The Salmonella Egg Outbreak

The Salmonella Egg Outbreak Investigation

In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (”CDC”) identified a nationwide increase in the number of Salmonella Enteritidis isolates with PFGE pattern JEGX01.0004.  During May 1 to October 15, 2010, a total of 3,182 illnesses were reported.  Based on a five year historical data study, the expected number for this time frame would normally be approximately 1,369.  This means that there are approximately 1,813 confirmed illnesses likely to be associated with this outbreak.

But the confirmed cases are only part of the story.  Conventional estimates pin the likely number of contaminated citizens (whether confirmed or not) at over 72,000 – almost 40 times that which have already been confirmed.

Restaurant Outbreaks Related to the Egg Recall

Investigations conducted by public health officials in 10 states identified several restaurant outbreaks with clusters of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses.   Some of the notable restaurant outbreaks (to read more about the outbreak, click on it):

Traceback data collected from these investigations revealed that shell eggs supplied by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms (both located in Iowa) were the source of these infections.

The FDA Inspects Wright Egg Farms

FDA has collected nearly 600 samples from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms of Iowa during this investigation.  To date, FDA’s test results of several environmental samples identified Salmonella Enteritidis matching the outbreak strain found in the victims.

The positive samples were collected from manure, as well as traffic areas such as walkways, equipment, other surfaces in and around the farm, and from the feed mill at Wright County Egg in Iowa.

The feed was provided to pullets (young female chickens or hens) raised at Wright County Egg facilities in Iowa.  Pullets are distributed to all premises at Wright County Egg in Iowa and Hillandale Farms in Iowa.

The FDA found the following during their inspections:

  • Chicken manure piles 4 to 8 feet high in the hen houses
  • Live wild birds (non-chickens) flying around in the hen houses
  • Rodent burrows along the baseboards of the hen houses
  • Liquid manure seeping through the concrete foundation
  • Standing water in the chicken manure pits
  • Loose chickens walking through manure piles to the egg laying areas
  • 31 live mice observed inside the hen houses
  • “Live and dead flies too numerous to count” inside the hen houses
  • 65 unsealed rodent holes in the walls of the hen houses

The two inspection reports detailing these conditions – commonly called “Section 483″ reports – can be found by clicking on the attached links (go to Section 483 reports towards bottom of page):

Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms Issue Nationwide Recalls

On August 13, 2010, Wright County Egg conducted a nationwide recall of shell eggs.  To view this recall, click here.

On August 18, 2010, Wright County Egg issued an expansion of the recall.  To view the expansion, click here.

On August 20, 2010, Hillandale Farms conducted a recall of shell eggs.  To view this recall, click here.

The contaminated eggs were distributed under numerous brand names, including: Albertson, Alta Dena Dairy, Bayview, Becky, Boomsma’s, Cal Egg, California Ranch Fresh, Cardenas Market, Challenge Dairy, Country Eggs, Inc., Driftwood Dairy, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Farmer’s Gems, Glenview, Glenview Farms, Hidden Villa Ranch, Hillandale, James Farms, Kemps, Liborio Market, Lucerne, Lund, Kemps, Mi Pueblo, Mountain Dairy, NuCal, Nulaid, Pacific Coast, Ralph’s, Sam’s, Shamrock Foods, Shoreland, Surefresh, Sparboe Farms, Sun Valley, Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Sunshine, Trafficanda, Trafficanda Egg Ranch, Wagon Trail Large, West Creek, Wholesome Farms, and Yucaipa Valley.

All of the contaminated eggs have now been recalled – a total of 550 million eggs.

To see how to tell if your eggs were recalled, click here.

About Salmonella Enteritidis

Salmonella Enteritidis is the most common of over 2500 serotypes of salmonella.   It accounts for almost 20% of all salmonella illnesses in the United States every year – or about 7000 people annually.  The particular strain of Salmonella Enteritidis involved in this outbreak – one with a genetic code of JEGX01.0004 – is the most commonly reported strain of Salmonella Enteritidis.

Persons infected with Salmonella Enteritidis usually experience fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 6 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated eggs.  The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without antibiotic treatment. However, in some cases the diarrhea can become more severe, lead to dehydration, and hospitalization may be required.

The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems may have a more serious illness and attendant hospital course.  In these patients, the infection can spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other sits, causing septic infection and in some cases death unless they receive prompt treatment from health care professionals.

National Food Safety Lawyer Ron Simon Files First Texas Lawsuit

As reported earlier on national television stations across the United States, national food safety lawyer Ron Simon is already handling several of the claims against the Wright County Egg: “We have been retained by several families who have become sickened due to the contaminated eggs.  We will fight to make sure this unnecessary tragedy does not repeat itself.”

Simon has represented thousands of salmonella victims in the most recent high profile salmonella outbreaks – most notably against ConAgra for tainted Peter Pan peanut butter in 2007 and against PCA and Kellogg Company for tainted peanut butter products in 2009 and 2010.

Simon filed the first salmonella egg lawsuit in Texas and the Southwest against Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms.  That suit was filed on behalf of Amanda Sanchez, a 34-year old Austin woman who was hospitalized for 4 days after consuming contaminated eggs in a breakfast taco.  See one of the several NBC interviews here:

As quoted and reported by national television stations at NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and FOX: “We have already been contacted by hundreds of families who became ill from these eggs” said Simon.  “We will continue to advocate for safer food measures so this will not happen again.  These lawsuits are just one way we can effectuate change in our country so that our food supply becomes safer for all of us.”

Simon added that many of his clients, from all over the country, have suffered debilitating illnesses as a result of the outbreak “Our clients range from those who got better in a week or so to people who remained in the hospital for several weeks.  Many have significant medical bills running in the tens of thousands.  We will make sure that the egg farms pay those bills and for all time these citizens missed from work, and compensate our clients for the suffering they have endured and will endure in the future”

Recent reports have now revealed that the owner of the egg farms, Jack DeCoster, has paid millions of dollars in fines for safety, health, and worker violations at his numerous egg facilities over the past three decades.

If I tested positive for Salmonella – What Are My Legal Rights?

If you tested positive for Salmonella after eating eggs or egg products, then you are likely related to this outbreak.  If so, you are entitled to significant compensation for your illness – including payment for all of your medical bills, lost wages, and suffering you endured.

The Salmonella lawyers at Simon & Luke are currently investigating this outbreak.  We have represented over 2000 victims of food poisoning across the United States, filing hundreds of salmonella lawsuits and recovering millions of dollars in salmonella settlements for our clients.

We have already been called upon by NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN, along with dozens of print media outlets, to provide commentary and insight into the salmonella egg outbreak, its source, and measures that can be taken to make our egg supply and food system safer for all.

Our food poisoning and salmonella lawyers and attorneys can help you with your food poisoning and salmonella outbreak, claim, lawsuit, and settlement all over the U.S. including: Alabama- Alaska – Arizona – Arkansas – California – Colorado – Connecticut – Delaware – Florida – Georgia – Hawaii – Idaho – Illinois – Indiana – Iowa – Kansas – Kentucky – Louisiana – Maine -Maryland – Massachusetts – Michigan – Minnesota – Mississippi – Missouri – Montana – Nebraska – Nevada – New Hampshire – New Jersey – New Mexico – New York – North Carolina – North Dakota – Ohio – Oklahoma – Oregon – Pennsylvania – Rhode Island – South Carolina – South Dakota – Tennessee – Texas – Utah – Vermont – Virginia – Washington – West Virginia – Wisconsin – Wyoming.

Call us toll free at 1-888-335-4901 or contact us by email at ron@simonluke.com – we are happy to answer your questions free of charge.

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