Health Law

Bravo Farms Gouda Cheese E. coli Outbreak: 25 ill; possibly more

By Drew Falkenstein

Neither the CDC nor any of the affected states has updated its illness count in the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Bravo Farms gouda cheese, but they likely will soon.  As of today, there are 25 confirmed E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the outbreak, from California (1), Nevada (2), New Mexico (3) (including 2 children), Colorado (8), and Arizona (11).  Rumor has it that Arizona is investigating the relationship of multiple other illneses that may be related to the outbreak.  Also, yesterday, we filed an E. coli lawsuit on behalf of Annette Sutfin, one of the confirmed Arizona residents sickened in the outbreak. 

On Saturday, the defendant in the lawsuit, Bravo Farms, a California company, recalled the raw milk-based Dutch Style Gouda Cheese that has been implicated as the vehicle in the outbreak. All lot codes below 0233 are included in the recall.  Phyllis Entis at eFoodAlert.com noted today that "the recalled cheese was distributed mainly through Costco in Southern California (one San Diego County store), Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico in 1.5 lb pieces. The Gouda also was distributed through various (unnamed) retail stores within California in 8-ounce pieces."

How many more ill? 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on November 10, 2010 (boomark / email).