A Boy Scout has filed a lawsuit against Southern California-based meat producer, S & S Foods, alleging that their E. Coli-tainted hamburger meat made him sick while attending Boy Scout camp in Goshen, Virginia. According to a news report by WDBJ-TV, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the boy, Zachary Yost, by his mother Devon Drew Sept. 5 in the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County.

Nearly 85 people were infected with a highly toxic strain of E. Coli in August 2008 during their stay at the Boy Scout camp. The outbreak was attributed to hamburger meat made and distributed by Azusa-based S & S Foods. Zachary was at the camp July20-26. He reportedly ate the contaminated meat while staying at the camp and on July 26, experienced all the classic symptoms of E. Coli poisoning – cramping, bloody diarrhea, and nausea. He tested positive for E. Coli 0157:H7, the same strain that the hamburger meat also tested positive for. S & S eventually recalled 150,000 pounds of their hamburger meat.

According to the plaintiff’s attorney, the boy, after two months, is still in the process of recovering from the E. Coli infection. He is yet to test negative for E. Coli and is restricted in what he can do. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, E. Coli bacteria can be found in anything from meat and eggs to leafy greens and even water. Last year alone, there has been a record amount of meat and vegetables recalled for E. Coli contamination. Food borne illnesses have become all too common in the United States.

Typically, this strain of bacteria does not leave a person’s system for weeks. Young children tend to carry the bacteria longer than adults. The bottom line is: people deserve better. We deserve clean, edible meat and produce in our grocery stores, restaurants and school cafeterias. It’s high time that food producers and local restaurants started stepping up to the plate and started strictly implementing federal food safety standards – or be prepared to take responsibility for their contaminated products and pay the price.