--- title: Fingerprints Key to E. coli Outbreaks date: 2003-03-12T21:06:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/fingerprints-key-to-e-coli-outbreaks" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Fingerprints Key to E. coli Outbreaks SEATTLE, WA -- Health officials in Ottawa County, Michigan, believe that contaminated ground beef could be the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has infected at least eight members of a single family. Other E. coli cases have been reported in neighboring counties, and tests to determine whether the cases are related are pending. The USDA uses Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) testing when E. coli O157:H7 and other deadly pathogens are found in ground beef. The USDA routinely samples ground beef collected at retail outlets. When E. coli O157:H7 is found in such samples, a recall usually results. By comparing PFGE test results, sometimes referred to as “genetic fingerprints,” epidemiologists, like at the CDC, are able to link illnesses with recalled meat. “A perfect example of how important DNA fingerprints are comes from the ConAgra ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak last summer,” said William Marler, an attorney with Seattle law firm Marler Clark. “During the outbreak, an Ohio woman died, and health officials were able to link her cause of death to ConAgra’s meat through PFGE testing.” The story of PFGE testing’s role in the case of the Ohio woman, Patricia Pfoutz, was told in the January 21, 2003 Wall Street Journal article, “Use of DNA Fingerprinting Helps Track Tainted Meat.” Marler continued, “My partners and I have found PFGE testing to be invaluable in tracing foodborne illness outbreaks to their sources. The best advice I could give anyone who thinks they may have a foodborne illness is to make sure their doctor obtains a stool sample so this kind of testing can be done.” \### BACKGROUND: Marler Clark has extensive experience representing victims of E. coli illnesses. William Marler represented Brianne Kiner in her $15.6 million E. coli settlement with Jack in the Box in 1993. In 1998, Marler Clark resolved the Odwalla Juice E. coli outbreak for the five families whose children developed HUS and were severely injured after consuming contaminated apple juice for $12 million. The firm also represented eleven schoolchildren who became ill with E. coli infections after eating contaminated tacos for school lunch. The children were awarded $4.6 million by a jury in Eastern Washington. The partners at Marler Clark speak frequently on issues of safe food and have formed OutBreak, Inc., a non-profit business dedicated to training companies on how to avoid foodborne diseases. Marler Clark is also proud to sponsor the informational web sites of [](http://www.about-ecoli.com/)[www.about-ecoli.com](http://www.about-ecoli.com) and www.foodborneillness.com. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House 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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 consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) 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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/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 ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)