An estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 60 deaths occur in the United States each year due to E. coli infection. Consumers can help prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection if they understand the risks and know what precautions to take. Here is some information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
What is Escherichia coli O157:H7?
E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a toxin and can cause severe illness.
How is E. coli O157:H7 spread?
The organism can be found on a small number of cattle farms and can live in the intestines of healthy cattle. Meat can become contaminated during slaughter, and organisms can be thoroughly mixed into beef when it is ground. Eating meat, especially ground beef, that has not been cooked sufficiently to kill E. coli O157:H7 can cause infection. Contaminated meat looks and smells normal. Among other known sources of infection are consuming sprouts, lettuce, salami, unpasteurized milk and juice, and swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.
What illness does E. coli O157:H7 cause?
E. coli O157:H7 infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps; sometimes the infection causes nonbloody diarrhea or no symptoms. Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness resolves in 5 to 10 days. In some people, particularly children younger than 5 and the elderly, the infection can cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, in which red blood cells are destroyed and kidneys fail.
What are the long-term consequences of infection?
People who have only diarrhea usually recover completely. About one-third of people with hemolytic uremic syndrome have abnormal kidney function years later, and a few require long-term dialysis. An additional 8 percent of people with hemolytic uremic syndrome have lifelong complications, such as high blood pressure, seizures or paralysis.
What can be done to prevent the infection?
Cook ground beef until a meat thermometer hits at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid eating ground-beef patties that are still pink in the middle. Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods. Wash hands, counters and utensils with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat. After contact with animals, especially farm animals, wash your hands often and make sure your children do the same.
Make sure that people with diarrhea, especially children, wash their hands carefully with soap after bowel movements and that people wash hands after changing soiled diapers. Anyone with a diarrheal illness should avoid swimming in public pools or lakes, sharing baths with others and preparing food for others.
Other E. coli Lawsuits
2 dead with 22 injured in E. coli Hamburger Outbreak in Montana
E. coli Outbreak in Washington and California linked to Walnuts
Seattle PCC Market E. coli outbreak linked to Guacamole
11 with E. coli linked to Raw Milk LLC Cheese
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak sickens 35
Huntley High School students hit with E. coli
Marler Clark retained by a dozen families to investigate Fueling Brain E. coli Outbreak
E. coli Outbreak linked to University of Arkansas
E. coli Lawsuit filed in Washington State against Torero's Mexican Restaurant
Aldi Falafels sicken 24 with E. coli in 6 States
HelloFresh linked to E. coli Outbreak in Six States
Wendy's E. coli Outbreak Grows to 109 Victims, 13 with Acute Kidney Failure
Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses
Lawsuits updates by year
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022
Get Help
Affected by an outbreak or recall?
The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.
Get a free consultationRelated Resources
E. coli Food Poisoning
What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so...
E. coli O157:H7
E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in...
Non-O157 STEC
Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least...
Sources of E. coli
Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are...
Transmission of and Infection with E. coli
While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination...
Outbreak Database
Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?
The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.
View Outbreak Database