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Officials Investigate Memphis Salmonella Outbreak

By PritzkerLaw

The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is conducting an active investigation into the Hickory Hill location of A&R Bar-B-Q restaurant in Memphis.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Health shortly after national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen issued a press release about a Memphis Salmonella outbreak . Some victims of the outbreak were attending the three-day Harston Family Reunion in Memphis and Pritzker Olsen has been retained to represent them.

More than 150 family members were in town from throughout the region and different parts of the country for the reunion. The gathering featured a picnic July 10 at Shelby Farms Park which was catered by A&R Bar-B-Q, 3721 Hickory Hill Road.

The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department said it will hold a news briefing Thursday to discuss the case. The investigation is epidemiological and environmental in nature and "is in response to receiving some complaints alleging foodborne illnesses stemming from food consumption on July 10 and 11.''  The probe was launched July 14 to determine the source of the problem, but no conclusions had been drawn as of Wednesday, public health officials said.

The health department said the restaurant closed voluntarily on Tuesday and remained closed Wednesday as the owners cooperated with authorities. Fred Pritzker, founder and president of Pritzker Olsen, said a number of victims provided stool samples that have tested positive for Salmonella.

If you are a victim of this outbreak or have any information about it, please contact the law firm of PritzkerOlsen, P.A., toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, by email at fhp@pritzkerlaw.com or by our online contact form. 

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on July 29, 2009 (boomark / email).