Public health officials recently encouraged upper Midwestern states residents to forego the “cannibal sandwich” after a 2012 outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 food poisoing was linked to this traditional holiday appetizer.  The cannibal sandwich consists of raw ground beef served on rye bread or crackers, and topped with raw onion.  The raw ground meat is also referred to as “tiger meat.”

In a warning just in time for this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported its December 6, 2013, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that beginning in  December of 2012, a total of 17 Wisconsinites were sickened in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.   Those sickened had either eaten raw beef that was later recalled or became ill as a result of cross contamination. Eight of those infected with the fecal microbe required medical attention.

Multiple public health agencies worked together to identify the source of the outbreak.  They determined that raw beef, consumed by two of the outbreak victims, had been purchased from the same meat market.  Identical isolates of E. coli O157:H7 were later obtained from four patient stool cultures and from two raw ground beef samples sold by the identified meat market.  The meat market issued a recall for 2,532 pounds of its raw ground beef on January 15, 2013.

The CDC concluded that both consumer and retailer education is necessary so that everyone understands the potential for severe illness associated with eating raw ground beef.  The CDC also cautioned that “To prevent illness, ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C), as measured with a food thermometer, before consumption.”

The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg represents victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. We are ready to help you.  For a free legal case evaluation, please select Food Poisoning Lawyer or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.