E. Coli Poisoning: Pulitzer Prizes, CDC Reports And New Legislation

A little over a week ago, the CDC announced that 2009 saw a decline in reported cases of E. coli O157 poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is one of the strains of E. coli that is most toxic to humans and can cause one of the severest forms of food poisoning.
Lest the news lead us to become complacent about food safety, the CDC’s announcement essentially coincided with the announcement of the Pulitzer Prize committee that Michael Moss, a New York Times reporter, was awarded a Pulitzer for his investigative work in a story about the E. coli poisoning of Stephanie Smith, a 22-year old woman who became infected with E. coli through a hamburger patty.
The E. coli infection left Stephanie brain injured, unable to walk and with a serious kidney condition called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, that will necessitate multiple kidney transplants over the course of Stephanie’s life.
If you think our government should be doing more to prevent tainted food, like the E. coli that poisoned Stephanie Smith, from making its way to our plates, there’s good news for you: a bill, S. 510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, is currently pending in the Senate that would require more stringent food inspections. If you’re a Massachusetts resident, call Senators Kerry and Brown and let them know you’re in favor of safer food.


If you have been injured as a result of food poisoning caused by tainted food and require the services of a Boston personal injury attorney, call The Law Office of Alan H. Crede at (617)973-6434 for a free consultation.