These findings were from the more than 600 samples FDA investigators took from 24 different locations on the two farms. They have hundreds of samples left to test. In a few days, a full report will be filed on the full extent of salmonella contamination at the two facilities, Jeff Farrar, DVM, PhD, MPH, FDA associate commissioner for food protection, said at a news teleconference.

Investigators with the FDA reported finding salmonella in these four samples taken from Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms:

• chicken manure
• manure sample found on a barn walkway
• sample from chicken feed made at a pullet-raising facility that supplies hens to Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms
• sample from a feed ingredient

More than 2,400 confirmed reports of salmonella have been received by the CDC from May 1 through August 25. Over the last five years, the average number of salmonella illnesses reported for the same time frame was 930. That means, in all probability, 1,470 reported cases are related to the outbreak linked to eggs.

Furthermore, the CDC estimates that for every reported case, there are on average 30 to 38 unreported cases. So, in reality, the contaminated eggs have already sickened between 44,100 to 55,860 Americans. The CDC expects more illnesses to be reported because contaminated eggs may still be in consumers’ refrigerators and it take two to three weeks from the time of consumption to confirm and report an illness.

If you have been sickened by eggs contaminated with this strain of salmonella, you need the expert representation of a leading food poisoning law firm. Call PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free). PritzkerOlsen, P.A. has been involved in virtually every foodborne illness outbreak in the United States. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of people injured or killed as a result of adulterated food, including eggs contaminated with salmonella.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is preparing an egg recall lawsuit for victims of this outbreak. We will continue to accept cases at 1-888-377-8900 or complete our free consultation form on the right side of this page.

Check the FDA site for more information on recalled eggs.

Moark received eggs included on the Hillandale Farms egg recall list. These eggs were repackaged for retail customers and sold under the following brand names:

• Albertsons
• Yucaipa Valley
• Farmer’s Gems
• Mountain Dairy

Moark provided additional, unbranded eggs to food service customers.

The eggs included in this Moark recall were sold to retail and wholesale customers in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada and have the plant code P1156 and Julian date 187. The codes can be found on the egg packaging and would look like this: 187 P-1156.

For a comprehensive listing of known brands, codes and dates involved in the egg recall and for information about safe handling and preparation of eggs, please visit the Food Safety website. The FDA recommends that eggs should be fully cooked until both the yolks and the whites are firm. Additionally, they recommend that consumers should not eat foods that may contain raw or undercooked eggs (e.g. homemade ice cream, egg nog, raw cookie dough).

There have been laboratory-confirmed Salmonella enteriditis illnesses with the shell eggs from Hillandale Farms of Iowa. Salmonella poisoning, left untreated or in a person with a weakened immune system, can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. If a healthy person is infected with Salmonella they may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain 12-72 hours following consumption of a contaminated product.

PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is a leading foodborne illness litigation law firm. Our attorneys have years of experience and we have the resources necessary to initiate our own investigation into Salmonella outbreaks. Call 1-888-377-8900 for information about a possible Salmonella lawsuit.

The Luberski Inc. recall is for shell eggs with the plant codes P1026, P1413 and P1946 and Julian code dates of 209-224. Dates and codes can be found on the label.

Eggs affected by the recall were packaged under the CRF 20 and 30 egg overwrap units and Loose 15 dozen units. The Loose 15 dozen units include the following brands:

• Alta Dena Dairy
• Driftwood Dairy
• Hidden Villa Ranch
• Challenge Dairy

No retail carton eggs are included in this Luberski Inc. recall.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and life-threatening infections in young children, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems. The most common symptoms of Salmonella poisoning include high fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The onset of symptoms start in 12-72 hours following consumption of contaminated food or drink. The increased risk for those with weakened immune systems is the potential for the Salmonella organism getting into the bloodstream which can lead to arterial infections, endocardiditis or arthritis.

Consumers who believe they have been sickened by contaminated eggs may be able to file a Salmonella lawsuit to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. For more information, contact PritzkerOlsen, P.A. at 1-888-377-8900 to speak to an experienced food poisoning lawyer.

Salmonella  is bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the very young, very old and others with weakened immune systems. The symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In some rare cases, infection with Salmonella  can result in the organism getting into the lymph system and eventually into the bloodstream causing sepsis and potentially producing illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, or arthritis.

This Hillandale egg recall includes eggs distributed to grocery distribution centers, retail grocery stores (including Wal-Mart) and food service companies which service or are located in the following fourteen states: Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The eggs from this Hillandale recall were sold in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package and 5-dozen cases and distributed under these brand names:

• Hillandale Farms
• Sunny Farms
• Sunny Meadow

Loose eggs were sold in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs and packaged under the following brand names:

• Wholesome Farms
• West Creek

Note: The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers.

The only Hillandale eggs affected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates (the day of the calendar year with January 1 being 001 and December 31 being 365) as follows:

• P1860 – Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
• P1663 – Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230

Julian dates and plant codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label. Consumers who believe they may have purchased these eggs should not eat them. They may be returned to the store where they were purchased for a refund.

If you or a family member has been sickened after eating egg products, go to the doctor and have a stool sample tested for Salmonella enteriditis. Then contact an experienced Salmonella lawyer at PritzkerOlsen, P.A. to determine if you have a Salmonella lawsuit case. Our attorneys will guide you through the process of recovering money to compensate you for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

The eggs were distributed to food service and distribution centers in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa and were packaged under several brand names including: Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.

According to a press release from the California Department of Public Health:

“Since May of this year there has been a nationwide increase in the number of infections due to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Outbreak investigations in several states, including California, have found that some of these illnesses were likely related to eating eggs or foods containing eggs prepared by restaurants or caterers who obtained shell eggs from Wright County Eggs. This particular strain, defined by a matching DNA pattern, is the most common Salmonella strain in the United States, and a common source may not explain all of the illnesses.”

Salmonella Enteritidis in Eggs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against consuming raw or undercooked eggs because Salmonella Enteritidis can be present both inside and outside of eggs and can sicken consumers who eat the eggs if they are not prepared correctly. Some tips from the CDC for preventing Salmonella poisoning from eggs include:

1. Keep eggs refrigerated at ≤ 45° F (≤7° C) at all times.
2. Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
3. Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
4. Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking.
5. Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
6. Refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods promptly.
7. Avoid eating raw eggs.
8. Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.
9. Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly persons, and persons with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness.

Eggs affected by this recall were distributed to food wholesalers, distribution centers and foodservice companies in California, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. These companies distribute nationwide.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with Salmonella after eating eggs, contact our law firm for a free consultation.  Our Salmonella lawyers have recovered millions for food poisoning victims.  For more information, please see our website, www.pritzkerlaw.com.

The 52-year-old resident of Tazewell County is one of at least 97 people who have tested positive for the same strain of Salmonella in an outbreak linked to more than 40 Subway locations in 28 Illinois counties. Pritzker Olsen is in contact with other victims.

Attorney Fred Pritzker said the client ate an oven-roasted chicken sub on May 11 at the Subway on 603 Jackson Street in Morton, Illinois. She was hospitalized for several days after suffering gastroenteritis and cramping with severe vomiting.

“Our client ate a sandwich and ended up in the hospital.  This should never happen in our country,” Pritzker said. “Stringent sanitation requirements should be in place all along the food chain, and federal and state health officials should be given the authority and money needed to enforce the laws.  Large restaurant chains should require suppliers to regularly test for Salmonella and other dangerous pathogens.”

Pritzker Olsen is also representing victims of a shigellosis outbreak associated with the Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois.  The firm filed a lawsuit in March of this year on behalf of one of the victims, a resident of DuPage County, Illinois, who battled a severe Shigella infection for two weeks.  The Subway lawsuit alleges that the outbreak was caused by sick food handlers at the restaurant.

Although contaminated food was the source of this current outbreak linked to certain Subway restaurants in Illinois, health officials are concerned that sick food handlers may continue to spread Salmonella Hvittingfoss.  To prevent this, the Illinois Department of Public Health is requiring food handlers in 46 Subway restaurants to have two consecutive test results that are negative for Salmonella Hvittingfoss before being allowed to return to work.

For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Pritzker Olsen law firm at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker Olsen offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

Our client is one of 25 people hospitalized so far in this outbreak of Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss, which has affected 28 counties in Illinois and sickened 90 people. Counties affected by the outbreak include:

Bureau, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, Dekalb, DeWitt, Ford, Fulton, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Macon, Marshall, McLean, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Shelby, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, Will and Winnebago.

Now, the Illinois Department of Public Health is mandating the testing of Subway workers in 46 restaurants that have been associated with the outbreak in order to keep the outbreak from spreading. Health officials stated in a press release that some workers have tested positive for Salmonella Hivittingfoss, and the department wants to prohibit infected workers from returning to work until they have two consecutive test results negative for the strain of the harmful pathogen.

Subway Food Poisoning Lawsuit

Pritzker Olsen food safety lawyers have also represented victims in other Subway food poisoning outbreaks, including the Lombard, Illinois Subway shigella outbreak, and a Norovirus Subway outbreak in Minnesota. Salmonella infection symptoms are initially flu-like and may seem mild at first, but serious cases can lead to complications including Reiter’s Syndrome. Those who think they may have been sickened by Salmonella should visit the doctor and also report the case to their local health department.

ConAgra Recall of All Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice

ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC, a Council Bluffs, Iowa establishment has recalled all Marie Callender’s brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals in commerce, regardless of production date. These products are being recalled after the company was informed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an investigation involving 29 people in 14 states who have been diagnosed with salmonellosis linked to Salmonella Chester. Eight of these people specifically reported eating Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice in April and May, 2010, prior to illness onset; the last reported illness was reported on May 22.

The products subject to recall include:

13-ounce packages of “Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce.”

Each package bears a label with establishment number “P-45″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The establishment is recalling all the products listed above which are currently in commerce. These products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

According to ConAgra’s Teresa Paulsen, “We estimate that prior to recall there would be 50,000 to 100,000 cases (each containing eight dinners) in market. So that would be 400,000 to 800,000 individual packages possibly in market.¹“

Footnote: 1. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-06-17-marie-callender-recall_N.htm

Epidemiological evidence has found that eight of the people with laboratory-confirmed cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Chester specifically reported eating this product in April and May, 2010, prior to illness onset.

In response to this outbreak, ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC of Council Bluffs, Iowa, the manufacturer of Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice, has recalled all Marie Callender’s brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals in commerce, regardless of production date.

The products subject to recall include:

• 13-ounce packages of “Marie Callender’s Cheesy Chicken & Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce.”

Each package bears a label with establishment number “P-45″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The establishment is recalling all the products listed above which are currently in commerce. These products were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.

To contact a Salmonella lawyer at Pritzker Olsen about a ConAgra / Marie Callender recall lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online free consultation form.

Related information on our website, www.pritzkerlaw.com:

• ConAgra Lawsuit
• Marie Callender’s Lawsuit
• Marie Callender’s Recall