Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D
Tony Coveny, Ph.D
Tony Coveny, has been practicing infectious disease litigation exclusively for more than a decade, settling cases against major agro-industrial companies, international suppliers, and domestic distributors and manufacturers. Tony Coveny, alongside Ron Simon, has tried cases against restaurants, distributors, national manufacturers, and foreign corporations to recover damages against their clients. From the main office in Houston, which he manages, he speaks to potential and current clients on a daily basis.
SoyNut Butter E. coli Outbreak: Final Report Confirms 32 Illnesses, with 2 more Probable Cases, in 12 States to Consumption of SoyNut Butter Products In light of the fact that no new cases have been reported since April 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautiously announced that the outbreak is over. They did so cautiously only because SoyNut Butter products can remain on the shelves in victims’ homes or schools for many months if the recall fails to reach all the consumers of the product. “CDC recommends that consumers do not eat, and childcare centers, schools,…
Nacho Cheese Sauce Suspected in Walnut Grove Botulism Outbreak: Five Victims Both the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Sacramento County departments of Environmental Management and Public Health have been working tirelessly to find the source of a rare outbreak of botulism in California. So far, at least five victims have been hospitalized in the outbreak, with at least four having consumed Nacho Cheese sauce at the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California. All sales of prepared foods have been halted by the Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management pending the outcome a thorough…
Agave Azul Mexican Grill Implicated in Fatal Food Poisoning Case According to reports out of West Lafayette, Indiana, a food poisoning outbreak at the Agave Azul Mexican Grill, located at 705 Sagamore Parkway West, W. Lafayette, turned fatal this last Fall. It was then that Alexander Zdravic, a retiree from Suburu, died of complication following acquiring food poisoning. He allegedly consumed a late lunch at the restaurant on October 22nd. The final report in the Tippecanoe County Health Department health investigation confirms that Alexander, his wife, and their adult daughter were all ill in the early morning hours of the…
Walnut Grove Valley Oaks Food and Fuel Gas Station Linked to Four of Five Botulism Victims: Botulism Lawyer Discusses Outbreak The Valley Oaks Food and Fuel gas station, in Walnut Grove, California, has been ordered to stop selling food or beverages. The order barring such sales at the Valley Oaks Food and Fuel gas station came from the Environmental Management Division, which maintains the authority to do so in a public health emergency. According to Olivia Kasirye, a Sacramento County Public Health Officer, the action at the gas station was taken after at least four patrons acquired botulism poisoning after…
According to health officials, there has been a Botulism outbreak in Sacramento County, California, linked to the Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove. According to reports, several patrons have contracted botulism, a rare and potentially deadly pathogen that has been largely eradicated by proper food production and modern food processing. New freeze dried, canning, and IQF are responsible for much of the decline, but periodic failures in food handling and preparation lead to new cases of botulism. This seems to be the case here, with the Clostridium botulinum bacteria at the center of the outbreak. And although the…
Tuna Hepatitis A Recall: Infected Tuna Found, and Recall Issued, in Hawaii The Hawaiian Department of Health (DOH) has announced finding Hepatitis A (HAV) in frozen raw tuna, otherwise known as ahi cube tuna, that was distributed by Tropic Fish Hawaii, LLC on Oahu. The imported tuna was a product of Indonesia used primarily to prepare poke at restaurants on Oahu. Times Supermarket, the Maile Sunset Bar & Grill in Kapolei, Aloha Sushi at 3131 N. Nimitz, the ABC store at 205 Lewers St., and Shima’s locations in Aiea, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kunia, Liliha, Mililani, Waipahu, and Waiman all procured some…
King County Public Health, in Washington State, is investigating what appears to be a norovirus outbreak at the La Hacienda restaurant located at 811 S. 3rd Street, Renton, WA. According to reports, at least five victims developed gastroenteritis symptoms consistent with norovirus, including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. The victims ate at the La Hacienda on April 21, 2017, just days before King County Public Health learned of the La Hacienda Norovirus Outbreak. In response to the reports of illness, KCPH inspected La Hacienda on April 27th. The inspection found instances of improper food handling that can contribute to the spread…
Frito Lay Salmonella Recall: Supplier Reports that its Jalapeño Powder may contain Salmonella The recant recall of Frito Lay chips, including Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips and Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked potato chips follows a supplier reporting positive findings of Salmonella in its Jalapeño Powder, used in making the chips. Frito Lay claims there are not reports of illness at the present, but nonetheless issued a recall in the interests of public safety. The product subject to recall include both the individual packets of the affected chips as well as the multiflavor packages that contain the possible…
Missouri Salmonella Outbreak: Possibly Linked to a Missouri Restaurant in Jefferson City in Cole County There are now more than three dozen salmonella illnesses in the Missouri Salmonella Outbreak that has plagued Cole County this last month. And while county officials believe there is a common restaurant, they are not releasing the name of the suspected facility at present – only that it is in Jefferson city. Instead, they are pushing forward with an investigation led by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Cole County Health Department. All of the 36 samples that have been…
SoyNut Butter E. coli Outbreak Leads to Suspension Order Amid List of Violations at Dixie Dew The E. coli investigation that led to the recall of SoyNut Butter Company’s I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butters and I.M. Healthy Granola products is ongoing. In the course of the investigation, the recall expanded to include Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter and 20/20 Lifestyle Yogurt Peanut Crunch Bars. The source of the outbreak has been confirmed through both post-illness interviews in what is termed a “trace-back” investigation, and epidemiological evidence finding the strain of E. coli in product that was found in…