Common Symptoms and Sources of Food Poisoning

 Posted on October 16, 2020 in Food Poisoning

You have likely had the experience of eating a meal that tasted great at a restaurant, but quickly turned to days filled with a sick stomach. When you go out to eat, you expect to have a safe and healthy experience along with tasting great food. Unfortunately, eating at a restaurant can sometimes result in food poisoning. In fact, approximately 48 million cases of food poisoning occur each year. 

Depending on how the food was prepared and whether or not the restaurant’s cooking surfaces were properly sanitized, certain germs that are consumed can lead to food poisoning. This illness can range from mild to severe depending on the germs that you ingested and the way that your body reacts to them. 

If you have experienced any of the following symptoms after consuming contaminated food, you may have been a victim of food poisoning, and you may be able to take legal action:

1. Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph): If you consume this germ, you will begin to experience symptoms 30 minutes to six hours after exposure. Common symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sliced meats, pastries, puddings, and sandwiches that are not properly cooked after handling often cause Staph.
2. Clostridium Perfringens: Symptoms from this germ can occur between six and 24 hours after exposure, including diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. Large roasts, both beef and poultry, gravies, and dried or precooked foods can cause this form of food poisoning.
3. Salmonella: This is one of the most commonly known germs that lead to food poisoning. Salmonella can present symptoms anytime between six hours and six days after exposure. Common symptoms include fever, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Raw or undercooked chicken, turkey and other meat products, eggs, unpasteurized milk, and raw fruits and vegetables can all lead to salmonella-induced food poisoning.
4. Norovirus: Leafy greens, fresh fruits, shellfish, or water can be contaminated with the norovirus. Infected people or touching infected surfaces can spread this form of food poisoning. Presenting itself 12 to 48 hours after exposure, norovirus can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea or stomach pain.

Why Seek Out Legal Help?

After reading the symptoms outlined above, you may have noted that none appear to be particularly life-threatening. However, depending on the severity of your symptoms, there can be long-term effects, such as chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, or hemolytic uremic syndrome which results in kidney failure, and you may be forced to seek medical attention. Whether it is just one doctor’s visit or ongoing treatment, you should not have to shoulder the financial burden that can result from another person’s negligence. A food poisoning illness attorney will listen to the details of your case, formulate a defense strategy, and help you collect maximum compensation for your injuries and medical costs. Aside from the financial support that you can receive from such a case, taking legal action will also hold the negligent parties responsible and ensure that they improve their food preparation tactics to avoid infecting others in the future.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Attorney

If you have recently gotten ill after eating at a restaurant, you may have contracted food poisoning from improperly prepared food or unsanitary cooking equipment. No one should come home from a restaurant sick to their stomach, especially when the symptoms are so severe that medical treatment is required. At Newland & Newland LLP, we believe that all customers should be given a safe and healthy eating experience, free from germs or improper preparation. Our legal team has secured over $1 million in food poisoning settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we are prepared to help you as well. Contact our Chicago food poisoning lawyers at 312-981-0409 to schedule your free consultation today.

Source: 

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/symptoms.html