On July 24, 2024, the Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD), the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), and other local health departments, announced that they are working together to investigate an E.coli O157:H7 outbreak originating in Flathead County. This is everything we know about this Montana Ground Beef Ecoli Outbreak:
Recall Update:
According to the Daily Inter Lake, Lower Valley Processing is voluntarily recalling all non-intact, raw products — like ground beef — produced from animals slaughtered on June 5 after being linked to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.
According to the paper, Meat from the processing facility was sent to local restaurants, where several people became sick from E. coli. The recent outbreak has led to one death and caused 13 others to become ill, according to the Flathead City-County Health Department.
The potentially affected Lower Valley Processing products were labeled with “Lower Valley Processing, Co.,” establishment number “EST. 007” inside the Montana mark of inspection on the product labels, and lot numbers 1398, 1399 and 1400. All potentially affected products have been removed from the marketplace by public health officials, the Department of Livestock and Lower Valley Processing. Some products may have been sold direct to consumers prior to discovery of potential contamination, according to authorities.
The problem was discovered when Flathead City-County Health Department was alerted to illnesses associated with E. coli. A traceback investigation conducted in collaboration with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services determined that affected individuals consumed potentially undercooked Wagyu burgers at various restaurants. Sampling of product labeled as lot 1400 confirmed the presence of E. coli.
Montana Ground Beef Ecoli Outbreak
According to the latest annoucement, “To date, the investigation has identified at least 13 individuals associated with the outbreak. Many of the cases experienced moderate to severe symptoms, and one death has occurred. Preliminary investigative findings indicate that ground beef containing the E.coli bacteria may be the exposure of concern. State partners continue to test clinical and food samples for laboratory confirmation. The FCCHD and DPHHS investigation has determined that the ground beef identified as the potential source of the outbreak was sold directly to several restaurants from a distributor. The product was not available for purchase by consumers in grocery store settings. Public health staff worked directly with all affected facilities to remove any remaining product. The last known date of consumption of the product was July 14th, 2024.”
The person who died was described by the health department as a female, over the age of 65, who was not a Montana resident.
What are the restaurants involved?
According to the latest health department reports:
“On July 25th, FCCHD and DPHHS received confirmatory testing results of clinical and food samples verifying ground beef as the exposure of concern. Specifically, the source of the outbreak was wagyu beef from one lot number. All cases reported eating undercooked or made-to-order burgers made with wagyu beef at one of multiple restaurants in Flathead County. The last known date of consumption was July 14, 2024.
The following restaurants are associated with the 14 cases of reported illness in this outbreak: Gunsight Saloon; Hops Downtown Grill; Tamarack Brewing Company; the Lodge at Whitefish Lake; and Harbor Grille. Furthermore, based on information provided through case investigation, one individual has died after exposure to wagyu beef consumed at Harbor Grille.
Several other facilities—Flathead Fish, the Crawdad Café, and the Flathead Lake Lodge, received contaminated wagyu beef from the same lot number, but no reported illnesses were associated with these establishments. Once the source of exposure was preliminarily identified, public health staff worked directly with affected businesses to ensure all remaining wagyu beef from the contaminated lot was removed from use. Samples of the suspected product were sent to the DPHHS Montana Public Health Laboratory for testing, which allowed for laboratory confirmation of the outbreak source. None of the contaminated beef remains in circulation and all businesses associated with this outbreak have been contacted directly.”
What the Health Department is Saying
“We send our condolences to all family and friends that have been affected by this death,” said Jennifer Rankosky, Health Officer of the Flathead City-County Health Department. “Our staff continue to work diligently through this investigation and were able to identify a suspect source early to mitigate risks and prevent others from getting sick.”
The health department was interviewed by the local news outlets, and stated:
“Preliminary investigative findings indicate that ground beef containing E. coli bacteria may be the exposure of concern. State partners continue to test clinical and food samples for laboratory confirmation,” the county health department press release states.
The county health department also said public health staff have worked directly with affected facilities to remove any remaining ground beef associated with the outbreak, and that the last known date of consumption was on July 14. The ground beef was not available for grocery store purchase, according to the health department. The county health department press release does not specify where infected individuals consumed the ground beef believed to have made them ill.
According to NBC Montana:
“Many of the cases experienced moderate to severe symptoms, and one death has occurred.”
Do We Know Brands or Restaurants Involved?
Malia Freeman, a population health supervisor for the city-county health department, said that due to the ongoing status of the multiagency investigation, and the continuing wait for confirmatory results from lab tests, the health department was unable to name the specific restaurants associated with the outbreak or the distributor. Freeman did confirm that the restaurants associated with the outbreak are located in Flathead County, and said that the city-county health department will release additional information about the outbreak as it becomes available.
What is E. coli?
What exactly is E. coli, and why is it dangerous?
E. coli is a bacterium that can be found in the digestive system of humans and animals. Certain E. coli strains, such as those in the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) category are harmful to humans.
When people ingest this bad bug, they become sick. Severity of infection can vary from person to person, ranging from mild to more severe.
Common symptoms include:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Diarrhea (often bloody)
- Vomiting
Some people may also experience a fever less than 101 °F. In most cases, people begin to feel sick around 3 to 4 days after eating or drinking something contaminated with the bacteria. For many, these symptoms can persist around 5 to 7 days before feeling better.
Many people can recover on their own without medical intervention, however you should seek medical attention if you have diarrhea lasting more than 3 days and a fever above 102 °F, bloody diarrhea, or so much vomiting that you become dehydrated.
Some people may develop a serious complication known as HUS.
Some people are more likely to get infected.
Groups of people who are at increased risk for E. coli infection include:
- Children younger than 5
- Adults 65 and older
- People with weakened immune systems
- International travelers
What is HUS?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, is a type of kidney failure that develops in about 5 to 10% of those diagnosed with STEC infection. It is a potentially life-threatening complication that prevents the kidneys from working properly.
HUS symptoms include:
- Decreased urination
- Feeling very tired
- Paleness in cheeks and inside lower eyelids
HUS symptoms usually begin about 7 days after initial diarrheal symptoms and begin as the original intestinal symptoms start to improve. Those experiencing HUS symptoms should see a healthcare professional right away.
While most people with HUS recover within a few weeks, some may suffer permanent damage or even die from the illness. These symptoms should be taken very seriously.
The Lange Law Firm Can Help
If you have become sick after eating ground beef and may be a part of the Montana Ground Beef Ecoli Outbreak, you may have a legal case. The experienced E. coli lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC are committed to holding responsible those whose negligence has caused harm to others. If you have become sick from eating ground beef, reach out to The Lange Law Firm today by calling (833) 330-3663 or click here to fill out an online form.