Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Premo turkey and cheese wedge sandwiches recalled Turkey and cheese wedge sandwiches distributed to retail stores in eleven states are potentially contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Lipari Foods, LLC, has voluntarily recalled Premo Brand turkey and cheese wedge sandwiches that were produced by its sister company, JLM, on August 8, 2018. The sandwiches were distributed to food service and retail stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Recalled products include the 5 oz package of turkey & cheese wedge sandwiches marked with an enjoy by date of 8/31/18 and UPC 612510002018. The potentially…

Burien Fresh Smoothies in King County, Washington, closed for salmonella Health officials in Seattle and King County, Washington, are investigating a potential case of salmonella contamination at Burien Fresh Smoothies located at 15712 1st Ave South in Burien. Since August 15, seven people from three different meal parties have reported that they became ill after having food and beverage at the smoothie restaurant. Two of those were hospitalized briefly. All reported visiting Burien Fresh Smoothies between August 6 and August 8. The source of the customers’ illnesses has not yet been determined, but food safety appears to be an issue…

Unsafe food temperatures caused Chipotle illnesses Health officials have determined that food left at unsafe temperatures caused 700 people to become ill after eating at a Chipotle restaurant in Powell, Ohio. Customers who ate tacos and burrito bowls at the restaurant complained of food poisoning symptoms. The source of their illnesses has now been identified as the bacteria clostridium perfringens. The illnesses occurred between July 26 and July 30 at the restaurant located just north of Columbus, Ohio. Customers developed symptoms that included diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Clostridium perfringens develops in food that has not been kept at the proper…

Fremont Bowl in Seattle shut down for food safety violations Four people are sick with salmonellosis after eating at a Seattle restaurant, the Fremont Bowl, in late July 2018. Health officials have closed the restaurant after an inspection that uncovered multiple food safety violations. The restaurant was inspected on August 9 and closed on August 10 when health officials discovered no corrective actions had been taken. One of the people who became sick was hospitalized briefly. All displayed the symptoms of food poisoning and three tested positive for salmonella. The four people were from three separate parties who had eaten…

Arapahoe County Fair attendees sick with salmonella Health department officials have confirmed that seven people became ill at the Arapahoe County Fair in Colorado from salmonella. The exact source of the contamination has not yet been pinpointed. The Tri-County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health are continuing to investigate the illnesses that occurred from July 21 to July 29 among fairgoers, especially those who attended 4-H events there. Health officials are urging anyone who attended the Arapahoe County Fair, particularly the 4-H exhibits, to report any symptoms that may be related to salmonella. Often, the numbers of…

23 cases of salmonella reported in Perryville, Missouri The source of a salmonella outbreak in Perry County, Missouri, has yet to be identified. Twenty-three people reported illnesses in Perryville between August 6 and August 9, 2018. Three of those who became sick were admitted to the Perry County Memorial Hospital. Two more required short-term observation and treatment in the hospital. In addition, one person was transferred for treatment at a hospital in Cape Girardeau. Laboratory samples have been sent to Missouri state investigators, but no cause has yet been determined. The 23 people who reported being ill had symptoms of…

The national food safety law firm of Ron Simon & Associates filed a second lawsuit this week in the major food poisoning outbreak linked to the Chipotle Mexican Grill located at 9733 Sawmill Parkway in Powell, Ohio.  Local health departments have now said that at least 700 patrons have reported illnesses linked to Chipotle’s contaminated food.   The lawsuit was filed in Delaware County, Ohio, on behalf of Clayton Jones, who is currently undergoing medical treatment since becoming very ill from consumption of food at the Chipotle Mexican Grill on July 27th.  Mr. Jones ate a chicken burrito bowl with fajita…

202 sick in Illinois after eating McDonald’s salads More than half of the illnesses reported by people who ate contaminated salads at various McDonald’s locations throughout the country have occurred in Illinois. Of the 395 illnesses reported in 15 states, there have been 202 cases in Illinois since the outbreak began in May. Additionally, one person in Connecticut, one person in Tennessee, and one person in Virginia became ill after purchasing salads in Illinois while traveling. The salads were contaminated with cyclospora, a finding that was confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the final analysis of an…

Hundreds sickened by Chipotles in Ohio An outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses has affected between 600 and 700 people who ate at one Chipotle restaurant located in Powell, Ohio. Additional reports of illnesses have been linked to two other Chipotle restaurants in Delaware County. The Delaware General Health District and the Ohio Department of Health are still trying to pinpoint the exact causes of the illnesses as well as the number of people who have been sickened by the food they purchased from these Chipotle restaurants. As food poisoning lawyer Ron Simon told NBC investigative reporters, he is actively filing lawsuits…