Posted on February 11, 2025 in Listeria

Around two million donuts and other baked goods were recalled because of fears of listeria contamination. Major suppliers, including Dunkin’ Donuts, were involved in the voluntary recall.

Although the possible source of contamination was not identified by the FDA, a wide variety of goods was recalled, including rolls, donuts, eclairs, and other confectioneries. If you believe you were injured as a result of food poisoning from this or any other source, contact our Illinois food poisoning lawsuit attorneys right away. Time is of the essence when gathering information about food poisoning lawsuits, so the sooner you act, the more likely your case is to be successful.

What Happens if You Get Listeria Poisoning? 

People who come into contact with listeria can suffer from listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness specifically caused by listeria bacteria. Certain people – such as pregnant women, elderly people, and very young children – are at heightened risk of contracting a very serious form of listeriosis, which can include terrible suffering and even death. Symptoms of listeriosis include, but are not limited to: 

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 Posted on January 27, 2025 in Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be caused by a lot of different types of bacteria and viruses. Some cases of food poisoning can also be caused by mold and spores. Most foods are not sterile - they are likely to have some bacteria or other pathogens present. These pathogens should be killed by cooking or prevented from propagating to the point where they will cause illness through safe food handling. When you become ill with food poisoning, your doctors will want to know what type of foodborne pathogen is causing your illness so that they know how to treat you. Your Illinois food poisoning attorney will also need to know which pathogen is making you sick. Knowing which virus, bacteria, or fungi is making you sick can help your attorney prove where your food poisoning likely came from.

Salmonella Spreads Through Contaminated Food Sources 

Salmonella is found in the digestive tracts of livestock and is spread when food becomes contaminated with animal feces, normally in an agricultural processing center. Vegetables, eggs, and meats are common sources of salmonella. Proper washing of produce and cooking meats to a safe temperature normally prevents the spread of salmonella.

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 Posted on January 14, 2025 in Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is often thought of as a short-term problem. When most people get food poisoning, they are expected to go through a very rough couple of days before recovering completely. Mild cases of food poisoning can clear up on their own within 12 to 24 hours. More serious cases can leave a person hospitalized for a week or more. The most severe cases, unfortunately, can have a long-term impact on a person’s health. Conditions like reactive arthritis can appear after a person has food poisoning. People who already had a weakened immune system or other serious health conditions are more likely to suffer permanent or long-term damage as a result of food poisoning. If you have been made ill by contaminated food, you should speak to a well-qualified Illinois food poisoning attorney. You may be entitled to compensation.

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 Posted on December 27, 2024 in Food Poisoning

Sometimes, it is quite obvious where you got food poisoning from. If you and several of your friends eat at the same restaurant one night and all get sick, you can fairly easily deduce that the restaurant is responsible for your illness. However, if you are the only person you know who became ill, it might be harder to determine what the source of your food poisoning was. By working with public health officials and tracking your symptoms, an experienced Illinois food poisoning attorney can often help to identify the source of your illness. If you have recently experienced severe food poisoning and you are not sure where you got it, you should consult a lawyer.

Comparing the Timing of Symptoms and Type of Pathogen

One way to determine where you most likely got food poisoning from is to track the timing and onset of your symptoms. Most foodborne pathogens, like E. Coli, Norovirus, and Listeria follow a fairly predictable course when they infect a person. Some take days to set in after a person eats contaminated food, while others take effect within 30 minutes. If you know what type of foodborne pathogen you were sickened by, this can help your attorneys and public health officials alike determine the source.

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 Posted on December 10, 2024 in Food Allergies

Young children who go to daycare are usually not in the best position to manage their own food allergies. While older children are usually aware that they have an allergy, they may not always know what foods contain the ingredients they are allergic to. Toddlers need much more supervision to ensure that they do not eat something containing an allergen. When you drop your child off at daycare and have made the daycare aware of your child’s allergy, you should be able to trust that the care providers will watch carefully during meal and snack times to make sure your child does not eat anything he or she cannot have.

Unfortunately, young children are sometimes exposed to foods they are allergic to at daycare. For some children, this can be life-threatening. If your child was harmed by a food allergen while at daycare, you may be entitled to compensation on his or her behalf. An experienced Illinois food allergen reactions attorney can help you pursue any legal action possible.

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 Posted on November 26, 2024 in Food Poisoning

Anyone can be made seriously ill by contaminated food. However, food poisoning poses special risks to the elderly. Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized or even pass away due to serious food poisoning. Younger adults are often healthier overall and better able to fight off a foodborne illness. An illness that might not be too dangerous for a young, healthy person to endure might pose far greater risks to someone who is elderly and already has health problems. If you are an older adult who contracted a foodborne illness, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Even if you do not know which food made you ill, your Illinois food poisoning attorney may be able to identify an outbreak you were affected by and the corporation responsible.

How Food Poisoning Affects the Elderly Differently

Older adults often have existing health problems. The older people get, the more health problems they tend to acquire. Things like diabetes, COPD, and heart problems are common. A few reasons why foodborne illnesses are more dangerous for older adults include: 

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 Posted on November 15, 2024 in E. Coli

A recent E. coli outbreak was linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. The outbreak hospitalized at least 34 people and caused one confirmed death. The Center for Disease Control later determined that onions produced by Taylor Farms were contaminated with the deadly bacteria. These onions were distributed to McDonald's and other retailers. While McDonalds uses onions on most of its burgers, the contaminated onions were used to produce the slivered onions that are used on Quarter Pounder sandwiches. If you became ill in late October after eating onions, you may have been affected by this outbreak. People who needed medical treatment after acquiring an E. coli infection may be eligible for compensation. An experienced Illinois food poisoning attorney can assess your case and determine whether you may have a claim.

How Do I Know If I Have an E. Coli Infection? 

E. coli infections can be serious. While some people get better in a few days without treatment, others can require hospitalization and intensive medical treatment to survive. Common symptoms of E. coli infection include: 

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 Posted on October 28, 2024 in Food Poisoning

Apple cider is a favorite fall drink for many, and juice is popular year-round. These drinks must be processed correctly to kill harmful bacteria that may be present. Untreated juices can cause foodborne illnesses and are particularly dangerous to young children, pregnant women, mature adults, and those with weak immune systems.

If you became ill due to drinking unpasteurized or improperly treated juices or cider, you may be entitled to compensation. Few attorneys have the focused knowledge required to handle these cases effectively, but the lawyers from Newland & Newland, LLP do. Call now for your free consultation.

Unpasteurized Beverages

Although pasteurization is not required, unpasteurized cider and other juices should remain refrigerated. These drinks must also have a label warning consumers about the lack of pasteurization, which is a process using heat to kill bacteria and prolong shelf life. If you purchase unpasteurized cider or other drinks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you boil them for one minute or longer before consumption.  

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 Posted on October 10, 2024 in Food Poisoning

When you take your family to a restaurant, you expect a pleasant meal without needing to prepare it or clean up afterward. What you do not expect is to become ill a few hours later. Unfortunately, multiple diners who recently ate at a Fairview Heights, IL, LongHorn Steakhouse have tested positive for Shigellosis, an illness caused by the Shigella bacteria. The restaurant temporarily closed due to the outbreak.

What is Shigella and how is it transferred? How does this bacteria affect people who are infected? Can you get compensation? A trusted Illinois food poisoning lawyer from Newland & Newland, LLP can answer your questions and assess your eligibility for compensation during your free consultation.

What Is Shigella?

Shigella is a bacterium that can be found in contaminated water and food. It can cause shigellosis, which infects approximately 450,000 people annually in the U.S. Symptoms typically present within two days and last seven days. These symptoms include:

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 Posted on September 26, 2024 in Salmonella

Did you know there are over 2,500 strains of nontyphoidal salmonella? Worldwide, around 150 million people become ill and approximately 60,000 deaths occur due to salmonella every year. A recent outbreak associated with eggs produced and sold by Milo’s Poultry Farms, LLC in Wisconsin affected several people in Illinois.

Have you ever wondered how salmonella can get into an egg? What should you do if you become ill from salmonella? The experienced lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP can help you obtain compensation if you qualify, so call now for your free consultation.

What Happened With the Milo’s Poultry Farms, LLC Outbreak?

According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, eggs supplied by the company to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois have been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis, one of the most common strains of the bacteria. As of September 6, 2024, there were 11 reported cases of salmonella illness in Illinois. The poultry farm voluntarily recalled all eggs.

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