Illinois Alfalfa Sprouts Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
Pritzker Olsen law firm has represented people sickened by alfalfa sprouts contaminated with Salmonella, and our attorneys are available for a free consultation.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a statement on December 23, 2010 informing the public of a Salmonella outbreak potentially linked to alfalfa sprouts. In some cases, people sickened ate alfalfa sprouts served at Jimmie John’s restaurants in Illinois. Officials have been conducting interviews of those sickened to obtain information regarding foods eaten and other exposures in the week prior to their illness.
The investigation will continue as the CDC, FDA, and state and local public health partners seek to identify new cases and trace potentially contaminated product. To date, the CDC investigation is reporting:
“From November 1 to December 21, 2010, a total of 89 individuals with a matching strain of Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- have been reported from 15 states and the District of Columbia. The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (50), Indiana (9), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (14), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). Among 81 persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from November 1 to December 14, 2010. Case-patients range in age from 1 to 75 years, with a median age of 28. Sixty-eight percent of patients are female. Among persons with available information, 23% reported being hospitalized.”
Salmonella Symptoms and Risks
The most common symptoms of Salmonella poisoning are diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps that start 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most of those sickened make a full recovery without hospitalization.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible to severe Salmonella poisoning and complications. In order to reduce the risk of infection:
- Avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts).
- Cook sprouts thoroughly. This will reduce the risk of illness because cooking kills the bacteria.
- Do not have raw sprouts added to sandwich or salad.
To contact Pritzker Olsen attorneys regarding a Jimmy John’s Salmonella lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our online form for a free consultation.
Tags: Salmonella Lawsuit, Salmonella Poisoning Attorney, Salmonellosis
