Elliot OlsenIll from Salmonella?
Call (612) 337-6126

Lawyer Elliot Olsen is nationally prominent in the field of foodborne illness law – he has four clients sickened in this year’s Salmonella outbreak from contaminated Rose Acre Farms eggs. If you or a family member contracted salmonellosis from Gravel Ridge Farms eggs, please call (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation, or complete the following:

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its statistics on the Gravel Ridge Farms eggs Salmonella outbreak: There are now 38 cases across seven states, and 10 victims have been hospitalized.

    Twenty-four cases were added since the last update, on Sept. 10. Tennessee (23) and Alabama (seven) account for the majority of the illnesses.

    Gravel Ridge Farms is based in Cullman, Alabama, and the eggs went mainly to stores in that state, Georgia, and Tennessee.

    Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 17 to August 16. People sickened range in age from 1 year old to 94; the median age is 33. Fifty-seven percent of the victims are female.

    Gravel Ridge Farms eggs Salmonella outbreak grows

    The CDC issued updated numbers on the Salmonella outbreak from contaminated Gravel Ridge Farms eggs: 38 illnesses, and 10 victims hospitalized, in seven states.

    Gravel Ridge Farms eggs: recall

    According to a statement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “The FDA and Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry began conducting an inspection at Gravel Ridge Farms on Sept. 5, 2018 and collected environmental samples for testing. The results were used to confirm that Salmonella Enteritidis isolates collected from environmental and egg samples taken at the farm were genetically related to isolates obtained from ill persons.”

    Gravel Ridge Farms issued a recall of its cage-free large eggs on Sept. 10. The recalled eggs were distributed in cardboard packages of 12 and 30 eggs with the UPC code 7-06970-38444-6. The cartons have “best if used by” dates of July 25, 2018, through October 3, 2018.

    The Gravel Ridge Farms eggs were sold in grocery stores and to restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. For a full list of locations where recalled eggs were sold, visit the FDA website.

    The CDC has advised that consumers not eat, retailers not sell, nor restaurants serve recalled Gravel Ridge Farms eggs.

    Gravel Ridge Farms eggs: Salmonella info

    People infected with Salmonella develop an illness called salmonellosis. Diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps are the most common symptoms.

    Those symptoms start to develop between 12 and 72 hours after a person has become infected. Most people recover without needing to see a doctor, and the illness can last as long as a week.

    Diarrhea, however, can become so severe that hospitalization is necessary. For these patients, the infection might spread to the blood. When this occurs, Salmonella can result in death, unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

    Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems – especially pregnant women – are at the greatest risk of developing a severe illness.

    Gravel Ridge Farms eggs: pregnancies at risk

    Salmonellosis can lead to multiple complications during pregnancy, including:

    • dehydration
    • bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) can lead to problems such as meningitis, which is an infection that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord.
    • reactive arthritis, or Reiter’s syndrome, can cause swelling or pain in the joints (knees, ankles, toes).

    In addition, a pregnant woman can pass salmonellosis to her baby. If a baby is born with salmonellosis, they may have diarrhea and fever, and might even develop meningitis.

    Gravel Ridge Farms eggs: 2nd 2018 outbreak

    The Gravel Ridge Farms eggs Salmonella outbreak is not the first from contaminated eggs in 2018. On June 14, the CDC closed its investigation of an outbreak in which 45 people were sickened – and 11 of them hospitalized – in 10 states.

    That outbreak was traced back to contaminated eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms of Seymour, Indiana. Those illnesses prompted an April 13 recall of almost 207 million eggs.

    The recalled Rose Acre Farms eggs were sold in nine states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Illnesses were reported in all nine states; New York and Virginia reported the most at eight apiece.

    The eggs were sold by numerous retailers, including: Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, Publix, Sunshine Farms, Sunups, and Walmart.

    Even though the CDC is advising consumers to return or throw out their recalled Gravel Ridge Farms eggs, shell eggs are still considered a healthy source of protein. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to keep and prepare eggs safely:

    • Buy and use only pasteurized eggs and egg products. This information should be printed on the packaging.
    • Always refrigerate eggs at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
    • Only purchase eggs that have been kept at the proper temperature. If that information isn’t readily available, ask.
    • Throw out cracked or dirty eggs.
    • Dishes containing eggs should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees or hotter.
    • Make sure foods that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs – such as hollandaise sauce, Caesar salad dressing, and tiramisu – are made only with pasteurized eggs.
    • Eat or refrigerate foods containing eggs immediately after they are cooked. Do not keep foods made with eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature is at least 90 degrees.
    • Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water, as well as any items that came into contact with raw eggs: cutting boards, countertops, dishes, and utensils.