Personal Injury Law

Nestle Toll House cookie outbreak victim: "I had major headaches, diarrhea and cramping."

Posted on June 22, 2009
As the Nestle-linked E. coli O157:H7 outbreak unfolds in the upcoming days, stories about affected individuals highlighting the fallout will begin to appear. In the first one I have seen, the Oregonian reports that 15-year-old girl's craving for a treat resulted in her and her fathers illness...

Avoiding cross-contamination at checkout

Posted on June 22, 2009
After my post in April 'Cross-contamination at checkout,' one person (crs) commented: 'That's the ultimate check-out horror story. I usually put meat items in plastic bags to be on the safe side. I bag fresh produce for the same reason. I also leave the meat items till last to minimize contact with my other groceries (which doesn't help the person behind me, but I can't cover for everyone)...

Ontario E. coli outbreak likely caused by Spanish onions: 235 sickened

Posted on June 22, 2009
In a refreshing change for Canadian public health, a report has actually been issued regarding an outbreak of foodborne illness – specifically the 235 people who got sick dining at a Harvery's restaurant at a major thoroughfare in North Bay, Ontario, last fall, four hours north of Toronto...

Where does E. coli O157:H7 come from? Food Inc. and cookie dough versions

Posted on June 22, 2009
Is E. coli O157:H7 associated with things other than feedlot cattle? I had a few people call me recently, saying, I saw that movie, Food, Inc., which says that E. coli O157:H7 is predominately in feedlot cattle because of the grain they are fed, and that's how the bug came to exist...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Homemade pancakes, Woody Allen and robots

Posted on June 21, 2009
When Katie Filion lived with us for a few months before setting off for graduate work in New Zealand, Amy and I would tell the 22-year-old, "‘oh, you should see this movie" – insert Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Wonderboys, or even more modern fare like Napoleon Dynamite – at which point she would politely recoil...

Babies need clean hands, too.

Posted on June 21, 2009
BarfBloggers and others have stressed the importance to wash hands time after time (no, not just the Cindi Lauper song; although it is my favorite in the movie Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, dance included). It is essential to wash your hands before and after using the bathroom, before and after handling food (which includes eating), and when gardening or playing in dirt...

Handwashing is top safety precaution at Lakeland Community Hospital

Posted on June 21, 2009
In Niles, Michigan, fourteen children, ages 8-10, attended the annual Lakeland Community Hospital's ‘Take Your Child to Work Day.' The primary lesson of the tour was emphasizing the hospitals' top safety precaution: handwashing. JoEllen Gamso, RN, said, 'The goal for the event was to identify the many ways that patient and associate safety is maintained in the workplace...

D-listed and the problem with raw cookie dough

Posted on June 20, 2009
Michael K of celebrity blog D-listed encapsulates the problem with Nestle, raw cookie dough, labels and E. coli O157:H7, which has so far sickened 66 people in 28 states. If you get the craving to eat cookie dough this weekend, lick this picture and don't eat the real thing or you may doody until you dieeeeeee...

Arby's condiments and insects

Posted on June 20, 2009
Evan Mitchell, another ex-pat Canadian living in Manhattan (Kansas) writes that last night, he and the wife had a biological urge …  for something cold (Kansas is humid in the summer). Our house is within walking distance of Arby's, and with their current 'happier-hour' promotion (50% off all drinks), we couldn't resist...

Soft-serve ice cream concerns in Toronto

Posted on June 20, 2009
I'm a fan of soft-serve ice cream. If I'm out somewhere and have an urge for a treat I'm likely looking for a DQ dipped cone or a McDonald's hot fudge sundae (with nuts). The Toronto Star reports today that eating my top dessert choice from some Ontario outlets might not be a good idea...

Evan finds Nestle refrigerated cookie dough; Doug cooks it (sorta)

Posted on June 20, 2009
During the evening of Thursday, June 18, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment urged Coloradans not to eat raw Nestle Toll House cookie dough because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. The next morning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E...

Handwashing at Local Hospital

Posted on June 19, 2009
My knowledge of foreign languages is limited to high school Spanish and learning while traveling. Thankfully, I have Amy, who translated all these French words into English, so I could understand what I was reading (and French-bites correspondent, Albert, Amgar, who sent the story in the first place)...

UK family farm closes after 8 get E. coli O157

Posted on June 19, 2009
Another reminder to play safe on the farm. An open farm in West Lancashire has been temporarily closed after eight people, including three children, were struck down with E.coli O157. One of the children affected is currently in hospital and is described as ‘poorly but stable'...

Cookie dough? Cookie dough contaminated with E. coli O157:H7?

Posted on June 19, 2009
In yet another example of different jurisdictions having different opinions about when to go public, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sent out a press release last night urging Coloradans not to eat raw Nestle Toll House cookie dough because of possible contamination with E...

Disclosing inspection results online is great, but only if the websites are up-to-date

Posted on June 19, 2009
Two Chicago restaurants have been closed this week for public health violations, reports the Chicago Tribune; but you wouldn't know it from the inspection disclosure website.   From the story,   The Chicago Department of Public Health said two Northwest Side restaurants remained closed Wednesday after being shut due to alleged health code violations...

H1N1=wash your hands

Posted on June 19, 2009
Doug introduced me to Google Alerts a few weeks ago and my email inbox hasn't been the same since. I get approximately 50-100 email hits on handwashing everyday. Most of them are relevant to washing hands, but some are about handwashing clothes and dishes...

Oregon: Good restaurants reap benefits of making inspection results publicly available

Posted on June 18, 2009
Some restaurants in Estacada, Oregon have learned the benefits of disclosing restaurant inspection results to the public, reports Escadanew.com. In Escada inspection results for local diners are posted at the premise, in the form of a 'Complied' or 'Failed to Comply' card in the establishment window, and the full report plus numerical score is available online...

Bonnie Hunt knows cross-contamination

Posted on June 18, 2009
Ever since reading this infosheet on a study of the bacteria and viruses found on lemon wedges, I've ordered my waters without them. I learned today that Bonnie Hunt is also one whose knowledge of microbiology has heightened her awareness of cross-contamination...

Death-by-cold-cuts Minister says Listeria inquiry not necessary

Posted on June 18, 2009
The person who is still, inexplicably, Minister of Agriculture in Canada, Gerry-death-by-a-1,000-cold-cuts-and-isn't-my-moustache-awesome Ritz, said last night that despite the recommendations of a parliamentary committee, who were stonewalled by bureaucrats, a full public inquiry into the Maple Leaf Listeria mess that killed 22 people last year was not necessary...

Face of food safety: Tennessee boy loses battle with E. coli

Posted on June 17, 2009
The Daily Times reports that an eight-year-old Blount County, Tennessee boy, who loved more than anything spending time with his identical twin, lost his fight for life at 6:31 a.m. Monday after contracting E. coli and suffering the after-effects of the disease...

Eat raw fish ... Get a 9-foot tapeworm

Posted on June 17, 2009
Amy didn't feel too good last night.  She thought maybe it was the damn-near raw tuna on her salad the other afternoon when we ventured to our nearest patio for some Sunday relaxation. Probably not. But raw is not without its risks. One summer day in August 2006, Anthony Franz went to a Chicago area hospital carrying a 9-foot worm...

Canadian bureaucrats won't talk, so politicians demand full inquiry into Listeria outbreak; rendition of remorse was a little late

Posted on June 17, 2009
The Canadian politicians investigating last year's listeria outbreak that killed 22 were so frustrated by the lack of information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada they have demanded a full public inquiry...

UK: Extra special cooking sauce contains mouse

Posted on June 17, 2009
Amoung my favourite foods are the Indian dishes aloo-gobi and channa. I can't say I've ever successfully cooked these dishes, but they are a personal take-out favourite. In most grocery stores the less-talented chef can purchase pre-made Indian sauces to try and re-create their favourite dish...

Food safety flashback: Arizona restaurant closed for inadequate bathroom facilities in June 1944

Posted on June 17, 2009
The Arizona Daily Star online (www.arizonastarnet.com) posted an article from June 8, 1944 in which a bar and restaurant were closed for inadequate toilet facilities.   Acting on instructions from [the] chief sanitarian of the city-county health department, the city license department yesterday revoked the licenses and ordered the closing of the La Cabana Bar and Jimmy's Chicken Shop, both located at 227 South Meyer Street...

AFSCA Inspected Mobile Vendors at EUROFERIA

Posted on June 17, 2009
French correspondent Albert Amgar sends along this bit that Amy translated about  EUROFERIA, which was set up for the third time at the foot of the Atomium. Amy says the Atomium was built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair.  AFSCA has once again this year inspected mobile vendors...

U.K. targets listeria risk in old people - when will Canada?

Posted on June 16, 2009
I got an e-mail from the vice-president of communications for Maple Leaf Foods on Saturday afternoon. She was sending me a blog that her boss, Michael McCain wrote, about his new knowledge of listeria and the role of food safety inspectors. I figure she's making at least $150,000 to do her vp communicating, so, even though I was a dick, I felt OK responding, 'Thanks for forwarding this in a timely manner...

New food safety infosheet -- 3 in Spokane sickened by botulism linked to home canned beans

Posted on June 16, 2009
Canning season is just about to start. I've never really done any home food preservation before. Growing up all I was really exposed to, canning-wise, was pickles, freezer jam and frozen peaches. All of which I loved to eat, but I always found ways to occupy myself while my mom and grandmother were making them for fear of having to help...

Obama's administration suggests handwashing in schools

Posted on June 16, 2009
The Obama administration submitted an emergency war-spending bill this week, which includes flu prevention funds. The White House sent a letter to every public school superintendent that outlines how to cope with expected increases in outbreaks of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) this fall...

Would you like flies with that?

Posted on June 16, 2009
Although it's winter in New Zealand, back in North America it's summer, and summer means flies. I distinctly remember eating dinner at my camp with sticky fly traps (pictured right) hanging above the dinner table, dead flies stuck to it, daring to drop onto my cob of corn...

Singing songs of handwashing

Posted on June 16, 2009
Children's Memorial Hospital and the Chicago Children's Choir are teaming up to record a handwashing song. Chicago native Joel Frankel wrote the song, 'Wash, Rinse Dry.' The singers will record at SPACE Recording Studio in Evanston. The song and video will be used for patient and staff education...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.