Sick with Salmonella?
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Elliot Olsen is a nationally known foodborne illness lawyer who has regained millions for clients. If you or a family member got sick from contaminated ground beef, you might have reason to file a Salmonella lawsuit. Please call (612) 337-6126 for a free consultation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the ground beef Salmonella outbreak over – and at the same time, warns consumers they still might have contaminated products in their freezers.
JBS Tolleson recalled almost 7 million pounds of ground beef products last Oct. 4, and then recalled more than 5 million pounds of ground beef products on Dec. 4 – a total of more than 12 million pounds of ground beef.
The recalled products were produced and packaged from July 26, 2018, to Sept. 7, 2018, and were shipped to retailers across the United States under many brand names. More than 100 retailers, both national chain locations and local stores, sold the recalled ground beef; click here for a list of stores and states where the recalled ground beef products were sold.
Return it or throw it out
The affected products have establishment number “EST. 267,” which is usually found inside the USDA mark of inspection. It can, however, be found elsewhere on the package, so be sure to locate it.
If you have a package of the affected product in your freezer, you should return it to the place of purchase, or throw it away. And if you have any questions, call the JBS USA Consumer Hotline at (800) 727-2333.
The CDC reports that the nationwide ground beef Salmonella outbreak is over, but also continues to advise consumers to check their freezers for affected products.
Contaminated ground beef:
Outbreak by the numbers
The final outbreak totals reported by the CDC:
- A total of 403 people were infected with Salmonella Newport.
- Those cases were reported in 30 states. California had more than one-third of the reported illnesses, with 143.
- Illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 5, 2018, to Feb. 8, 2019.
- A total of 117 people were hospitalized.
- No deaths were reported.
Contaminated ground beef:
Salmonella information
Salmonella bacteria cause a foodborne illness called salmonellosis, and according to the CDC, about 1.2 million Americans contract salmonellosis annually. In addition, approximately 23,000 of those victims will be hospitalized, and 450 of them will die.
People most at risk are young children, elderly people, and anyone with a weakened immune system, which includes pregnant women. A pregnant woman who becomes ill from Salmonella can experience a miscarriage, premature labor, or stillbirth.
Salmonellosis symptoms
Generally, when you are infected with Salmonella, you will experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pains anywhere from 12 hours to three days after being exposed to the bacteria, and you can be sick for up to a week. Most people recover without needing to see their doctor, but in some cases, diarrhea can be so severe that dehydration occurs, and then hospitalization is necessary.
Healthy adults also can become more susceptible to Salmonella when they take an antacid, which lowers the stomach’s acidity, or if they are on an antibiotic, which reduces the number of Salmonella-killing bacteria in the intestines.
Salmonellosis complications
Complications can occur when the bacteria enter the bloodstream and can include:
- endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of the heart that usually involves the heart valves
- meningitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- osteomyelitis, which is an inflammation of the bones that usually targets the arms, legs, or spine
- Reactive arthritis, or Reiter’s syndrome, which is a a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in response to a Salmonella infection elsewhere in the body.
Contaminated ground beef:
Salmonella carriers
Many different types of food can carry Salmonella. In 2015 and 2016, the CDC reported nine outbreaks in the U.S. linked to these contaminated foods:
- eggs
- alfalfa sprouts
- pistachios
- a packaged organic shake and meal product
- nut butter spread
- cucumbers
- pork
- frozen chicken
- frozen raw tuna.
Free consultation
Elliot Olsen has decades of experience representing people harmed by food poisoning. You can contact him for a free consultation by filling out the following form and submitting it:
