All News / Press Releases /

Food Safety Law Firm Commends BPI for Increase in E. coli Testing

Marler Clark, the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, petitioned the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to declare all illness-causing strains of E. coli bacteria adulterants in food. The firm, which is representing victims of the recent Germany-based E. coli O104 outbreak, today commended Beef Products, Inc. (BPI) for taking a large step in that direction after the company announced that it will begin testing its products for six strains of E. coli not currently regulated by the USDA, and called again on the federal government to do more to protect consumers from all pathogenic strains of E. coli.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) currently only requires testing for the most notorious E. coli strain: O157:H7. BPI will soon test for what are known as “The Big Six” E. coli strains, which produce highly dangerous Shiga toxins and account for 70 percent of non-O157:H7 infections. These include O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145.

The recent E. coli outbreak in Germany that resulted in over 4,000 illnesses and 50 deaths was caused (including five ill in the U.S. and one death) by a strain not listed in The Big Six. The strain responsible for the outbreak, E. coli O104:H4, will therefore not be tested for in BPI’s new procedures. Some experts fear a similar large-scale outbreak could occur on U.S. soil, and believe companies and the government should test for all dangerous E. coli strains – not just E. coli O157:H7 and The Big Six.

“Today BPI has demonstrated a commitment to food safety,” said Marler Clark managing partner Bill Marler. “I see it as a big step in the right direction, but I’d like to see the USDA and President Obama step up and do what’s right for the American people by declaring not just O157:H7 and The Big Six, but all illness-causing strains of E. coli, adulterants in food.”

Marler said he understands his 2009 petition is held up in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In June he sent a letter to FSIS inquiring about the status of the petition and informing the agency of his plans to file suit should action not be taken by September 1.

MARLER CLARK is the nation’s leading law firm dedicated to representing victims of foodborne illness, including E. coli. BILL MARLER works tirelessly to advocate for improved food safety in the U.S. and around the world. For more information or to speak with Mr. Marler email bmarler@marlerclark.com or call 206-794-5043.

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 consultation
Related 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