On June 19, 2009 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the manufacturer of Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough announced a nationwide recall of various raw cookie dough products after they were linked to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.
Related Information: Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Recall List
CDC Releases Cookie Dough E. Coli Outbreak Statistics
As of Thursday, June 18, 2009, 65 persons infected with a strain of E. coli O157:H7 with a particular DNA fingerprint have been reported from 29 states. Of these, 23 have been confirmed by an advanced DNA test as having the outbreak strain; these confirmatory test results are pending on the others. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arkansas (1), Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Delaware (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (5), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (4), Maryland (2), Maine (3), Minnesota (5), Missouri (2), Montana (1), North Carolina (1), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (1), Nevada (2), Ohio (4), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Texas (3), Utah (2), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (1).
Ill persons range in age from 2 to 57 years; however, more than 70% are less than 19 years old and none are over 60 years old; 75% are female. Twenty-five persons have been hospitalized, 7 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS); none have died. Reports of these infections increased above the expected baseline in May and continue into June.
Signs & Symptoms of Cookie Dough Induced E. Coli O157:H7 Illness
Most people infected with E. coli O157:H7 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (average of 3-4 days) after swallowing the organism, but some illnesses last longer and are more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. Most people recover within a week, but some develop a severe infection. A type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can begin as the diarrhea is improving; this can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly.
What Can You Do & How Can We Help
Again, The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough induced E. Coli claims in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has consumed any of the recalled cookie dough and subsequently developed an E. coli infection, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case consultation. Please click here to contact our Food Poisoning & Outbreak Litigation Group, use the form below or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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