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.
The outbreak associated with Virginia-area Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations continues to grow. Over 115 people now have confirmed cases of hepatitis A virus linked to the outbreak. This is the second outbreak of Hepatitis A virus linked to imported fruits in just three years. 117 Confirmed Infected in Hepatitis A Strawberry Smoothie Outbreak; Virginia Particularly Hard-Hit Almost all people infected in the outbreak report drinking a smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Cafe containing strawberries prior to becoming ill. This allowed epidemiologists to trace to outbreak to strawberries used by the restaurant. The company ceased using those strawberries, imported from Egypt, and…
Last week, an outbreak of E. coli food closed the Matador restaurant in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. On Monday, health officials stated that the outbreak may be linked to more illnesses in Washington and three other states. Public health officials cited the Matador 10 times for improper food-handling practices in recent history, according to public-health records. Six violations concerned failure to keep food at the proper temperatures. Failure keep food at the proper temperatures may result in the growth of bacteria potentially dangerous to human health, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Five people fell ill with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 after eating at…
According to a CDC outbreak update released Thursday morning, 89 people have now been sickened in an outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to drinks severed at Virginia-area Tropical Smoothie Cafes. The Virginia Department of Health subsequently updated the number of cases confirmed in that state to 80, ten more than the 70 reported in the CDC update. The total number of cases now stands at 99, with 80 sick in Virginia and the remaining 19 cases coming from six other states. Public health officials have determined that strawberries used to make the smoothies were contaminated with the virus. Tropical Smoothie…
Island Soups Company, Inc., a corporation based out of Saint Albans, New York, initiated a recall of certain canned soups yesterday evening. The company recalled the soup due to potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, more commonly known as botulism. Botulism can cause life-threatening illness or death, causing gradual paralysis and ultimately respiratory failure in those infected with the bacteria. Island Soups Products Recalled Due to Botulism Risk The following six Island Soups Company products are affected by the recall: Fish Soup Red Peas Soup Red Peas Soup (No Meat) Gungo Peas Soup Gungo Peas Soup (No Meat) Mannish Water All…
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is actively investigating a cluster of E. coli cases; all confirmed cases to date have occurred in pre-school and school-aged children. Cluster of E. coli in School-Aged Children Under Investigation in Columbia/Boone County Four pre-school and school-aged children in Boone County, Missouri have confirmed cases of E. coli, according to local news sources and the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. Two additional probable cases in the cluster of infections are also under active investigation. The Columbia cases have been confirmed as Shiga-toxin producing E. coli serotype O157:H7, meaning that…
As the number of cases in an ongoing outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to drinks from Tropical Smoothie Cafe rose in recent days, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) became involved in the outbreak investigation. The CDC issued an outbreak alert regarding the “multistate outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries.” 85 Ill, At Least 32 Hospitalized due to Hep A-Contaminated Tropical Smoothie Cafe Drinks According to the CDC release, 70 ill individuals have fallen ill as a result of consuming smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Those sickened by the smoothies are from 7 states, including Virginia (55 cases), Maryland (6 cases),…
Today, the recent rash of recalls expanded to a national favorite: chocolate. Asher’s Chocolates/Lewistown, Inc. initiated a recall of a slew of chocolates, chocolate products and chocolate-coated products due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled products were distributed nationwide. The recall extends to multiple chocolates, chocolate bars, cellophane wrapped chocolates, individually wrapped chocolates, and chocolate-coated products. The company produced the recalled products in its Lewistown, Pennsylvania facility. Chocolate Products Recalled After Multiple Positive Tests for Salmonella According to the company, the “potential for contamination was noted after a single sample from routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in a group” of…
According to the Florida Department of Health, at least 22 people contracted Salmonella after eating at Pablo’s Mexican Cuisine, located on 2nd Street in Fernandina Beach, Florida. At least some of the ill individuals ate at the establishment in late July and early August. The restaurant remains open and feeding customers. “We don’t want anybody to get sick,” said co-owner Fernando Madrigal, who continued by saying he is doing everything he can to help with the Department of Health investigation. A History of Health Inspection Violations During four very recent inspections of Pablo’s Mexican Cuisine, inspectors found the restaurant’s salsa, chicken, queso and…
Snyder’s-Lance, Inc. initiated a voluntary recall of certain Diamond of California Macadamia Nuts packages on Tuesday. The company initiated the recall due to potential Salmonella contamination. Snyder’s-Lance distributed the recalled product to retail stores nationwide. Tests Reveal Salmonella in Packages of Macadamia Nuts The recall results from positive Salmonella test results on a 4 oz. package of Diamond of California Chopped Macadamia Nuts. A FDA-contracted laboratory conducted the tests that revealed the presence of the dangerous organism. According to the company, “Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others…
Officials linked a Wasatch County, Utah raw milk distributor – Heber Valley – to nine cases of Salmonella Saintpaul this week. Heber Valley Milk Linked to Raw Milk Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak The nine patients all consumed raw milk at Heber Valley Milk between March 20th and August 14th, 2016, according to health officials. On August 23rd, a sample of Heber Valley Milk taken by a Utah Department of Agriculture and Food inspector tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella, Salmonella Saintpaul. Because a subsequent test showed negative results for the pathogen, Heber Valley Milk resumed sales with the approval…