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CDC Links 80 E.
coli O157:H7 to Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough – 35 Hospitalized – 10 with
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Source of
Article: http://www.marlerblog.com/ CDC is collaborating with
public health officials in many states, the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and the United States Department of Agriculture Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. As of Friday, July 31,
2009, 80 persons infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7 with a particular
DNA fingerprint have been reported from 31 states. Of these, 70 have been
confirmed by an advanced DNA test as having the outbreak strain; these confirmatory
test results are pending on the others. The number of ill persons identified
in each state is as follows: Arizona (2), California (5), Colorado (6),
Connecticut (1), Delaware (1), Georgia (2), Iowa (2), Idaho (1), Illinois
(7), Kentucky (2), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (8),
Missouri (1), Montana (1), North Carolina (2), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey
(1), Nevada (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1),
Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (4), Virginia (2),
Washington (6), and Wisconsin (1). Most persons became ill
during May and June. Ill persons range in age from 2 to 65 years; however,
66% are less than 19 years old; 69% are female. Thirty-five persons have been
hospitalized, 10 developed hemolytic
uremic syndrome (HUS). We represent 24 people sickened - most of
them were hospitalized (one still is) - 6 developed HUS. Three lawsuits
have been filed - Colorado, California and Washington. Oddly, despite the
overwhelming evidence linking its product to the 80 illnesses, there seems to
be a bit of denial by Nestle corporate leadership. Here is a quote from last
week: General
Manger of Nestle Baking, Paul Bakus said, "[w]e did find one package of
our finished food cookie dough that had e. coli, but it was not the same
strain that made people sick. So, we really don't know whether our packaging
and our product was responsible, but the reality is that it could have
been," Bakus said. Really? |
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