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.

• 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.   The departments [...]
• Cal-Maine Amended Egg Recall: Salmonella Possible - Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. today issued the following clarification regarding the previously announced voluntary recall of shell eggs supplied from Hillandale Farms of Iowa. This information does not increase the total number of eggs which Cal-Maine purchased from Hillandale Farms, which was previously announced on August 20, 2010. Cal-Maine immediately contacted its customers to ensure that [...]
• Boating and Preventing Foodborne Illness - It is summer time and in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas and that means fishing and spending weekends boating. However, with temperatures skyrocketing into the 100’s, ensuring that you stay free from sunburn is not your only concern. High temperatures can lead to quick spoilage of food. Therefore, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food [...]
• Bayer Faces Fifth Trial Loss, Is Liable for another $500K for Introducing Genetically Modified Rice to U.S. Food Supply Chain - Neblett, Beard & Arsenault represents rice farmers in five states whose crops were contaminated by Bayer’s LibertyLink rice Yesterday, another St. Louis jury found Bayer liable for crops that were contaminated by Bayer’s experimental, genetically modified rice. This time, it was an award for just over a half million dollars to Deshotels Farm Management, a Louisiana [...]
• Fresh Express Recalls Romaine Lettuce for Potential E. Coli Contamination - Fresh Express has voluntarily recalled certain romaine lettuce salad products with expired use-by-dates of July 8th to 12th and an S in the Product Code due to possible E. coli 0157:H7 contamination. Other Fresh Express salad products are not included in the recall. While no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, the [...]
• New Final Rule to Ensure Egg Safety, Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Goes Into Effect - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that as many as 79,000 illnesses and 30 deaths due to consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis may be avoided each year with new food safety requirements for large-scale egg producers. The new food safety requirements will become effective on July 9, 2010, through a rule [...]
• NB&A Legal Team at Genetically Modified Rice Trial in St. Louis - Since June of this year, the Richard J. Arsenault, Jennifer Hoekstra, JR Whaley and Laura Singletary have been in a St. Louis trial against Bayer. Our firm is there representing Louisiana rice farmers whose livelihoods were jeopardized after their crops were contaminated by Bayer’s experimental, genetically modified rice. Bayer, known mostly for its pharmaceuticals, tested its [...]
• Kellogg Company Recalls Select Packages of Cereal Because of Noxious Odor - Working in consultation with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) is implementing a voluntary recall of certain breakfast cereals due to an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package. Only products with the letters “KN” following the Better If Used Before Date are included in the recall. [...]
• ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods (Iowa) Recalls Marie Callender’s Frozen Chicken Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination - ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC, a Council Bluffs, Iowa establishment is recalling Marie Callender’s brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The company is recalling all Marie Callender’s brand Cheesy Chicken and Rice frozen meals in commerce, regardless of production date. These products [...]
• Campbell Soup Supply Company (Texas) Recalls Three Varieties of “SpaghettiOs” With Meatballs That May Be Underprocessed - Campbell Soup Supply Company, LLC, a Paris, Texas, establishment is recalling approximately 15,000,000 pounds of “SpaghettiOs with Meatballs” canned products due to possible under-processing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The following products are subject to recall: 14.75-ounce cans of “SpaghettiOs” with Meatballs, bearing the identifying product code “U5″ on [...]

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.

About Foodborne Illness in AR
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