broadly consistent. Spinale and colleagues’ review concluded that roughly 70%
Since 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with state and local partners, have publicly reported a series of multistate Escherichia coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce (and, in several cases, to leafy-green products in which romaine was the implicated or strongly suspected
LOS ANGELES, CA — On May 29, 2026, attorneys William Marler of Marler Clark, Inc., PS and Trevor Quirk of Quirk Law Firm LLP filed a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Samantha Sabaite and her minor child, J.A.K., arising from a confirmed E. coli O157 infection that left
As of May 19, 2026, nine California residents have been infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7. Illness onset dates range from March 27 through April 30, 2026. Six illnesses are in children. Five individuals have been hospitalized, and two have developed HUS. No deaths have been reported. No individuals from other states are
“Where people typically thought of food safety as this three-legged stool — the consumer groups, the government, and the industry — Bill sort of came in as a fourth leg and actually was able to effect changes in a way that none of the others really had.” Former FDA Official
The Beginning: Jack in the
The CDPH is working with local health departments and federal partners to investigate an STEC O157:H7 outbreak linked to the consumption of beef kofta served at several California locations of The Kebab Shop restaurant chain. The Kebab Shop has voluntarily paused sales of grilled beef kofta at all locations. As of May 19, 2026, nine
Announced yesterday, the CDPH is working with local health departments and federal partners to investigate an STEC O157:H7 outbreak linked to the consumption of beef kofta served at several California locations of The Kebab Shop restaurant chain. The Kebab Shop has voluntarily paused sales of grilled beef kofta at all locations. As of May 19
