November 4, 2009

E. Coli Outbreak Kills Two

It is being reported that two people have died after being infected with matching strains of E. coli acquired from tainted ground beef. At least sixteen people have been infected, several of whom have been hospitalized and are critically ill.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fairbanks Farms in Ashville, New York issued a recall notice of more than 500,000 pounds of ground beef that may have been tainted by the deadly bacteria. That beef may be retailed in stores such as Trader Joe's, Wild Harvest, B.J's, and Giant Food stores. While most of the current victims are out of state, there is one confirmed case in California.

The packages of been that may be contaminated are printed with "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the label. It is being reported that the contaminated beef was packaged on September 15 and 16 and may have been labeled at the retail stores with a sell-by date of September 19 through 28.

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E. coli is a dangerous infection that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. In the current outbreak, three victims are said to be in kidney failure.

Source: CNN

The injury attorneys at Walton Law Firm represents individuals who have suffered disabling injuries in all types of incidents, including motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, food poising cases, burn incidents, construction accidents, and animal bites. Call (866) 607-1325 for a free and confidential consultation.

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February 3, 2009

Peanut Plant Employee Tells Horrifying Story of Filthy Conditions

The investigation into the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds nationwide, and killed at least eight people, continues to develop. CBS news is airing the interview with Jonathan Prather, a former employee of the Georgia plant where the Salmonella outbreak originated. Prather tells a disturbing story of filthy plant conditions, including cockroach infestation, mops wash in sinks where peanuts are washed, rodent droppings, and most disturbing, a dead rat dry-roasting in the peanut area.

Here is the video:

Walton Law Firm LLP is evaluating Salmonella cases in all Southern California counties including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial.

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January 30, 2009

School Groups Sold Tainted Peanut Butter

The nationwide outbreak of Salmonella infection continues to impact Southern California. On Wednesday, Orange County health officials confirmed that a 4-year-old child has been sickened by contaminated peanut butter products, the seventh known victim in the county. It was also revealed that tainted peanut butter cookies, cookie dough, and other fundraising products were distributed to several schools, including Kennedy High School Band in La Palma, Reilly and Montevideo elementary schools in Mission Viejo, and Mothers of Preschoolers in Laguna Hills. The products were produced by Dough-To-Go Inc. of Santa Clara.

Parents and school officials are encouraged to find out if any Dough-To-Go, Inc. products were distributed in the district, and to discard any such products.

Currently more than 500 people in 43 states, including over 60 in California, have become ill after consuming peanut related products, including eight deaths. The tainted product has been traced to a manufacturing plant in Georgia, which is now the target of a lawsuit. A claim for punitive damages has been added to a lawsuit in Vermont where a 7-year-old boy was hospitalized with peanut-related Salmonella.

Walton Law Firm LLP represents individuals and families who have been impacted by car accidents, defective products, spinal and brain injuries, construction accidents, food-born illness, dog bites, and other cases involving negligence.

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January 27, 2009

Peanut Related Salmonella Cases Being Evaluated

The attorneys at Walton Law Firm LLP are currently evaluating cases of salmonella attributed to peanut butter products originating from a plant in Blakely, Georgia. A national outbreak of salmonella has sickened hundreds across the country, including 62 documented cases in California.

A lawsuit has already been filed in Minnesota involving the death of a 72-year-old woman, and more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming weeks. The source of the salmonella infections was determined to be King Nut brand butter, from Peanut Corporation of America. The peanut butter was primarily sold in bulk to institutional and commercial consumers, such as hospitals and schools.

It is just now being revealed that Georgia plant has a history of sanitation-related problems that it failed to address.

An FDA investigation has determined that Peanut Corporation of America has distributed potential contaminated peanut butter paste to more than 70 customers for use in hundreds of products. A complete list of the products, which includes a variety of crackers, candy, ice cream, and cookies, can be found on the FDA website, or by clicking here.

If you have been diagnosed with Salmonella that you believe is caused by the consumption of peanut-related food products please contact Randy Walton or Scott Barber at (866) 607-1325 for a free evaluation of your case. If you would prefer, the firm can be contacted through a confidential online questionnaire.

UPDATE (2/11/09): It is being reported today that the owner of a peanut company at the center of the Salmonella storm urged his workers to ship tainted products after receiving test results that positively identified salmonella. The owner allegedly told his employees:

"…turn the raw peanuts on our floor into money."

Unbelievable!

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