Southern California Injury Law Blog

Further investigations at the two Iowa farms to which the nationwide salmonella outbreak has been linked have revealed safety violations of regulations implemented by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, in July. FDA officials found live mice, salmonella-infested water, and leaking manure. Contaminated chicken feed was initially found to be the source of the over 1,500 cases of salmonella poisoning recorded throughout the United States over the past few months, explains a California injury attorney.

Both farms have been sited on numerous occasions in the past for safety violations. Austin “Jack” DeCoster, the owner of Wright County Egg, the farm responsible for the recall of 380 million eggs earlier this month, paid $2 million in fines in 1997 for health and safety violations, including unguarded machinery, electrical hazards, and unsanitary conditions, such as bacteria infestation; in 2000, the state of Iowa prohibited him from building additional farms for violating environmental regulations, including allowing hog manure to leak into waterways; and, as recently as last June, he paid out $125,000 in fines for animal cruelty violations. Contaminated chicken feed found at Hillandale Farms—a major source of California’s eggs—was also linked to DeCoster’s farm.

“The fact that this individual has repeatedly jeopardized the public’s health and is still permitted to continue producing food for the population suggests a disturbing degree of inefficacy on the part of our country’s food and drug regulation system,” remarked a California injury attorney.

Despite having 15 federal agencies and over 24 congressional committees tracking the food supply, the United States has experienced a months-long salmonella outbreak that has impacted hundreds of lives. Until safety regulations are improved and implemented more efficiently, consumers should take precautions to avoid food-borne illnesses, such as thoroughly cooking eggs, washing hands before and after handling raw eggs, and immediately discarding cracked eggshells.

For information on the rights of individuals who have suffered food-borne illnesses as a result of safety violations or to discuss a specific case, feel free to call California injury attorney, James Ballidis, at 866-981-5596.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, CDC, hundreds of Americans have become ill in the last 2 months due to salmonella-contaminated eggs sold throughout California and other states. The CDC has received reports for approximately 200 cases per week since early July, explains Orange County injury lawyer, James Ballidis. At this time, over 380 million eggs are affected.

The tainted eggs come from Wright County Farms in Galt, Iowa. This farm has had several violations and has spent millions in fines for past contamination issues, explains Orange County injury lawyer, James Ballidis. This is said to be the largest outbreak in the U.S. in 20 years. The following brands are unsafe to eat and should be returned to the store for a full refund. Albertsons, Farm Fresh, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Pacific Coast and Kemp all are recalled with the specific plant numbers “P-1720” and “P-1942”. The plant number will be stamped under the best buy date on the side of the egg carton flap. Other tainted plant numbers are “P-1026”, “P-1413” and “P-1946”

The staggering impact of food borne disease in the United States is unacceptable and causes 76 million illnesses each year. Moreover, of those illnesses, 325,000 are hospitalized and 5,000 die. The Food and Drug Administration, FDA had installed new egg safety procedures in early July.

The new procedures are seen to be more proactive by eliminating salmonella contamination in their flock before they lay eggs, instead of testing after the eggs have been processed. This procedure has been used in several European countries since the 1970s where they have virtually eliminated salmonella contaminated poultry products.

How would you know if you have salmonella poisoning? Symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever, and diarrhea that occur 12-72 hours after eating the contaminated food. Vomiting and chills may also occur and will typically last from 4-7 days.

The CDC’s website on food safety, www.cdc.gov/ , covers correct egg storage and basic food handling measures. For additional safety tips such as basic food borne illness prevention, visit www.foodsafety.gov/ On this site you will find great tips on how long to store leftovers and cooking temperature limit on eggs and meat products.

Lastly, a California meat company is also recalling one million pounds of frozen hamburger patties. The meat patties have been distributed throughout California and come from “Valley Meat Company” of Modesto. For a complete list of serial numbers and intuitional providers, visit, www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Fedral_Cases/Index.asp

Food borne illnesses are especially serious for people that suffer from chronic illnesses, pregnant women, young toddlers and elderly people that have compromised immune systems.

For information on the rights of victims of food borne illnesses or to discuss a specific case, feel free to call Orange County injury lawyer, James Ballidis, at 866-981-5596.