E. coli Lawyer Update: E. coli 026 Outbreak Linked to Mexican Restaurant in Renton Washington.
Public Health – Seattle & King County in Washington announced an E. coli 026 outbreak linked to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant in 920 N 10th St, Renton, WA 98057 on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2022. According to the local Health Department officials, the investigation of the outbreak is still ongoing but at this time a total of three cases have been reported with the outbreak strain. The three reported cases were individuals who dined at the restaurant with three different parties between the time frame September 8, 2022, to September 16, 2022. The outbreak’s most recent case was reported to health officials on September 29, 2022.
Environmental Health investigators visited the restaurant on September 30, 2022, following the reports of the three illnesses. What they discovered was inadequate handwashing facilities and improper storage of raw meats as potential risk factors for this outbreak. All critical violations were corrected during the inspection and another inspection is scheduled within 2 weeks to ensure proper compliance with food handling practices. Fortunately, no ill employees were identified at the time of the inspection and were provided education about preventing the spread of STEC — including proper handwashing, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, and preventing cross-contamination during food preparation by the investigators.
Local Health Officials interviewed the affected individuals on September 29, 2022, to try to get some insight into the potential cause of the illness. At this time no specific food source has been named as the cause of the illnesses but as the investigation of the outbreak progresses and more cases have been reported the likelihood of the cause being discovered increases. Individuals who ate at the Mexican restaurant and experienced symptoms of E. coli are being advised to notify the Public Health Department.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can cause serious illness in people affected. In most common cases people who contract E. coli can experience symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea, and stomach cramping. In some rare cases, people diagnosed with an E. coli infection experience hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that can result in permanent damage or death if left untreated. Ron Simon, a National E. coli Lawyer who is representing multiple cases in the E. coli outbreak linked to Wendy’s, stated:
“Food poisoning cases are often complex, so it’s important to find an attorney with significant experience in foodborne illness litigation. For example, the source of the contamination needs to be traced back to its origin and then identified – there may be multiple defendants who were included in the path of the contamination… It is not required, but it is recommended to hire a lawyer to handle a claim of this nature. It is a complicated process that involves gathering a variety of evidence and specific knowledge in order to prove your case in court, which can be overwhelming for the average person who has been sickened by E. coli. A qualified E. coli attorney will have the necessary resources to ensure a successful resolution to your claim for damages or injuries.”
For more information on the E. coli Outbreak Linked to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant, to speak to an E. coli Lawyer, or to inquire about an E. coli Lawsuit, call (888) 335-4901.
