One year ago, 35 people in 19 states became ill with shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 in what turned out to be the seventh largest E. coli outbreak of 2013. The victims illnesses were linked to consumption of Farm Rich frozen foods products.
The outbreak led the product manufacturer, Farm Rich, to recall approximately a million pounds of product, with nearly a third of it having been distributed to schools. Approximately 82 percent of those infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli were under the age of 21.
The outbreak also led to the hospitalization of nearly a dozen victims, including two who acquired hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can cause kidney failure and require life-long monitoring of a victim’s kidneys.
The Farm Rich E. coli O121 outbreak was also remarkable for its diffuse nature, with hardly any notable epicenter. The 35 confirmed cases do not represent more than a single-digit count in any one state, with Ohio leading with 6 victims. New York, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin had fewer than 5 victims each. In the majority of affected states, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Washington State, a single victim was identified.
Ron Simon Representing Victims of the Farm Rich E. coli Outbreak
Ron Simon & Associates, one of the nation’s leading food poisoning law firms, represents victims in this outbreak. “We have finished our preliminary, nationwide investigation,” says Ron Simon, “and now we begin the conversations with our experts and the defendants in an attempt to resolve these claims.” The food safety attorneys at Ron Simon and Associates have carefully traced the origin of their clients’ illnesses, and are seeking compensation for the victims’ medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. “While we hope this is a swift process,” Simon says, “the pace of recovery will depend on how quickly the defendant moves to compensate these victims.”
