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A strain of E. coli hiding in lettuce has made 89 individuals ill across 15 states and caused one death, but the FDA is facing allegations of attempting to conceal information.
The epidemic seems to have started in St. Louis. Missouri , when a group of high school students attending their yearly marching band banquet consumed salads provided by a nearby catering service and subsequently experienced severe discomfort and had to be admitted to hospital.
Severe illnesses necessitating hospitalization were not confined to Missouri—miles away in Indiana , a nine-year-old was placed on dialysis for a period of two weeks when an E. coli infection caused life-threatening kidney damage.
Dozens of similar instances existed, with potentially even more unreported since many people did not go to hospital when they got sick.
However, victims and their loved ones still aren't sure whom to hold responsible. The FDA redacted the names of the companies that processed and grew the lettuce in an official response to a public records request.
E. Coli is a bacterium that causes a range of upsetting and potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal distress, including watery and sometimes bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, low fever, and fatigue. In some instances, it can destroy blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney failure.
Leafy greens, lettuce , and other vegetables are among the foods that pose a risk due to E. coli contamination.
According to an analysis conducted by Consumer Reports examining food recalls from the last six years, romaine lettuce and pre-packaged salad mixes have caused the highest number of fatalities.
The families of the victims have initiated legal actions against Taylor Farms, the producer responsible for the chopped onions. sold on McDonald’s hamburgers those discovered to contain E. coli.
However, Taylor Farms disputes that their lettuce was responsible, and the FDA refrains from confirming or denying these claims.
Colton George, who remained on dialysis for two weeks, is yet to determine exactly what made him ill. However, his parents, Amber and Christopher, who have filed lawsuits against Taylor Farms, firmly believe it was due to contaminated food consumption.
His symptoms closely mirrored those experienced by the boys in Missouri at about the same period and under similar diagnoses – infections triggered by the hazardous E. coli 0157:H7 strain.
Managing infections from this particular strain is challenging as antibiotics, unexpectedly, may exacerbate a patient’s situation.
Dr Nicole Iovine, who serves as the head hospital epidemiologist at the University of Florida, stated Contagion Live 'If you provide someone with antibiotics, the bacteria can detect the existence of these medications.'
'The body interprets this as a threat, causing the bacteria to increase the production of that poison to very high levels.'
The genetic analysis of Colton’s infection along with those of the boys from Missouri showed that this specific strain was responsible for the infections.
Out of about 90 cases, over one-third required hospitalization and seven experienced kidney failure.
Even as genetic sequencing helped illuminate the scale of the outbreaks, local health authorities counted numerous additional instances they believe were attributable to E. coli.
Although they couldn't determine the precise origin, parents suspect that Taylor Farms is responsible for the issue.
'We do not think Taylor Farms was responsible for the recent E. coli outbreaks mentioned, as we gathered this information from detailed third-party investigations and strong food safety measures,' the company stated to NBC News.
Certain instances of E. coli infections may arise when crops in the fields get tainted with feces from animals during their growth period.
This might happen because of drainage from animal farming facilities, improperly engineered watering setups, or severe climatic occurrences like abrupt floods that disperse polluted water.
When questioned about whether Taylor Farms was responsible for the outbreak, the FDA stated that they were legally barred from disclosing 'confidential commercial information.'
The agency informed NBC News: "The FDA identifies companies whenever there is sufficient proof connecting an outbreak to a company and there is practical guidance for customers, provided that labeling the company isn’t forbidden by law."
'Once the investigators identified the probable origin, the outbreak had concluded, leaving nothing useful to tell the public.'
The agency's failure to disclose the source has angered parents who contend that individuals must be aware if firms with a record of recalls or misconduct manufactured the products they bought.
Frank Yiannas, who previously served as the deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the agency, stated: "It is concerning that the FDA has not made further public comments or disclosed the identity of any growers or processors involved."
Only when families took legal action and lawyers requested access to public documents were the complete details of the outbreak exposed.
In December, the number of cases was 69, significantly fewer than the 89 cases documented via public submissions.
'It isn’t fair for them to avoid responsibility,' Amber George stated. 'Individuals continue purchasing their products daily without knowing what transpired.'
Colton, who celebrated his 10th birthday in the hospital, has returned to the game of basketball and enjoying his youth, yet he continues to grapple with persistent abdominal discomfort and tiredness.
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