Recent Cases of Foodborne Illness in Arkansas

When outbreaks of foodborne illness occur or are suspected in Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Health investigates. Health investigators and food inspectors in Arkansas are constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce foodborne illnesses.

The foodborne illness attorneys at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault promote food safety through legal advocacy, information outreach and analysis of food poisoning outbreaks. If you or a loved one has suffered complications from a foodborne illness, please contact Neblett, Beard & Arsenault for a free evaluation of your case. Contact our firm by calling 1-800-256-1050 or use our online contact form.

To better understand the variety of foodborne illnesses that occur in Arkansas, it’s helpful to review recent outbreaks of foodborne illness in the state.

Among the foodborne illnesses and pathogens that the Arkansas Department of Health track are
Campylobacteriosis, Hepatitis A, Salmonellosis, Shigellosis and E. coli.  Salmonellosis, which is caused by Salmonella bacteria, is the most prevalent foodborne illness in Arkansas, with 791 cases reported in 2008, the most recent year of complete data. Shigellosis, which is caused by Shigella bacteria, ranked as the second most common foodborne illness in the state in 2008, with 581 cases, according to state health data.

To better understand the variety of foodborne illnesses that occur in AR, here is a review of recently reported cases of foodborne illness and food recalls in Arkansas.

• And the Egg Recall Is Issued - After yesterday’s multiple potato salad recall potentially implementing hard-cooked eggs. We were waiting for this recall. Posted on the FDA website, Michael Foods has announced a recall of certain hard-cooked eggs due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall is as follows: -Michael Foods, Inc. is recalling specific lot dates of hard-cooked eggs in brine [...]
• Cargill Recalls 36M Lbs of Turkey due to Salmonella Concerns - Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Springdale, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may be contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products subject to recall today bear the establishment number “P-963″ inside [...]
• Possible Salmonella Papaya Link Results in Canadian Recall by Agromod - Agromod Produce, Inc. Recalls Papaya Because of Health Risk Agromod Produce, Inc. of McAllen, Texas is recalling all Papayas, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, [...]
• NB&A Investigates Salmonella Illnesses In Wake of Papaya Recall - The foodborne illness lawyers at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault are investigating a multistate Salmonella Agona outbreak.  So far, nearly 100 people in 23 states have reportedly become ill with symptoms associated with Salmonellosis.  10 people have been hospitalized. So far, illnesses have been reported in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, [...]
• CDC Posts Information on Salmonella Potentially Related to Baby Chicks and Ducks - CDC is collaborating with public health and agriculture officials in many states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) to investigate two outbreaks. The first is an outbreak of human Salmonella Altona infections, and the second is an outbreak of human Salmonella Johannesburg infections. Both of these are rare types ofSalmonella, and [...]
• Contaminated Water Prompts Recall by Arkansas Department of Health - Officials at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced today that test results on a sample taken from certain lots of Mountain Pure bottled drinking water show the presence of biological contamination. The company has announced a voluntary recall of lots marked with a four-digit time code. The time code is written in military time, [...]
• The Jenny-O Salmonella Hadar Outbreak: What Does Antibiotic Resistance Mean? - Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coupled with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food Safety Inspection Service, is investigating a foodborne illness outbreak tied to the bacterial contaminant Salmonella Hadar. This strain of Salmonella is especially alarming given that it possesses a unique characteristic which makes it potentially even [...]
• Cal-Maine Recalls Shell Eggs Due to Possible Salmonella Enteritidis - Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today was notified by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that one of the Company’s suppliers, Ohio Fresh Eggs, LLC, Croton, Ohio, had a routine environmental study sample which tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Cal-Maine purchased approximately 24,000 dozen unprocessed eggs from Ohio Fresh which were processed and re-packaged by the [...]
• Sparboe Farms Egg Recall Announcement - Sparboe Farms issued the following clarification regarding the previously announced recall of shell eggs supplied by Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. One additional brand is linked to this recall associated with possible Salmonella contamination. This information does not increase the total number of eggs which Sparboe Farms purchased from Hillandale Farms, which was previously [...]
• Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi: A Salmonella Update - Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi residents have been contending with the current Salmonella enteritidis outbreak just like the remainder of the country. Residents of the Gulf South Region have been on the lookout for recalled eggs. These same consumers have followed the Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms recalls and wondered why this would happen.   [...]

Advocates for Food Safety

For nearly three decades, the food poisoning lawyers at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault have assisted thousands of people who suffered personal injuries, including many harmed by foodborne illnesses and food poisoning. If you or a loved one has suffered serious complications from a foodborne illness, please contact Neblett, Beard & Arsenault. Call us at 1-800-256=1050 or use our online contact form.

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