The family of a 12-year-old Colorado girl has filed suit against Del Monte Fresh Produce, claiming that cantaloupe contaminated with Salmonella caused her to become so ill she required hospitalization.
The lawsuit was filed Friday in Adams County District Court on behalf of the child by the Seattle food-safety law firm Marler Clark and Colorado attorneys Montgomery, Little & Soran.
According to the complaint, the girl — identified as S.W. — ate cantaloupe that the family had purchased at Costco in early March. She became sick with gastroenteritis on March 4, became progressively worse and was hospitalized from March 10 to 14. S.W. is still recovering, attorney Dave Babcock said.
Results from lab tests showed the girl was infected with Salmonella Panama, a relatively rare strain that health officials said matched an outbreak strain of cases in Oregon, Washington California, and Maryland. Investigators found almost all of the people sickened had eaten cantaloupes from Costco, which shared sales receipts that helped trace back the suspect melons to a Del Monte grower in Guatemala. On March 22, Del Monte recalled nearly 5,000 cartons of cantaloupe.
The Thornton, Co. girl was one of at least 13 people to be sickened in the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Panama linked to cantaloupe . So far, four people in Washington, five in Oregon, two in California, one in Maryland and S.W. in Colorado have been confirmed to have been infected with the outbreak strain, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Del Monte had a responsibility to provide its customers with safe, healthy, unadulterated cantaloupe,” said attorney Bill Marler. “Kids should not land in the hospital because they choose to eat fruit instead of processed foods.”
Marler noted that Del Monte has initiated two previous recalls due to Salmonella contamination in the past two years. In late 2009 the California State Department of Public Health warned consumers not to eat Del Monte cantaloupe due to Salmonella contamination and the company pulled 1,120 cartons from grocery stores. In 2010, Michigan Department of Agriculture testing detected Salmonella on Del Monte cantaloupe, and the company recalled 81 cartons.
“By nature cantaloupe is riskier than some other fruits, but with proper safety precautions Salmonella outbreaks are preventable,” added Marler. ”The onus is on businesses like Del Monte who want to sell us fruit and vegetables to make sure those products aren’t harmful to customers.”
When I am not traveling the world in search of the most recent Foodborne Illness Outbreak, or trying to prevent the next one, I try to spend time with my kids. My youngest, Sydney (a.k.a. Squid) is an animal lover, so we tend to watch some episode of “Animal Planet” before she (more likely me) falls asleep.
One of our favorite shows has been “Shark Week,” which is usually filled with scary scenes of near misses or not. For some reason, the fear of being munched by a shark (about 60 shark attacks a year on average, world-wide) is of far greater concern than the some 1,000,000 Salmonella cases yearly – just in the United States alone.
Perhaps I need to produce a new show for TV – “Food That Can Kill You.” Here are a few episodes from the past week:
Episode 1 – Salmonella Hadar-contaminated Jennie-O Turkey Causes 12 Illnesses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The detection of this outbreak began with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services notifying the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of a patient diagnosed with salmonellosis caused by Salmonella serotype Hadar. The investigation expanded to include 12 people in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin who also have been diagnosed with Salmonella Hadar infection, with illnesses occurring between December 2010 and March 2011.
Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined that three of the patients in Colorado, Ohio, and Wisconsin specifically reported eating Jennie-O Turkey prior to illness onset and hospitalization; the last of these illnesses was reported on March 14, 2011.
Jennie-O Turkey Store, a Willmar, Minn. establishment, is now recalling approximately 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products that may be contaminated with Salmonella, the FSIS announced Friday. As FSIS continues its investigation of illnesses related to this recall, additional raw turkey products may be recalled. As a result, FSIS is alerting consumers to take extra care when preparing all raw turkey products.
Episode 2 – Salmonella Outbreak from DeFusco’s Bakery Leads to at Least 56 Illnesses, with 26 Requiring Hospitalization.
The outbreak of severely injured folks stemming from the DeFusco’s Bakery continued to get worse this week, with news that nine new cases have been detected, bringing the total to 56, including 1 death, and 26 hospitalizations. The number of hospitalized victims in this outbreak is unusually high and likely due to the age of the majority of the victims.
The elderly are especially vulnerable to serious complications as a result of foodborne illnesses. It was reported that as of Friday, 9 people still remained hospitalized. Also, swabs taken from cardboard boxes where empty pastry shells were stored at DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston, tested positive for Salmonella. The boxes previously held raw eggs. If any of those eggs were infected and had broken open, residue in the boxes could have led to the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened dozens of people, health officials say.
Episode 3 – Marler Clark Files the First Lawsuit Related to the Del Monte Salmonella Cantaloupe Outbreak.
On Friday, Marler Clark filed the first lawsuit stemming from an outbreak of Salmonella-contaminated Del Monte cantaloupe that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has led to 13 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Panama in Oregon (5 cases), Washington (4 cases), California (2 cases), Colorado (1 case) and Maryland (1 case). According to the FDA, Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. recalled 4,992 cartons of cantaloupes because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Panama. The cantaloupes were distributed through warehouse clubs in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Episode 4 – Salmonella Contaminated Sausages at Pancake Feed in Maryland Result in Illnesses.
Illnesses from Salmonella have been linked to consumption of sausage at a benefit pancake breakfast held in early March in Thurmont, according to the Frederick County Health Department. The sausage for the Thurmont event was from a previous event, the Frederick County 4-H Camp Center Country Butchering, held Jan. 27 at the Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club in Mount Pleasant. Samples of sausage sold to consumers from the same butchering were tested at the state health department laboratory and found to contain Salmonella.
If you want to keep up on current outbreaks, visit my blog, Marler Blog. If you are the historical type, you can search the Foodborne Illness Outbreak Database.
Nine new cases of Salmonella infection were reported Friday in Rhode Island in an outbreak linked to Italian pastry. The illness total is now 56.
Almost all of those sickened, including a man who died, were said to have eaten zeppole or other pastries from DeFusco’s Bakery in mid-March. As of Friday, nine people remained hospitalized; 26 people have required hospitalization.
Salmonella has been detected in cardboard cartons the bakery used to store pastry shells, according to reporter Felice Freyer in the Providence Journal.
The boxes at had previously held raw eggs, Freyer reported, leading to speculation about possible cross-contamination. Improper storage of the pastry shells, as well as the cream filling, were among the violations of food-safety code cited by the public health officials who inspected the bakery.
Rhode Island’s state lab is further analyzing samples to see if the strain of Salmonella found inside the bakery matches the outbreak strain.
“All right, that’s one BLT sandwich for 550 calories and a side of fries for 300. That brings your total to 850 calories. Please pull forward to the next window.”
Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft of regulations that require calorie labeling on menus at chain restaurants and on some vending machine foods.
The proposed rules come as a result of last year’s health care reform law, which stipulates that food establishments with over 20 locations must post calorie information where consumers can see it. The law applies to fast food restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and some grocery stores.
”Americans now consume about one-third of their total calories on foods prepared outside the home,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. “While consumers can find calorie and other nutrition information on most packaged foods, it’s not generally available in restaurants or similar retail establishments. This proposal is aimed at giving consumers consistent and easy-to-understand nutrition information.”
Owners who operate 20 or more vending machines are also required to provide nutritional information for foods in the machine that do not carry it on their packaging.
Proponents of these requirements are hopeful that posted nutrition information will make consumers more aware of what’s in the food they’re ordering.
“Trying to find the healthy options when dining out can be more difficult than you think – even a salad can be loaded with hidden fat and sodium. In the same way that nutrition labels on packaged foods allow consumers to see exactly what they’re eating and drinking, these calorie counts will empower Americans to make informed decisions when they eat away from home,” said Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa in a statement.
The new set of regulations will not apply to businesses such as bowling alleys and movie theaters, which serve food as a secondary service. Alcohol is also exempt from the requirements. Many commentators are disappointed by these exceptions.
“If a movie theater is going to serve up thousand-calorie tubs of popcorn, 400-calorie drinks, and 400-calorie boxes of candy, the least they could do is tell you about it,” said Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in a press release.
So far, research on whether posting calorie information affects people’s food choices has produced conflicting results.
One study from Stanford University showed that customers at Starbucks in New York City ordered 6 percent less calories per transaction following a new law requiring nutrition information to be posted at all chain restaurants there. If this pattern carried over to all fast food chains, the result would be an average decrease of 30 calories per day among the population, according to this research.
However, another study conducted at various fast food locations throughout the city’s low-income areas found that nutrition labeling did not have a significant effect on what teenagers ordered, or on what parents ordered for their children.
The FDA is receiving comments on the proposed rule for menu labeling until June 6, 2011. Comments on the vending machine rule will be accepted until July 7 of this year.
For more information on submitting comments, click here.
Since 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found Salmonella in 28 samples of fresh cilantro, Dr. Michael Landa, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said Friday.
The bad batches included both domestic and imported cilantro either in or about to enter commerce.
In a guidance letter to companies that grow, harvest, sort, pack and ship cilantro, FDA said that’s a problem. Cilantro is usually consumed raw, so it is crucial to minimize the potential for contamination to protect the public.
As it has previously done with leafy greens, sprouts and tomatoes, the agency recommended the produce industry review current cilantro operations, assess hazards that are unique to teh herb, and develop commodity-specific control strategies.
The FDA also offered its technical assistance, but warned that the agency “intends to take appropriate enforcement action against firms and farms that distribute adulterated fresh produce or grow or pack fresh produce under insanitary conditions.”
| Event |
NEHA Food Safety Manager Certification Class
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| When |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
9:00am
- Click on class for more information & register - All Ages |
| Where |
Hattiesburg – HRBAudit Training Center (map)
La Quinta Inn
6563 US HWY 49 Hattiesburg, MS 39401 |
| Other Info |
 The NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) training program was created by food safety experts and based on the 2005 FDA Food Code with 2007/2009 Supplement, this well written text successfully prepares candidates to pass any of the CFP-ANSI accredited food safety manager exams. NEHA Food Safety Training  uses the Prometric proctored test. The programs concentrates on the emphasis on the hazards and risk that are critical items in your food service operation.
Class Details:Books:The NEHA Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) Course Book (English) is optional and is not required to take the class or test. Class price does not include a book and must be purchased separately. We provide an only study guide and practice test via internet download at no extra cost. Study Guide is in English. NEHA Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) Course Book (English) – $26.00 plus 10% Sales Tax* NEHA Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) Course Book (Spanish) – $26.00 plus 10% Sales Tax* Class/Test Type:ENGLISH NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Electronic Test – $145.00 (Electronic test is given on computer and you will have your test score that day. You must supply you own lap top with WiFi and have Internet Explorer / FireFox web browser installed.)* SPANISH (Spanish) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* KOREAN (Korean) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* VIETNAMESE (Vietnamese) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* CHINESE (Modern Chinese) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* (Traditional Chinese) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* ARABIC (Arabic) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* JAPANESE (Japanese) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* Test/Re-Test Only:(TEST/RE-TEST) NEHA Food Safety Class/Test – Paper Test – $125.00 (Test score in 10 business days)* – Test are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, modern and traditional Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese (PLEASE SPECIFY LANGUAGE WHEN SCHEDULING A TEST/RE-TEST).
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