Health Law

Commentary on the raw milk debate in Wisconsin

Posted on March 30, 2010
Kristen Hansen, community columnist with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel posted today on the raw milk debate that is brewing in Wisconsin over the state's upcoming vote on Senate Bill 434: There is a trend toward healthy eating and natural foods in this country, and that is a good thing...

Hepatitis A - Parent Guide for Food Safety

Posted on March 30, 2010
Marler Clark has produced a Parent Food Safety Guide for Hepatitis A. Hepatitis A (formerly known as infectious hepatitis) is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which is most commonly transmitted by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or drinking water...

From our Friends at www.barfblog.com - List of Raw Milk Outbreaks

Posted on March 29, 2010
The mastermind of www.barfblog.com has been kind enough to keep track of raw milk outbreaks over the years.  Click on image below:

Raw Milk - Real Risks - Wisconsin, Idaho, Georgia and Alaska Raw Milk Debate

Posted on March 29, 2010
I really was not going to jump too much further into the Wisconsin Raw Milk debate until I read this quote the other morning: "We just don't see that as an issue.' That's what Kathy Kramer, nutritionist and office manager at the Weston A...

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The Wall Street Journal on the Raw Milk Debate

Posted on March 29, 2010
As I post this latest article, I do realize that Food Poison Journal appears this week to be more like Raw Milk Journal. Believe it or not, we do make a genuine effort to post on a variety of foodborne illness-related subjects. With that in mind, I was tempted to refrain from posting another article on the subject today...

Cow/Herd Share Agreements Revisited

Posted on March 28, 2010
The FDA issued a statement yesterday on the campylobacter outbreak in Michigan linked to raw milk, which reads as follows: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with several state agencies, is alerting consumers to an outbreak of campylobacteriosis associated with drinking raw milk...

Raw Milk: is it a viable Constitutional issue or simply a matter of consumer safety?

Posted on March 28, 2010
Sue Wallis, a Wyoming Republican legislator, recently introduced a bill called the Wyoming Food Freedom Act, which, in Wallis's words, "seeks to clarify the fundamental right of Wyoming citizens to eat whatever they want to eat." Ron Paul, libertarian-minded republican congressman from Texas undoubtedly would have supported Mrs...

Unpasteurized Milk: A Continued Public Health Threat

Posted on March 28, 2010
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2009; 48:93–100; Jeffrey T. LeJeune and Paivi J. Rajala-Schultz SUMMARY Although milk and dairy products are important components of a healthy diet, if consumed unpasteurized, they also can present a health hazard due to possible contamination with pathogenic bacteria...

Senator Tester Introduces Traceback Bill

Posted on March 27, 2010
Yesterday, Montana Senator Jon Tester introduced a bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) to require the USDA to conduct traceback investigations whenever a pathogen (called an "adulterant" under the FMIA) is found in meat distributed, or intended for distribtuion, in interstate commerce...

Raw Milk Wars - Raw Milk Drinking Lawyer vs Public Health Officials - 24 Possibly Ill from Campylobacter

Posted on March 27, 2010
Rosemary Parker of the Kalamazoo Gazette has stepped into the middle of the 'raw milk wars' with her story yesterday – 'FDA joins investigation of illnesses possibly linked to unpasteurized milk distributed by Vandalia, MI., farm.' The FDA is collaborating with the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Health Department to investigate the outbreak of campylobacteriosis...

Norovirus Outbreak Associated with Oysters Recently Harvested from Area Near Port Sulphur, La.

Posted on March 27, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with state health officials from Mississippi and Louisiana to notify consumers, food service operators and retailers nationwide about an outbreak of norovirus associated with oysters recently harvested from an area near Port Sulphur, La...

Lombard Subway Remains Closed After Shigella Outbreak

Posted on March 26, 2010
The Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois that is the site of a shigella outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people remains closed.  In the beginning of March, the restaurant first ceased operations and closed its doors to the public, pending an investigation by the Dupage County Health Department...

Michigan company recalls spice packs that contain contaminated black pepper

Posted on March 25, 2010
The FDA announced Tuesday that, as a result of a recall of using salmonella-contaminated black pepper from Mincing Overseas Spice Company  in its products, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution of Farmington Hills, MI is voluntarily recalling Little Caesars Spice Paks...

New Florida Tomato Safety Legislation- Good for Business

Posted on March 25, 2010
In the summer of 2008 over 1,400 persons were confirmed ill with Salmonella, eventually traced to jalapeno peppers grown in Mexico.   In the early stages of the investigation, FDA and other health officials raised concerns that the implicated product might instead be tomatoes...

Subway Shigella outbreak: official case count update; 116 confirmed illnesses

Posted on March 24, 2010
The large outbreak of Shigella linked to the Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois now counts 116 confirmed (i.e. stool sample positive) cases.  As reported by Eleni Demertzis of the Lombard Spectator: The number continues to grow as more and more people are coming forward to report shigella infections after eating at a Lombard Subway...

Ourbreak Reporting Needs Improvement In Nearly Half Of States

Posted on March 24, 2010
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced today the results of a study on the current state-by-state surveillance system for foodborne illness detection.  The results reveal a very fractured system, with nearly half of the states in need of improvements in their surveillance and reporting systems...

Shigella Outbreak Update: Lombard Subway

Posted on March 24, 2010
The Shigella outbreak at the Lombard, Illinois Subway restaurant has sickened well over one hundred people, and has left the restaurant shuttered for weeks pending the Dupage County Health Department's investigation.  Reports widely suggest that one of the problems leading to the outbreak was sick foodhandlers (i...

Raw Milk Sales - Retailer Knowledge of Risk and Liability

Posted on March 24, 2010
The comments posted on line following most news stories related to "raw milk" are both voluminous, and fairly predictable.  Raw milk supporters are nothing if not committed and vocal, and it seems they miss few opportunities to have themselves heard...

Senator Jon Tester (MT) Takes Aim at Beef Slaughterhouses

Posted on March 24, 2010
The Billings Gazette reported today that Montana senator Jon Tester plans to introduce a bill in Congress to Modify the Federal Meat Inspection Act.  Interestingly, Senator Tester is not new to the beef slaughtering business.  He operated a small-scale slaughtering establishment on his family farm--he took over his father's business--until he began his first senate run...

Subway lawsuits and food poisoning claims

Posted on March 22, 2010
The Subway shigella outbreak in Lombard, Illinois now claims well over one hundred victims.  Several lawsuits have been filed on behalf of injured people, seeking compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and other measures of damages.  On March 9, we filed suit on behalf of Ron and Sarah Bowers, a Wheaton, Illinois couple whose son was sickened: Ron and Sarah Bowers purchased a meal for their child, JB, which was contaminated with Shigella sonnei, a potentially lethal fecal bacteria...

Subway Shigella Outbreak: lawsuits and claims continue to increase

Posted on March 21, 2010
Illnesses in the Shigella outbreak linked to the Subway restaurant on Roosevelt Road in Lombard, Illinois continue to be counted.  There are likely well over one hundred victims in the outbreak.  Several lawsuits have been filed on behalf of outbreak victims...

Is raw, unpasteurized milk safe? You decide.

Posted on March 21, 2010
That is the question that the Seattle Times posed in this morning's thought-provoking story. It is worth a read (the comments are getting interesting too).  And, the pictures and below video are worth a look: I think what was missing in the article was a longer discussion on the number of the outbreaks that have in fact happened: http://www...

Subway Shigella Outbreak: lawsuits, claims, and laws

Posted on March 21, 2010
The Shigella outbreak linked to Subway sandwiches in Lombard, Illinois has sickened well over one hundred people.  We represent close to 70 individuals now in the outbreak, and are continuing to receive calls from people daily who missed substantial work or required medical attention, many times both, as a result of their illnesses...

More companies recalling black pepper . . . a little late in the game

Posted on March 20, 2010
Yesterday, yet another company announced a recall of products containing black pepper sold by Mincing Overseas Spice Company.  The company that announced yesterday's recall is John B. Sanfilippo and Sons, from Elgin, Illinois.  The FDA's recall notice states as follows: As a follow up to the voluntary recall of black pepper from Mincing Overseas Spice Company announced on March 5, 2010, John B...

Delays in Pepper Recalls Threaten Public Health

Posted on March 20, 2010
From July 2009 through February 2010, at least 252 people were infected by Salmonella as a result of consuming Daniele, Inc. salami products that were manufactured using contaminated pepper.  The salami actually contained two kinds of pepper, red and black, both of which may have been contaminated...

Information About Shigella and Shigellosis During Lombard Subway Outbreak and Litigation

Posted on March 19, 2010
About Shigella Shigella is a family of bacteria that can cause sudden and severe diarrhea (gastroenteritis) in humans. Shigellosis – the illness caused by the ingestion of Shigella bacteria – is also known as bacillary dysentery. It can occur after ingestion of fewer than 100 bacteria, making Shigella one of the most communicable and severe forms of the bacterial-induced diarrheas...

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Containing Products Salmonella Recall List

Posted on March 18, 2010
Bouillon Products Herbox Dressing and Dressing Mix Products Follow Your Heart Reser's Trader Joe's Flavoring Base and Seasoning Products Garden Harvest Minor's Publix Frozen Food Products Casa Solana E-Z Eats! El Pasado Giant Eagle Jose Ole Posada Tornados Gravy Mix Products McCormick Publix Prepared Salad Products Reser's Ready-to-Eat Meal Products Follow Your Heart Sauce and Marinade Mix Products Durkee French's Weber Snack and Snack Mix Products Austinuts Barcel CVS Great Nut Supply HK Anderson Hawaiian Herr's National Pretzel Company President's Choice Pringles Quaker Rouses Louisiana's Best Safeway Spec's Wines & Fine Foods Sunflower Markets Soup/Soup Mix and Dip/Dip Mix Products Castella Concord Foods Culinary Circle De la Casa Dean's Delicioso Follow Your Heart Fresh Food Concepts Great Value Healthwise Homemade Gourmet Johnny's Fine Foods Kroger McCormick Mrs...

Marler Clark Contacted By 51 Victims of Subway Shigella Outbreak

Posted on March 18, 2010
It has been another busy week at Marler Clark due to the ever-increasing number of victims looking for assistance in the Lombard, Illinois Subway Shigella outbreak.  As DuPage County's health department continues its investigation, the number of confirmed victims, currently at 78, will surely continue to rise...

Subway in Lombard faces third Shigella Lawsuit filed by Marler Clark

Posted on March 17, 2010

Second Salami recall of 2010 issued by Siena Foods LTD

Posted on March 17, 2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert tonight due to illnesses possibly associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products subject to the recall were produced by Siena Foods LTD, a Toronto, Ontario, establishment...

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