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Ohio E. coli O157:H7 Illnesses and Death
Appears Linked to Cleveland Restaurant and VFW Hall Source of
Article: http://www.marlerblog.com/ Harlan Spector of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer reported this morning that: Last
week, his [Cleveland Department of Health] department inspected Deekers Side
Tracks in Mentor after an illness was reported. In all, four cases have
surfaced in the Cleveland area. Two
of the infections led investigators to the North Olmsted VFW Post 7647, said
the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. In addition, a 7-year-old Cleveland girl
died [from HUS] Sunday from an E. coli infection that
also may be linked to meat served at the VFW. According to the article,
the restaurant and VFW Hall appear to have served hamburger that has been
linked to the nearly 100,000 pounds of E.
coli O157:H7 product produced at Illinois Valley Meats LLC. As I said yesterday, Valley
Meats is located at 2302 1st St., Coal Valley, IL 61240. One of the
products recalled in this recent recall are a variety of J & B Brand
Products. Interestingly, J & B
Meats Corporation (USDA EST. 5712) is (or was) also located at 2302 1st St.,
Coal Valley, IL 61240 and is (or was) a manufacturer of branded specialty
meats and prepared foods serving the institutional food service market.
As of 2005, J&B Meats Corporation was a subsidiary of Topps Meat Company,
LLC. Topps Meat was linked to dozens of illnesses in October 2007, was forced
by FSIS to recall over 21,000,000 pounds of hamburger and eventually filed
for bankruptcy. J & B recalled nearly 175,000 pounds of hamburger
in that recall, 76,000 pounds in August 2003, and in June 2002 recalled nearly
65,000 pounds of hamburger. One would think that with
the numbers Americans poisoned by E. coli O157:H7 increasing in the last two
years, our President, Congress and the USDA would be asking one simple
question – “What is going on?” Perhaps as a start it is would be better to be
honest with the public as FDA's Dr David Acheson was after an E. coli
outbreak tied to spinach when he was quoted as saying: "The spinach that
is going to come on to the market next week or whenever is going to be as
safe as it was before this outbreak.” Clearly this administration
and Congress cannot yet critically analyze itself. Congress needs to act now.
It is time for Congress to accept a leadership role and call hearings on “How
safe is our meat supply?” not only to explore the reasons for this recent
outbreak, but also to help prevent the next one. Congress must reach out to
all facets of the meat industry, from “farm to fork,” to consumers who bear
the burden of illnesses, and to academics and regulators to find reasonable, workable
solutions to prevent meat-related illnesses. More regulation may not help.
Testing all products may not be feasible. More funding for the CDC and USDA
may not work. And, more funding for university research may also not be the
answer. But, getting all to the same table is a start.
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