Nine-Year-Old Boy Hospitalized in Ground Beef E. Coli Outbreak Amid Mass Recall

A nine-year-old boy in Maine has become seriously ill as a result of consuming ground beef contaminated with E. Coli O157:H7. The boy’s mother purchased PT Farm beef sometime in June 2016 and prepared it to serve to her family. Roughly five days after the family ate the meat, the boy began exhibiting signs of a serious illness. Common symptoms associated with E. Coli infections are diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. After the boy’s symptoms did not improve, his mother took him to the hospital, where he was admitted for several days.

The child is only one of about 14 individuals who have become ill as a result of consuming contaminated beef from PT Farm. The victims are located in a wide swath of states, including Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The illnesses have been recorded as occurring between June 15 and July 10, 2016.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, along with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, have been actively involved in investigating the source of the outbreak. On July 26, the public entities announced that they had identified E. Coli in raw beef provided by PT Farm. They initiated a recall that covered some 8,800 pounds of the raw beef. Some of the brand names under which PT Farms beef is sold include Chestnut Farms, Robie Farm, Miles Smith Farm, and PT Farm. Some of the product may come frozen.

Roughly 73,000 incidences of E. Coli contamination happen in the United States each year. Roughly 2,000 of these cases result in hospitalizations, while some 60 people die as a result of complications associated with E. Coli infections, such as kidney failure or hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although most affected individuals who contract HUS eventually ward off the illness, it can cause serious issues if it goes untreated. Also, E. Coli contaminations are the cause of more than 90 percent of all HUS cases that occur in North America.

When it comes to liability, food manufacturers, retailers, and handlers have a duty to ensure that they are using measures that will prevent contamination. This liability extends from farmers and first-stage producers all the way along the food production chain to servers who bring plates of food to consumers at restaurants. Some of these standards are informed by federal and state food safety laws, including appropriate storage temperatures for perishable goods and sanitation measures designed to prevent cross-contamination.

If you have become ill as a result of consuming contaminated food, the experienced E. Coli attorneys at Moll Law Group are prepared to help you seek the settlement or the judgment that your family and you deserve. E. Coli infections can be deadly and life-altering, and they may result in extremely costly medical expenses. It can also be difficult to identify the source of your food contamination and to prove that the defendant in question failed to use due care in handling your food. Serving clients throughout the U.S., including in New York, Illinois, Florida, and California, we assist victims in all stages of their claims with compassionate, dedicated, and knowledgeable legal guidance. We offer a free consultation, so call us now at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to set up your appointment.

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