Cucumber Outbreak Sickens 449, hospitalizes
125 in 31 States
PALM
BEACH, Fla., July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have filed a lawsuit on behalf
of Melissa Milligan against Fresh
Start Produce, Inc. and Bedner Growers, Inc., in the
Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers. The lawsuit was
filed in the Circuit Court of Palm Beach,
Florida in the civil division, by local counsel, the Chaikin
law firm, Complaint # 202246846
"At nearly 450 sickened, this is one of the
larger Salmonella outbreaks...and health authorities are still
counting."
Ms. Milligan purchased cucumbers at Publix Super Markets in
St. Augustine, Florida. She
consumed the cucumbers over a two-week period and on June 10, 2024, began experiencing symptoms
consistent with a Salmonella infection, including nausea,
abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches, fatigue,
headache and a urinary tract infection. Several days later, Ms.
Milligan sought medical care for an evaluation of her symptoms.
However, despite anti-diarrheal medication, her symptoms worsened.
A second visit to the doctor resulted in testing and a stool and
urine sample which confirmed a diagnosis of Salmonella
infection verging on severe. Ms. Mulligan is recovering from her
Salmonella infection.
"At nearly 450 sickened, this is one of the largest
Salmonella outbreaks we have seen recently, and health authorities
are still counting," stated Bill
Marler, Marler Clark food
safety attorney.
The Cucumber Outbreak
- As of July 2, 2024, a total of
449 people infected with one of the outbreak strains
of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup
have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia.
- Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 11, 2024 to June 4,
2024. In this outbreak, 125 have been hospitalized with no
deaths reported.
- Originally reported as two separate outbreaks, CDC and FDA
combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several
similarities.
- Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback data have
determined that cucumbers grown by Defendant, Bedner Growers, Inc., are the source of
illnesses in this outbreak.
"Although it is somewhat unusual to have two
or more Salmonella serotypes in an outbreak, it has happened
before," said Bill Marler. "Having
multiple serotypes likely means that the production area was highly
contaminated," added Marler.
Public Health Investigation
As part of the investigation, the FDA conducted an onsite
inspection at Bedner Growers and collected water and soil samples.
Salmonella Braenderup was detected in samples of untreated
canal water used by Bedner Growers. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
analysis determined that the Salmonella found in the water
used by Bedner Growers is a match to a strain of Salmonella
Braenderup that is causing some of the illnesses in this outbreak.
Additional types of Salmonella were detected in both the
soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers.
The Food Safety Law Firm
Since 1993 Marler Clark, The Food
Safety Law Firm, has been the only law firm in the nation with
a practice focused exclusively on Foodborne illness
litigation. The Salmonella lawyers of
Marler Clark have represented
thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne
illness in outbreaks. Marler Clark's
work as lawyers and food safety advocates is highlighted in the
Netflix Documentary "Poisoned" now streaming. See: "Poisoned": The
Dirty Truth About Your Food | Official Trailer |
Netflix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZcyMgdWmPg.
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SOURCE Marler Clark, The Food
Safety Law Firm