Latest news with #William'Bill'Marler
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New lawsuits filed against farm linked to St. Louis County E. coli outbreak
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Two new lawsuits have been filed, and five others have been amended against Taylor Farms, a farming foods company accused in a St. Louis County E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 100 people last year. Attorneys at Marler Clark, Inc., PS announced new and amended lawsuits Thursday against Taylor Farms California, Inc. in Salinas, California. The company manufactures and distributes produce nationwide. According to Marler Clark, one of the new lawsuits was filed this week in St. Louis County Circuit Court and the other was filed in Indiana. Additionally, the law firm amended five existing lawsuits, four in St. Louis County and one in federal court. Last year, St. Louis County health officials reported at least 115 cases and 13 hospitalizations from an E. coli outbreak from November to December. The outbreak has been linked to several catered events, including one attended by students, staff and parents from the Rockwood School District. At least two people were later diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli that can cause kidney failure. Postal worker, three others admit to stealing checks from St. Louis mail According to Marler Clark, seven subclusters of illnesses have been identified between Missouri and 14 other states. 'Because we represent people and families from several states that were WGS matches to each other, it was not long until our on-staff Epidemiologist determined that the common link was that all clients consumed Taylor Farms romaine lettuce in the outbreak period,' said William 'Bill' Marler, E. coli attorney, via a news release. The firm also criticized federal agencies, notably the CDC and FDA, for failing to publicly identify the source of the outbreak, prompting a renewed focus on legal action. Previous lawsuits have accused Taylor Farms of strict product liability, breach of implied warranty, and negligence, alleging that the company failed to monitor the conditions of their products, follow proper sanitation procedures, and properly train employees on E. coli prevention measures. The lawsuits contend that affected patients have suffered long-term health complications, incurring significant financial damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and setbacks in future earning potential. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In response to new and amended lawsuits, a spokesperson from Taylor Farms shared the following statement with FOX 2: 'Taylor Farms product WAS NOT the source of the referenced 2024 E. Coli outbreak. We perform extensive raw and finished product testing on all our product and there was no evidence of contamination. Any reporting that connects Taylor Farms products to these heartbreaking illnesses is dangerous, irresponsible and unfair to the impacted families.' Taylor Farms has denied responsibility for the outbreak and the company adds it is 'considering all legal action to defend itself.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
23-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
The CDC is MIA in Listeria and Salmonella Outbreaks
Food Safety Advocate Questions Why Foodborne Illness Outbreaks are Unreported by the Premier Public Health Agency in the Time of Trump SEATTLE, Feb. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Two multi-state foodborne illnesses outbreaks have been reported by the FDA since the beginning of the year,' William 'Bill' Marler, owner of Marler Clark, Inc., PS, The Food Safety Law Firm. 'However, contrary to how outbreaks have been publicly announced and posted on line for decades, the CDC has remained silent,' added Marler. Last month, the FDA announced that they were investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to Sweet Cream-brand mini pastries made in Italy and exported to the United States through a Canadian company. One January 21, 2025, the FDA was notified by Canadian Food Inspection, that the same strain of Salmonella linked to Sweet Cream-brand mini pastries, was responsible for a United States Salmonella outbreak. A recall of this product was initiated with the two distributors in the United States. The FDA conducted a traceback investigation that indicated the Sweet Cream-brand pastries were consumed by one of those sickened at a restaurant which received product from one of the U.S. distributors. Facts about Salmonella Outbreak (as of January 29, 2025) Case count: 18 people infected with the outbreak strain, one person hospitalized, no deaths. 69 victims in five Canadian provinces 7 States reported cases - California, Illinois, Massachusetts North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania 60% of those sickened reported eating the pastries On November 25, 2024, FDA was notified about an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in the United States, with many ill people residing in long-term care facilities (LTCF) prior to illness onset. FDA's traceback investigation identified that each of the LTCF who supplied invoice information for review from 2024 to present received a frozen supplemental shake of either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial brand. As part of this investigation, FDA collected environmental samples and found the outbreak strain of Listeria. Facts about Listeria Outbreak (as of February 22, 2024) Case Count: 38 Sick – 37 Hospitalized – 11 Deaths Illness Range: 2018 to the present 21 States with Cases: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia Who is sick: 34 victims (89%) reported living in long term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick According to the FDA, this outbreak includes cases dating back to 2018, with 20 cases across 2024 and 2025, and is currently ongoing. Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations were unable to identify a source of the outbreak. Certain Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes are being voluntarily recalled. 'The CDC site has not published anything about these two outbreaks or made an announcement of the recalls. It is imperative to have active reporting on recalls by our government officials to help prevent more illnesses. This is in the interest of public safety,' said Marler. William 'Bill' Marler has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli Outbreak which was chronicled in the book, 'Poisoned' and in the recent Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary by the same name. Bill work has been profiled in the New Yorker, 'A Bug in the System;" the Seattle Times, '30 years after the deadly E. coli outbreak, A Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;" the Washington Post, 'He helped make burgers safer, Now he is fighting food poisoning again;" and several others. Marler Blog. Bill is also the publisher of Food Safety News.
