On August 30, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Interstate Meat Distributors, Inc. was recalling approximately 41,000 pounds of ground beef for potential E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The ground beef products had been distributed in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and had been identified as the source of an E. coli outbreak.
Investigators from the Oregon Department of Health Services, Washington State Department of Health and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare identified eight individuals who had become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after consuming ground beef products produced by Interstate Meat Distributors.
Marler Clark filed an E. coli lawsuit against Interstate Meat on behalf of a Washington man on September 10, 2007. The firm later filed another lawsuit on behalf of the Idaho victim. Both cases have been resolved.