Cyclospora Outbreak: Attorneys Osterholm and Pritzker Call on Health Officials to Release Names of Restaurants and Salad Processor
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- Attorneys Ryan Osterholm and Fred Pritzker of Pritzker|Olsen law firm are actively investigating the Cyclospora outbreak linked to bagged, mixed salad, according to the Nebraska Department of Health on July 30, 2013. The salad mix contains lettuce, carrots and purple cabbage. The outbreak has sickened hundreds of people in 15 states, according to the CDC on July 31, 2013, which also reported that Florida, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas have been hit hardest.
Osterholm and Pritzker say they have been investigating this outbreak for several weeks and are aware of at least one nationally advertised restaurant chain that is likely to be involved. However, it is not possible to know the specific locations or all the restaurants involved in the outbreak unless public health officials provide the information.
“It is apparent the source of this Cyclospora outbreak has been identified, yet the Nebraska and Iowa Departments of Health and the CDC refuse to identify the supplier or any restaurants involved. This lack of transparency, after weeks of investigation, is troubling to say the least,” said Osterholm, who represents food poisoning victims nationwide. “The public deserves better.”
Osterholm and Pritzker are calling on state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promptly name the restaurants that served the implicated salad mix.
Osterholm and Pritzker are also calling on Iowa and Nebraska to release the data about the implicated product. “We are quite confident of the restaurants involved from speaking to many individuals sickened with Cyclospora. Announcing that bagged salad was the source leaves more questions than answers. What specific food item was the source in the mix? Was this only served at restaurants? Was it even the salad mix at all? We’ve been critical of the pace of this investigation, but most importantly we want this investigation to be right. Releasing the outbreak data will ensure the real culprit is identified, and will prevent a potential second wave of infections.”
“Restaurants are liable for Cyclospora infections caused by the food they serve. In this case, restaurants associated with the illnesses are liable along with the salad processor for the harm suffered by those sickened,” said Osterholm.
To date there are a total of 397 cases of Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis) from 15 states, according to the CDC and state health officials: Iowa (143), Texas (122), Nebraska (76), Florida (24), Wisconsin (10), New York (5), Illinois (4) Georgia (3), Connecticut (2), Missouri (2), Kansas (1), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), and Ohio (1).
Ryan Osterholm and Fred Pritzker are lawyers with PritzkerOlsen, P.A. a law firm with a national practice representing victims of foodborne illness in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against processors, restaurants and others. The firm has obtained some of the country’s largest verdicts and settlements in product liability cases. Attorneys Osterholm and Pritzker are available for a free consultation and can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free). For more information, visit Food Poisoning Bulletin, a food safety news site sponsored by the firm. Pritzker|Olsen has offices in Minneapolis, MN.
Fred Pritzker, Pritzker Olsen, P.A., http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/, 612-338-0202, [email protected]
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