Sick with Salmonella?
Call (612) 337-6126
Elliot Olsen has regained millions of dollars for people sickened by Salmonella; he represents four clients in this year’s Salmonella outbreak from contaminated eggs. If you or a family member got sick after eating at Burien Fresh Smoothies, please call (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation, or complete the following:
According to the King County Health Department (KCHD), seven people from three separate groups reported becoming ill with Salmonella after consuming food and beverage from Burien Fresh Smoothies in suburban Seattle.
Two of the people sickened were hospitalized; they have since recovered. There is no indication that any employees have had any symptoms consistent with salmonellosis.
Salmonellosis is the symptomatic infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. This typically occurs between 12 hours and 36 hours after exposure. Symptoms can last from two to seven days.
Occasionally more significant disease can result in dehydration. The very old and very young are more likely to develop severe disease. People with a weakened immune system are also more susceptible.
Seven people from three separate groups reported becoming ill with Salmonella after consuming food and beverage from Burien Fresh Smoothies in suburban Seattle.
Burien Fresh Smoothies: timeline
The KCHD website displays the following timeline:
“As part of the Public Health investigation, Environmental Health investigators visited the restaurant on August 15, 2018. Investigators found that the restaurant was serving cooked pork prepared at the restaurant owner’s home, which is not an approved food safety practice. The restaurant was directed to immediately stop serving pork-based food items and to remove them from their menu.
However, on August 16, 2018, we identified a fourth ill person diagnosed with salmonellosis after eating at Burien Fresh Smoothies on August 7, 2018. This person did not eat any pork-based food items. On August 16, 2018, our Environmental Health investigators revisited the establishment and suspended its permit.
“On August 17, 2018, an additional three ill people were identified (one person with lab-confirmed salmonellosis, two people with symptoms consistent with salmonellosis).
“Burien Fresh Smoothies will not be allowed to reopen until Public Health confirms they complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection of their establishment, adopt safe food handling practices to minimize cross contamination risks, and any remaining processed ready-to-eat food products are discarded.
“Additionally, Environmental Health investigators are working closely with Burien Fresh Smoothies owners to educate them about using only approved food sources. The restaurant will be allowed to sell pork-based foods once our food safety team determines the owners have secured an alternative approved source.”
Burien Fresh Smoothies: more on Salmonella
Salmonella bacteria are responsible for as many as 1.2 million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. yearly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonellosis affects the intestinal tract, and is one of the most common types of food poisoning year in and year out.
Most people recover without treatment, but in some cases, diarrhea can become so severe that hospitalization is required.
The CDC estimates that of the 1.2 million annual cases of infection, 23,000 victims will need to be hospitalized, and about 450 of them will die.
Pregnancies at risk
Pregnant women also are at a higher risk for contracting salmonellosis because their immune systems are suppressed (hormonal changes). A pregnant woman who contracts salmonellosis can suffer a miscarriage, go into labor prematurely, or experience stillbirth.
Complications
Salmonellosis complications can occur when Salmonella bacteria enter the bloodstream. Those complications can include:
- meningitis: an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
- endocarditis: an infection of the heart’s inner lining that usually involves the heart valves.
- osteomyelitis: a bone inflammation that targets the legs, arms, and spine.
- reactive arthritis (also known as Reiter’s syndrome): a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in response to a Salmonella infection in another part of the body.
