Outbreaks
State Garden Organic Spinach E. coli Outbreak
On November 1, 2012, Wegmans recalled its "Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix". The products had been identified as the likely source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak among New York residents from Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Steuben and Wayne counties. By November 16, New York state health officials had counted 20 E. coli outbreak victims who had eaten salad mix, which was supplied by State Garden, a Massachusetts company.On December 10, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 33 residents of 5 states--most of them from New York--were part of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to the spinach and spring mix. The CDC stated that 2 E. coli outbreak victims had been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The total case-count associated with the State Garden salad E. coli outbreak was as follows: New York (26), Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (3), Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (1).
Four packages of Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend collected from E. coli patients' homes tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7.
E. coli Lawsuits filed against salad supplier
Marler Clark, the nation's leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illnesses like E. coli, filed E. coli lawsuits against State Garden in November and December, 2012.
Symptoms of E. coli Infection
Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include severe abdominal cramping and diarrhea, which may turn bloody. Anyone who experiences symptoms of E. coli infection after consuming the organic spinach and spring mix salads should contact a healthcare provider.
In 2006, an E. coli outbreak traced to spinach resulted in at least 205 E. coli cases. During that E. coli outbreak, 104 people were hospitalized and 4 people died. Marler Clark represented 93 victims of the Dole spinach E. coli outbreak.
