Pritzker Law Firm Calls for Policy Change to Fight Worsening E. coli Problem

Top 5 YouTube Videos of 2009 Top 5

Minneapolis, Minn. (PRWEB) November 26, 2008 -- Fourteen years after the United States designated E. coli O157:H7 as an adulterant in raw ground beef, one of the nation's leading food safety lawyers is calling on regulators to adopt the same zero-tolerance policy against other strains of the potentially deadly bacteria.

Fred Pritzker, a Minneapolis attorney whose firm specializes in major food-borne illness cases, said several other types of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) must be declared adulterants by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help reverse dangerous upward trends in illnesses and recalls of tainted meat.

Last year alone, E. coli O157:H7 contamination prompted 21 recalls of ground beef totaling 29 million pounds - the highest level in five years. Ten of the recalls were associated with sickness. For a country that purports to have the safest food supply in the world, there's been no progress made since 2004 in wiping out E. coli infection, Pritzker said. In fact, lately the bug has been gaining ground.

"It makes no sense that we are regulating one deadly pathogen and ignoring others," said Pritzker, who noted that one person was killed this summer and more than 300 others were sickened by E. coli 0111 linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, Okla. The restaurant reopened Saturday after being shut down for an extended period.

In October 2007, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) co-hosted a public meeting at which non-O157:H7 STECs were a leading topic of concern. More than 100 non-O157:H7 strains exist around the world, but health officials in the U.S. are most concerned with O111, O26, O103, O45 and O145.

Six months after the public meeting, the FSIS said it was considering designating certain non-O157:H7 STECs as adulterants. Pritzker said the major policy change is needed right away. "We need to have the same stringent approach to all pathogens that are capable of causing serious harm or death," Pritzker said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's possible that non-O157 STEC infections are as prevalent in the United States, or more so, than O157:H7 infections. Since 1990, the U.S. has recorded at least 23 outbreaks of infectious disease caused by the non-O157:H7 micro-organisms. And Like E. coli O157:H7, certain non-0157 STECs can lead to hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that has killed children, the elderly and persons with weak immune systems.

By designating as adulterants the most virulent non-O157:H7 STECs, Pritzker said, the FSIS will gain the power to effectively shut down plants when meat is contaminated. The scrutiny will force greater responsibility on the beef industry to detect the bacteria and to prevent it from entering the food supply.

When E. coli O157:H7 was legally labeled an adulterant in 1994, the industry improved its testing mechanisms. Likewise, screening would readily improve for non-O157:H7 strains. The zero-tolerance would also apply to beef imports and provide consumers with stronger protection in recall situations

Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. is one of the few law firms in the United States that practices extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has collected millions of dollars on behalf of victims of E. coli poisoning and other foodborne illnesses, http://foodpoisoning.pritzkerlaw.com. For more information, visit http://www.pritzkerlaw.com or contact Fred Pritzker at (612) 338-0202. Pritzker | Ruohonen has offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

###

This press release has been reprinted from PRWEB per the terms and conditions of the copyright notice.

Rate This Article:
Bookmark and Share

Here are some other great websites
USBHDTVTUNER.COM
GlobaliPhone.com
BlackMediaOnline.com
GreenAmerica.us
DiabeteshealthLive.com
AssetsBuyer.com
AnsweringServiceCalifornia.com
CHELATEDVITAMINS.COM
ENZYMETABLETS.COM
LAPTOPNOTEBOOKS.NET
BioMass-Ethanol.com
MyInsuranceRates.info
BestiPTVs.com
DatingServicePro.com
TheSafe.mobi
PayPlan.mobi
FortCollinsFSBO.com
PayDayAhead.com
MyDatingServices.info
MesotheliomaLawyersWeb.com
TheDatingServices.info
PayCheckAdvancePro.com
ConsolidateLoansWeb.com
EatingDisordersHelp.info
BigAppleRealEstate.info
ExoticSpas.net
LatinMedia.us
CellulosicBiomassEthanol.com
CarSalesMedia.com
WarofThePods.com
WeatherPhones.com
MobiCash.net
VideoStreamingMedia.com
RestaurantRome.com
RestaurantCairo.com
RestaurantPanamaCityBeach.com
RestaurantDestin.com
INFRAREDREPEATERS.com
PainControlMedicine.com
GreenEnergyMedia.com
VisitRomaItaly.com
ROMAAPPARTAMENTO.COM
VisitRomeIT.com
VisitRomaItalia.com
RomaItalia.org
VisitPanamaCityBeachFL.com
VisitDestinFL.com
VisitMemphisTennessee.com
MemphisTennesseeLoans.com
MemphisTennesseeApartments.com
MemphisTennesseeBanks.com
GlobalWarmingCrisis.org
DVB.LA
iTube.us
SELFPESTCONTROL.COM
BanksDeposits.com
DNAcomputing.info
BuyTheRightDomain.com
NaperVilleFSBO.com
OnlineBudgetTravel.com
MediterraneanCusine.com
WAWireless.com
LowestPriceDrugsOnline.com
MySpacePlans.com
ComposingSoftware.com
HydraulicMassageTable.com
MiniCircuitBreakers.com
USBENCLOSURES.COM
VOICESTRESSTEST.COM
IndoorCages.com
SettingupEmail.com
XDReader.com
MiniWidgets.com
GuaranteeRates.com
TextTeen.com
BankOfSavannah.com
xPestControl.com
MemphisCan.com
CreditBorrow.com
TextSexMe.com
TextSex.us
WirelessBroadBandTV.net
WirelessBroadBandHDTV.com
CountryWesternMedia.com
BUSINESSDOMAINS.NAME
EASTERBUNNYBASKETS.COM
TheGutBuster.com
xAmericans.com
TextCoins.com
MethylTetraHydroFuran.com
MobiCharge.net
MobiCoins.com
MenopauseOnline.info

Fun Shop Memphis
#Green #Energy #Global Warming #Fuel #Climate change #Travel #Restaurants #Vacation #Destinations #Food #Hotels #Motels #Cash #Money #Loans #Payday loans #Borrow #Credit #Asset buyer #Text #Texting #Sexting Computers #Computer services #Health #Medicine #Drugs #Vitamins #Spa #Disease #Pain control #massage table #FSBO #Real Estate #FortCollins #Naperville #Media #Advertising #Newspapers #magazines #Online Advertising
howard74@peoplepc.com

TweetIt from HubSpot

Google

google.com

Enables users to search the Web, Usenet, and images. Features include PageRank, caching and translation of results, and an option to find similar pages. The company's focus is developing search technology.


  • Facebook

    facebook.com

    A social utility that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos.


  • Yahoo!

    yahoo.com

    Personalized content and search options. Chatrooms, free e-mail, clubs, and pager.


  • YouTube

    youtube.com

    YouTube is a way to get your videos to the people who matter to you. Upload, tag and share your videos worldwide!


  • Windows Live

    live.com

    Search engine from Microsoft.


  • Wikipedia

    wikipedia.org

    An online collaborative encyclopedia.


  • Blogger.com

    blogger.com

    Free, automated weblog publishing tool that sends updates to a site via FTP.


  • Baidu.com

    baidu.com

    Music search engine and free MP3 & video streaming for all kind of topic.


  • Microsoft Network (MSN)

    msn.com

    Dialup access and content provider.


  • Yahoo!????

    yahoo.co.jp

    ???????????????????????API????


  • QQ.COM

    qq.com

    ???????????????????????????????????


  • Google India

    google.co.in

    Indian version of this popular search engine. Search the whole web or only webpages from India. Interfaces offered in English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi and Tamil.


  • Myspace

    myspace.com

    Social Networking Site.


  • Twitter

    twitter.com

    Social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface.


  • Google

    google.cn

    ????????????????????????????????????????????


  • ??????

    sina.com.cn

    ???????????????????????????


  • Amazon.com

    amazon.com

    Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Site has numerous personalization features and services including one-click buying, extensive customer and editorial product reviews, gift registries, gift certificates, wish lists, restaurant and movie listings, travel, and photo processing.


  • Google

    google.de

    Suche im gesamten Web, in deutschsprachigen sowie in deutschen Seiten. Zusätzlich ist eine Bildersuche, eine Newsarchiv-Suche (ehemals dejanews) sowie ein Katalog vorhanden.


  • WordPress.com

    wordpress.com

    Free blogs managed by the developers of the WordPress software. Includes custom design templates, integrated statistics, automatic spam protection and other features.


  • Microsoft Corporation

    microsoft.com

    Main site for product information, support, and news.


  • This Site Is For Sale

    Related Articles:

    Bacteria Resistant Gloves: Keeping That Bacteria At Bay
    There are few things as cherished in our workplace as the headgear and hand gear we utilize to offer us convenience and safety. There are many types of gloves in a variety of colors and sizes perfect for allowing you the option to customize your experience. One type of protective hand wear used by more and more working men and women are those bacteria resistant gloves.

    DNV and Michigan State University Release Initial Findings of U.S. Food Safety Survey
    Consumers alter shopping habits based on food safety concerns and express confidence in the idea of labeling products with evidence of independent food safety certification.

    U.S. Foodservice Provides Produce Food Safety Expertise to Restaurant and Hospitality Industry Leaders
    Food safety expert Jorge Hernandez participates in the “Enhancing the Safety of Fresh Produce” a panel at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show 2010

    Food Safety Thrives When Consumers Focus on Five - Focusing on Five Easy Steps Helps Consumers Reduce Their Risk of Foodborne Illness
    September marks the start of Food Safety Education month, a time for consumers to incorporate safe food handling practices that can reduce their risk of foodborne illness into their daily routine. According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2009 Food & Health Survey, 52 percent of consumers perceive foodborne illness as the most important food safety issue, but the survey also found that people have room for improvement when it comes to following proper food safety practices at home.

    Food Safety Lawyer Fred Pritzker Applauds Obama And Wants New Measures of Redress for Food Poisoning Victims
    President Obama's Food Safety Working Group has made quick work of his instruction to overhaul agency guidelines to offer consumers more protection against E. coli and other pathogens. National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on Congress to build on the foundation laid by the White House. And no set of protections will be complete unless the victims of foodborne illness are given greater redress against companies that are repeat and mass offenders when it comes to contaminating our food.

    Total Logistic Control (TLC) Earns Food Safety/Quality Certification at Georgia Facility
    A Total Logistic Control® (TLC) facility in Athens, Ga., has been certified by Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute in recognition of its food safety and quality assurance practices. The months-long process to earn the SQF 2000 certification, which is designed for manufacturers, processors and distributors, required TLC to present ongoing evidence of sustainable food safety and quality systems and will require additional audits during the first three years of certification.

    EtQ, Inc. to Exhibit at the 2009 Food Safety Summit
    EtQ is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the Food Safety Summit to be held on April 27th through 29th at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

    iPura is the "Worlds First Food Safety Brand"
    Global Food Technologies, a California based life science company, is introducing iPura® the "worlds first food safety brand" in response our most urgent food safety needs, at the Boston Seafood Show on March 15th. The iPura Food Safety Program integrates a comprehensive daily regimen with environmentally friendly technologies and delivery systems to mitigate food hazards at the source of production, bolstering the food safety aspects of HACCP and recognized food safety standards.

    Biggest E. coli Outbreaks of 2008 Show a Problem Getting Worse, Says Food Safety Lawyer
    A look at the biggest E. coli outbreaks in 2008 suggests an ever-worsening problem. Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker says failure of regulation is evident as E. coli outbreaks continued to cause death and serious illness. "You still get companies that continually flout the rules, and there's not enough consequences to stop the bad actors,'' Pritzker said. Pritzker lists details of five major E. coli outbreaks of 2008.

    22000-Tools Announces The Release Of A Free Online Training Program 'Introduction to ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000'
    22000-Tools introduces their Free Online Tutorial “Introduction to ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000” (http://www.22000-tools.com/iso-22000-information.html). This training program provides food companies with the information they need to make an informed decision about Food Safety Management Systems Registration.

    Boost Health With Gastric Stable Acidophilus
    Have you ever thought about what goes into your body each and every day? If not, you should. One of the key ways to ensure that you feel good and are healthy is by eating nutritious food and making sure your GI tract has the tools it needs to digest and absorb nutrients as best possible. The GI tract, which includes the stomach and intestines, works to digest food and eliminate waste. A variety of 'good? intestinal bacteria, called probiotic bacteria, can help to keep the digestive system running by helping to digest food, process waste, and keep the 'bad? bacteria in check.

    Employee Development And Leadership Training Company Now Offering Two Food Safety E-Learning Courses
    Certified professional food safety courses now offered by leading e-learning company specializing in employee development and leadership training.

    AIB International to Implement MetricStream for Compliance and Safety Audits
    MetricStream solution to improve efficiencies of conducting rigorous independent inspections and audits that enable AIB’s worldwide foodservice clients to lower business risk and strengthen reputation.

    Grocery Manufacturers Association Outlines Wide-Ranging Initiatives to Bolster Food Safety
    Projects Highlight Private Sector Expertise, Experience and Commitment

    Third-Party Audits: EHA Consulting Group Releases Comments on Food Safety Consultant Auditors' Qualifications and Competencies
    EHA Consulting Group (http://www.ehagroup.com), which has over 25 years of experience providing food safety consulting, released comments today about the qualifications and competencies of food safety auditors.


    Privacy Policy | Copyright/Trademark Notification