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Lettuce E. Coli Lawsuit

Lettuce E. Coli Lawsuit

 

Romaine lettuce has been linked to multiple outbreaks of E. Coli food poisoning. Hundreds of people were sickened in 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, including several people who died.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting E. Coli induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with E. Coli from romaine lettuce, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Lettuce E. coli Outbreaks

UPDATE: Dole® and Wild Harvest® Organic Romaine Recalled for E. coli Risk

On November 21, 2020, Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. voluntarily recalled certain bags of organic romaine hearts after a product from a store in Michigan tested positive for E. coli

The recalled romaine hearts were distributed in AZ, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND and VA. The affected products include:

Walmart’s Romaine Lettuce Tests Positive for E. coli Strain Linked to 12 Illnesses

November 10, 2020 — Tanimura & Antle Romaine Lettuce from a Walmart in Michigan has tested positive for the same E. coli strain that infected 12 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No deaths were reported, but 5 people were hospitalized.

Illnesses were reported between September 7 and October 14 in the following states: California (2), Illinois (4), Michigan (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). The CDC is still investigating if all of the the sick people ate the recalled Tanimura & Antle Romaine Lettuce product, or other products, which could lead to additional recalls.

November 2020 — Tanimura & Antle Romaine Lettuce From Walmart Linked to E. coli Outbreak

On November 6, 2020, Tanimura & Antle recalled zip-top plastic bags containing single heads of romaine lettuce after it was linked to two E. coli illnesses in Michigan. The product was sold in 19 states at Walmart and possibly other stores.

The lettuce was labeled with UPC 0-27918-20314-9, and a white sticker indicating it was packed in Salinas, California on 10/15/2020 or 10/16/2020.

On November 6, 2020, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that 2 people had fallen ill with a strain of E. coli that was found in a bag of Tanimura & Antle romaine lettuce from a Walmart in Comstock Park, Michigan.

Fall 2019 — Multiple E. coli Outbreaks Linked to Lettuce “Appear to be Over”

As of January 15, 2020, romaine lettuce from Salinas, California was linked to 167 cases of E. coli in 27 states. The CDC said the outbreak “appears to be over” and is no longer warning consumers not to eat romaine lettuce from Salinas.

Simultaneously, leafy greens were linked to 2 other outbreaks of E. coli in November 2019. One outbreak in Washington state infected 15 people. Another outbreak from Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped salad kits sickened 10 people in 5 states.

How Does E. coli Get In My Salad?

Over 75,000 Pounds of Salad Recalled for E. coli Risk

In November 2019, Missa Bay, LLC recalled 75,233 pounds of pre-made salads after an outbreak of E. coli was linked to the romaine lettuce. The salads were sold at Walmart, Target, Aldi, Sam’s Club, Giant Eagle, Domino’s Pizza, and other stores in 22 states.

Ready Pac Bistro Chicken Caesar Salad Recalled for E. coli

In November 2019, a recall was issued for Ready Pac Bistro® Chicken Caesar Salad after the romaine lettuce tested positive for E. coli. The product was sold at Sam’s Club stores in Maryland and it has been linked to several illnesses in an outbreak of E. coli. Click here to read more.

CDC Finds E. Coli at California Lettuce Farm

The specific strain of E. coli was discovered in an irrigation reservoir on a farm in Santa Barbara County, California. The farm, Adam Brothers Family Farm, has stopped shipping romaine lettuce. Other farms in the Central Coast region of California may also be responsible for the outbreak, the CDC warns:

Do not buy, serve, sell, or eat romaine lettuce from the following California counties: Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Barbara.

Another E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce – Consumers Warned Not to Eat Any Romaine

December 2018 — The FDA is warning consumers not to eat any romaine lettuce harvested from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California while they investigate yet another outbreak of E. coli. If you do not know where the romaine is from, do not eat it.

As of December 6, at least 52 people have been sickened in 15 states, including 19 who were hospitalized, since October 5, 2018. Two people developed a type of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

Illnesses have been reported in the following states: California (11), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Illinois (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (6), New Jersey (11), New York (6), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1) and Wisconsin (1).

Genetic analysis of the E. coli strains from sick people are  similar to strains of E. coli that caused a previous lettuce outbreak in Fall 2017 that sickened 25 people in 15 states. However, the E. coli strain is NOT genetically related to another lettuce outbreak in Spring 2018 that sickened 210 people in 36 states.

No source has been identified, so the FDA is warning consumers to avoid all types and brands of romaine lettuce. Consumers should not eat any romaine lettuce product, including whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, such as spring mix and Caesar salad.

Canal Water Tests Positive for E. Coli

Canal water in the Yuma, Arizona lettuce growing region has tested positive for the exact genetic fingerprint of E. Coli that caused the outbreak, according to a report from the FDA.

Spring 2018 E. Coli Outbreak Sickens 200+ People

In April 2018, the CDC reported an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 from chopped romaine lettuce that was grown in Yuma, Arizona and distributed to Panera Bread.

As of June 28, at least 210 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in 36 states, including 5 people who died and 96 people who were hospitalized since March 2018. At least 27 people developed a type of kidney failure known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).

Panera Bread Hit With 2 Lawsuits

In July 2018, a 2nd lawsuit was filed against Panera Bread by victims of the E. coli food poisoning outbreak. Both lawsuits were filed by women from New Jersey who were hospitalized with severe food poisoning after eating contaminated lettuce salads.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit

In May 2018, the family of a 6 year-old boy with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) filed a lawsuit against Papa Murphy’s pizza restaurant. The boy was hospitalized for 16 days with kidney failure due to HUS after eating romaine lettuce in a salad from Papa Murphy’s. Click here to read more.

E. coli Food Poisoning

E. coli infections can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. The symptoms usually appear within 2-8 days after eating food that is contaminated with E. coli. In some cases, the infection causes life-threatening complications such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).

Do I have a Lettuce E. Coli Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting E. Coli induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with E. Coli from lettuce or Panera Bread, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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