Famous Cases of Chain Restaurant Food Poisoning

 Posted on February 24, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

Many Americans are under the impression that they are less likely to suffer from food poisoning when eating at well-known chain establishments than they are at smaller, independent food retailers because of the additional safety and quality measures with which corporate restaurants are required to comply. However, corporate oversight does not necessarily mean that the food from a particular retailer is safe from carrying dangerous bacteria. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, numerous fast food restaurants have been linked to food poisoning outbreaks.

Below are 11 examples of well-known food poisoning outbreaks that have occurred in the past decades.

• In 1982, 47 people who ate at Oregon and Michigan McDonald's stores fell ill with a rare form of E.coli poisoning;
• E.coli was also named as the cause of death for four children and the cause of illness for 732 people who ate the undercooked Monster Burger offered by Jack in the Box in 1993;
• Again, E.coli caused a fast food chain to suffer negative publicity and have to remove key menu items after diners reported becoming ill. This time, it was Burger King, which had to recall 25 million pounds of beef in 1997 after E.coli poisoning was linked to one of its suppliers, Hudson Foods;
• In 1999, 11 people were hospitalized for E.coli poisoning after eating improperly-made coleslaw at Cincinnati KFC locations;
• E.coli can be found in foods other than meat, as Wisconsin Sizzler diners found in 2000. Watermelon that became contaminated when it came into contact with raw meat caused 64 people to report illnesses and one young girl to die as a complication of her illness;
• In 2003, Chi-Chi's was a part of the most widespread hepatitis A outbreak in United States history when 604 illnesses were linked to tainted green onions consumed at a Pennsylvania location;
• In 2006, an E.coli outbreak again made the news when three people in Utah suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney ailment, after eating at Wendy's;
• That same year, 71 individuals across five states suffered the effects of E.coli poisoning after eating at Taco Bell locations in California. This led to the state enacting stricter policies for the commercial handling of leafy green vegetables;
• Jimmy John's has also been linked to E.coli poisoning, first in 2008 and again in 2013;
• In 2013, 90 people became ill after consuming E.coli-contaminated lettuce at Federico's locations in Arizona; and
• In 2015, Chipotle made headlines for not only an E.coli outbreak, but a salmonella outbreak and an outbreak of norovirus. Each of these outbreaks occurred in different parts of the country. This string of foodborne illnesses caused Chipotle to introduce stricter food handling and storage procedures.

Work with a Chicago Food Poisoning Attorney

Food poisoning can lead to serious consequences. If you suffered from any type of foodborne illness after eating at a restaurant or other food vendor or if you suffered after eating food prepared in your own home that was purchased at a grocery store or farmer's market, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for the damages related to your illness. Our team of food poisoning attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP is here to help you by protecting your rights and advocating for your successful financial recovery through a personal injury claim. Our firm is now located at The Prestigious 180 N. LaSalle St. Building, Suite 3700.