Ground Beef E. Coli Lawsuit Settled Over 2006 Food Poisoning Death

A settlement has been reached in a Minnesota food poisoning lawsuit filed on behalf of one woman who died and another who was severely sickened after eating meatballs at a church function that were made from E. coli-contaminated ground beef.

The E. coli lawsuit was filed against Nebraska Beef, Ltd., the meat processor who produced the tainted ground beef used to make the meat balls, as well Interstate Meat Services, Inc., the distributor, and Tabaka’s Super Valu, the retailer.

According to the complaint, Ellie Wheeler became seriously ill and Carolyn Hawkins died from food poisoning after eating the tainted beef. In addition, at least 15 other people also became ill from the contaminated meatballs served at the church.

E Coli food poisoning can produce symptoms like stomach cramps, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. While most healthy adults are able to recover fully within a few weeks, the elderly, young children and those with a weak immune system could be susceptible to more severe E. coli food poisoning which can result in dehydration or death.

According to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, the E. coli food poisoning lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Nebraska Beef is the same company which was involved in a large ground beef recall issued this summer involving approximately 5.3 million pounds of meat which were found to potentially be contamianted with a strain of E. coli.

At least 50 cases of food poisoning were associated with the 2008 Nebraska Beef contamination, which was caused by manufacturing problems at their Omaha processing plant. Following the recall, the plant was subject to additional scrutiny from regulators to ensure that certain changes were made.

A number of food poisoning lawsuits were filed against Nebraska Beef as a result of the E. coli outbreak.