Papaya Salmonella Outbreak Update by CDC: Free Consultation Regarding Agromod Produce Lawsuit
CDC is reporting additional cases of Salmonella Agona infection linked to whole, fresh papayas imported from Mexico. Public health investigators used DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that were part of this outbreak. Our Salmonella lawyers are investigating this outbreak and are available for a free consultation regarding a Salmonella Agona lawsuit.
A total of 106 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Agona were reported from 25 states between January 1 and August 25, 2011. The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain was as follows: Arkansas (1), Arizona (4), California (8), Colorado (1), Georgia (8), Illinois (18), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (3), New York (9), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (1), Texas (25), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2).
Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after January 17, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from less than 1 year old to 91 years old, and the median age was 21 years old. Thirty-nine percent of patients were younger than 5 years old. Fifty-six percent were female. Eleven persons reported travel to Mexico in the week before they became ill. Ten patients were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
Papaya Salmonella Outbreak Investigation
Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory investigations linked this outbreak to eating fresh, whole papayas imported from Mexico by Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas. Among 56 ill persons for whom information is available, 57% reported consuming papayas in the week before illness onset. Product information such as date and location of purchase of papayas was collected from ill persons and used by local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies to conduct traceback investigations. Agromod Produce, Inc. was identified as a common supplier of papayas purchased by ill persons.
Sampling of papayas by FDA as part of the outbreak investigation identified two samples with Salmonella Agona that were indistinguishable by PFGE from the outbreak strain. One sample was collected at Agromod Produce, Inc. in McAllen, Texas and the other was collected at the U.S.-Mexico border from a shipment destined for Agromod Produce, Inc. These papayas had been imported from Mexico. The shipments from which Salmonella was isolated were not distributed in the United States.
The strain of Salmonella Agona associated with this outbreak is composed of four closely related PFGE patterns that have been rarely identified before in PulseNet. Three of these four PFGE patterns were first identified beginning in 2010. A total of 119 cases from 14 states were reported between May 28, 2010, and September 10, 2010. Distribution of age, sex, ethnicity, and state of residence among ill persons was similar to the distribution seen in the current outbreak. Despite an intensive investigation during the summer of 2010 by local, state, and federal public health agencies that focused on fresh fruit, including papaya, the source of the outbreak was not determined.
Papaya Recall Issued by Agromod Produce
On July 23, 2011, Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas recalled fresh, whole papayas because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall includes all Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious Brand papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011. These fresh, whole papayas were imported from Mexico and distributed nationwide and to Canada through retail stores and wholesalers.
FDA Papaya Import Alert Information
From May 12, 2011, to August 18, 2011, FDA analysis found a 15.6% Salmonella contamination rate in papayas from Mexico. The positive samples were from 28 different firms and include nearly all the major papaya producing regions in Mexico. Under an FDA Import Alert issued on August 25, 2011, papayas from each source in Mexico may be denied admission into the United States unless the importer shows they are not contaminated with Salmonella.
Our Salmonella attorneys represent food poisoning victims nationwide in lawsuits against growers, importers, producers, distributors, retailers and restaurants. Contact us for a free consultation regarding a lawsuit against Agromod Produce and for class action lawsuit information.
Law Firm for Salmonella Lawsuit against Agromod Produce
Pritzker Olsen is a national Salmonella law firm for victims of the Salmonella Agona outbreak who want to file a lawsuit against Agromod Produce, Inc. of Texas for compensation, which may include amounts for any of the following:
- medical expenses
- lost income
- physical pain
- emotional distress
- disability
- loss of quality of life
- other damages.
Victim compensation should also include amounts for estimated future expenses, losses and pain. The value of each case is based on the facts. For example, the 10 people who have been hospitalized would most likely get more compensation than someone who was not hospitalized.
“Suing a company for Salmonella poisoning is about getting full and fair compensation for the victim and holding companies responsible for selling contaminated food,” said attorney Fred Pritzker. “No one should ever get sick from eating a piece of fruit.”
Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Agromod Produce
The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Agona infections has been linked to whole, fresh papayas imported by Agromod Produce with DNA evidence, “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE. This is used to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. The number of ill persons identified in each state with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Agona is as follows: Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (1), Georgia (8), Illinois (17), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (3), New York (7), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (1), Texas (25), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2).
Eight of the ten people hospitalized in this outbreak were from Illinois. Nine additional people in Illinois were sickened but where not hospitalized (these people may still have claims against Agromod and others). The count in Illinois is as follows:
- Chicago – 5 cases
- Cook County – 4 cases
- DuPage County – 4 cases
- Kane County – 1 case
- Lake County – 1 case
- Will County – 1 case
- Winnebago County – 1 case.
Salmonella Lawsuit against Agromod Produce: Liability
In Salmonella food poisoning cases, all of the companies whose employees handle the food that causes the outbreak may be liable. In this outbreak, there is evidence to suggest that Agromod Produce is liable. In addition, retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, hotels and others may also be liable:
Agromod Produce is an importer and distributor of whole, fresh papayas. The company’s papayas are sold at major retail chains and for wholesale in the U.S. and Canada. The papayas are served at major restaurant and hotel chains in the U.S. and Canada.
Our attorneys will independently investigate your case to determine all of the companies that can be sued. This is important because one company may not have enough insurance to cover all of the papaya Salmonella claims.
Contact our attorneys about a Salmonella lawsuit against Agromod Produce, Inc., papaya importer and distributor in the U.S. and Canada.
Papaya Lawsuit for Salmonella Victim Compensation
Pritzker Olsen attorneys are investigating a lawsuit for papaya Salmonella food poisoning. Salmonella personal injury lawsuits generally seek compensation for the following:
- Hospital bills and other medical expenses
- Lost income (amount of money not made because the Salmonella victim was not able to work or otherwise earn income)
- Pain and suffering (putting a value on physical pain caused by eating a contaminated papaya may require expert medical testimony)
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Loss of quality of life
- Other damages
Future losses, expenses and pain should be considered when determining the value of a Salmonella case. This is important because severe cases of Salmonella food poisoning can cause life-long health problems. Serious complications of Salmonella infections include Reiter’s syndrome (a reactive arthritis that can be debilitating), acute gastroenteritis (AGE), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia. In addition, if a person infected with Salmonella has underlying health problems, these can get much worse. For example, if a victim has diabetes, it may be extremely difficult to regulate blood sugar, which can cause additional damage.
People sickened in Salmonella outbreaks have claims against the companies legally responsible for the illness. In a Agromod Produce papaya lawsuit the companies liable for the illness would depend on the facts of the case. What was the chain of distribution? Where did the victim purchase the papaya? Did a retailer, deli or restaurant process the papayas before the victim ate contaminated papaya?
If you hire our law firm to pursue a papaya lawsuit against Agromod Produce and others on your behalf, we will immediately take measures to protect your legal rights and work to get you the best compensation package possible. We are not paid unless you win.
Attorney Fred Pritzker is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (current and past editions). He and his team of Salmonella attorneys have won millions for Salmonella victims. Contact our law firm about a Salmonella lawsuit and whether a class action lawsuit is the right option for your case.
Papaya Recall and Outbreak Information
Papayas contaminated with Salmonella Agona are the likely source of a Salmonella outbreak in 23 states. Our Salmonella attorneys are investigating the outbreak and a recall of papayas by Agromod Produce, Inc., a distributor of the papayas in the United States. The FDA reports 97 people sickened in 23 states with the outbreak strain of Salmonella, as follows:
Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (7), Colorado (1), Georgia (8), Illinois (17), Louisiana (2), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New Mexico (3), New York (6), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (25), Virginia (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2).
Agromod is recalling all Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita, and Tastylicious Brand papayas sold prior to July 23, 2011. Each Blondie Brand papaya can be identified by a blue and orange sticker label with green and white lettering on the fruit that states Blondie 4395 Mexico. The Yaya Brand Papayas can be identified by a yellow, red, orange, and green label with white, green and red lettering that reads Yaya Premium Papayas Yaya PLU-4395 Mexico. Each Mañanita Brand Papaya can be identified by a green, yellow and red sticker label that states Mexico Mañanita 4395. The Tastylicious Brand Papayas can be identified by a white and blue sticker with red and white lettering that states 4395 Tastylicious MEXICO.
The papayas were imported from Mexico and are possibly linked to 97 reported cases of Salmonella Agona, including 10 hospitalizations, in 23 states throughout the United States. Recent sampling by the FDA found the outbreak strain in two papaya samples collected at Agromod Produce, Inc. location in McAllen, TX and at the U.S. border destined for Agromod Produce, Inc. The shipments that tested positive with the outbreak strain were not distributed in the U.S.
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