Marler Clark Calls on Veggie Booty Manufacturer to Pay Salmonella Victims' Medical Bills
William Marler, a food safety advocate and attorney whose Seattle law firm, Marler Clark (www.marlerclark.com), has been contacted by five victims of a Salmonella outbreak traced to the consumption of Veggie Booty snack food, which is marketed by Robert’s American Gourmet, of Sea Cliff, New York, today called on the manufacturer to pay the medical bills of all individuals who became ill with Salmonella infections as part of the outbreak.
“Health officials have indicated that the strain of Salmonella found in the Veggie Booty, Salmonella Wandsworth, causes a particularly severe illness in comparison to other strains of Salmonella,” Marler said. “Most of the victims of this outbreak were children whose parents took them to a health care provider for medical treatment. It is only fair for the manufacturer to reimburse families for medical expenses incurred due to consumption of their product.”
In a warning to consumers yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 52 people in 17 states that were part of the outbreak. FDA reported that most victims of the outbreak were children under 10 years old.
“The parents we’ve been contacted by believed they were feeding their children a healthy snack, not something that could kill them,” Marler added. “Some of these kids have been sick for weeks.”
Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis, the illness caused by ingestion of Salmonella, is the second most common foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of Salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are food-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. For more information about Salmonella, visit www.about-Salmonella.com.
Marler and his law partners in Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Marler Clark currently represents 93 victims of last fall’s E. coli outbreak traced to contaminated spinach grown in California’s Salinas Valley and over 4,000 victims of the Salmonella outbreak that was recently traced to Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. Marler comments on foodborne illness outbreaks and litigation at www.marlerblog.com.
“Health officials have indicated that the strain of Salmonella found in the Veggie Booty, Salmonella Wandsworth, causes a particularly severe illness in comparison to other strains of Salmonella,” Marler said. “Most of the victims of this outbreak were children whose parents took them to a health care provider for medical treatment. It is only fair for the manufacturer to reimburse families for medical expenses incurred due to consumption of their product.”
In a warning to consumers yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 52 people in 17 states that were part of the outbreak. FDA reported that most victims of the outbreak were children under 10 years old.
“The parents we’ve been contacted by believed they were feeding their children a healthy snack, not something that could kill them,” Marler added. “Some of these kids have been sick for weeks.”
Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis, the illness caused by ingestion of Salmonella, is the second most common foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of Salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are food-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. For more information about Salmonella, visit www.about-Salmonella.com.
Marler and his law partners in Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Marler Clark currently represents 93 victims of last fall’s E. coli outbreak traced to contaminated spinach grown in California’s Salinas Valley and over 4,000 victims of the Salmonella outbreak that was recently traced to Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter. Marler comments on foodborne illness outbreaks and litigation at www.marlerblog.com.
This warning is based on 52 reports of illness across 17 states, beginning in March 2007. Almost all the illnesses have occurred in children under 10 years old, with the most cases in toddlers. Most persons had reported bloody diarrhea; four were hospitalized. FDA learned of the illnesses on June 27 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which conducted an investigation of the illnesses with state and local health officials. The outbreak is considered likely to be ongoing. 
"Everything went well, as expected," she said. "The father and the daughter are both recovering and doing well and her kidney is functioning. That is the best news." 
Australia - A bakery in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale has been ordered to close after nine customers fell ill with salmonella poisoning. 
Late last month, the CDC reported that confirmed cases of salmonella caused by the Peter Pan and Great Value brands of Peanut Butter had grown by nearly 200 since the agency’s last report in March. The CDC now puts the number of individuals sickened by the peanut butter at more than 600 in 47 states. The toll also included 2 deaths. However, because not all cases of salmonella are reported, some believe these numbers could be much higher. It could be some time, if ever, before the full scope of the problem becomes apparent.