CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O103 and E. coli O121 infections.
As of July 12, 2019, a total of 21 people infected with the outbreak strains of E. coli O103 (6 people), E. coli O121 (13 people), or both (2 people) have been reported from 7 states Missouri, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Illnesses started on dates from March 18, 2019, to June 18, 2019. Ill people range in age from 6 to 79 years, with a median age of 25. Fifty-two percent of ill people are female. Of 17 people with information available, 8 (47%) have been hospitalized. No deaths and no cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure, have been reported.
Illnesses that occurred after June 22, 2019, might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill with E. coli and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of two to three weeks.
Epidemiologic and traceback information indicate that ground bison produced by Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc., is the likely source of this outbreak.
In interviews, ill people answered questions about the foods they ate and other exposures in the week before they became ill. Of 9 people with available information, 6 (67%) people reported that they ate or maybe ate ground bison. Ill people ate ground bison in burgers from several different restaurants or prepared ground bison at home.
Regulatory officials collected records from the restaurants where ill people ate ground bison. These records showed that the ground bison produced by Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc., was sold in several restaurants where ill people ate ground bison.
On July 16, 2019, Northfork Bison Distributions, Inc. in Saint-Leonard, Quebec, Canada, recalled ground bison and bison patties (referred to as Bison Burgers and/or Buffalo Burgers) produced between February 22, 2019, and April 30, 2019.
Consumers should not eat, and restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell, recalled ground bison products.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $650 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.
If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.