An iceberg and romaine salad blend served at catering events, restaurants, and a school is the suspected source of a 10-state E. coli outbreak. The salad blend was produced by Taylor Farms, the same company that produced onions linked to the recent McDonald’s E. coli outbreak.
The salad greens are past their expiration date so there probably won’t be a recall, according to health officials.
Whole genome sequencing, a testing process that can identify the genetic “fingerprint” of a bacterial strain, was performed on the E. coli from patients who got sick. Fingerprints that match or closely resemble each other indicate that people who got sick were exposed to the same source of contamination. At least 69 cases in 10 states have been linked to this outbreak through whole genome sequencing.
The first cases in this outbreak were reported among attendees of catered, off-campus school banquets for Rockwood Summit High School in St. Louis, MO. AT least 115 people have been sickened, 12 have been hospitalized, and three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication that causes kidney failure.
Symptoms of an E. coli Infection
Symptoms of an E. coli infection usually develop within one to three days of exposure. They include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody.
HUS symptoms usually develop one week after E. coli symptoms and include:
- Pale skin
- Extreme fatigue
- Skin that easily bruises
- Decreased urine output
- Bloody diarrhea
Anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care as HUS can be fatal. Treatment for HUS includes blood transfusions, dialysis, plasma exchange, and kidney transplants.
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics should not be given to patients with E. coli infections as they can increase the chance of developing HUS.
Experienced E. coli Lawyers
The E. coli Team at Pritzker Hageman has represented clients in every major U.S. E. coli outbreak.
In one recent case, our team of E. coli lawyers obtained one of the largest E. coli verdicts in U.S. history on behalf of a young girl who developed HUS from an E. coli infection. She suffered a life-threatening illness that caused severe kidney damage.
If you or your family member developed an E. coli infection from contaminated food and you would like a free consultation with an experienced E. coli lawyer, please contact us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.