Marler Clark is calling on legislators nation-wide to put into law requirements for the protection of petting zoo visitors. Proposed requirements include increasing signage and warnings about health risks associated with human-animal contact, providing adequate handwashing facilities at strategic locations throughout petting zoos, and designing petting zoos with the intent of reducing the risks of human contact with animal feces.
At this time, petting zoos must follow guidelines set out in the Code of Federal Regulations. Few states have laws governing human-animal contact at petting zoos; however, under Pennsylvania law:
• An operator shall promote public awareness of the risk of contracting a zoonotic disease at the animal exhibition and of the measures necessary to minimize the risk of contraction by posting appropriate notices at the animal exhibition.
• An adequate hand-cleansing facility for adults and children shall be conveniently located on the animal exhibition grounds. The operator shall post appropriate notices which designate the location of the hand-cleansing facility . . . and encourage the cleansing of hands after touching animals, using the restroom, and before eating.
I realize the measures we are proposing might seem extreme. But we’re looking at this from the standpoint of having represented dozens of children who visited petting zoos and ended up with kidney failure and life-long medical conditions.
Pennsylvania has a start. The CDC released its Recommendations for Human-Animal Contact in 2001, but petting zoo operators haven’t been paying any attention to those, so it’s time the government stepped in and made actual laws that govern this, instead of relying on petting zoo operators to police themselves. Our kids’ health is at stake. The longer politicians and the fair industry resist changes, the longer our children’s health and the health of the fair industry will be at risk. If we can’t make fairs be financially responsible through legislation, at least we can make them morally responsible.
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