Eight hospitalized from NJ e. coli infections
Eight people have been hospitalized as a result of e. coli contamination, which has potentially been traced to a Panera Bread restaurant in New Jersey. The e. coli contamination has caused consumer illnesses in four counties in the state. Health officials in Warren County have indicated that other restaurants may also be involved in the investigation.
The target of the investigation is the Panera Bread location in Phillipsburg, NJ. The eight cases of illness related to e. coli contamination have been reported in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren counties. Only one illness has been identified in Warren County so far and some of the cases date back to the third week of March, so there is still some uncertainty as to the source of the contamination.
The New Jersey Department of Health has indicated it is in the initial stages of the investigation. Health officials are continuing to conduct interviews to determine a common food source among those who have become ill. There is potentially a cluster of e. coli cases that may be linked to multiple Panera locations.
Once the source of the e. coli contamination is identified, New Jersey health officials will test food samples and send their results to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to confirm their results. Often, poor or lack of proper food safety procedures can lead to e. coli in facilities such as restaurants.
Symptoms of e. coli contamination include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. If you experience these symptoms and suspect you may be a victim of e. coli, please contact the food poisoning lawyers at 1-888-335-4901 to learn more about your options.
