Five More Food Poisoning Outbreaks that Made America Sick in 2015

 Posted on January 31,2016 in Food Poisoning

As we move into 2016, it is important that we do not forget the food poisoning outbreaks that caused so many of us to become ill last year. When we forget about previous health scares, we tend to become lax with food safety and put ourselves in a position to become ill again. Be vigilant this year by understanding how dangerous bacteria spreads, how it grows, and how you can reduce your risk of falling ill from food poisoning.

Take note of one of the recurring themes in the list below: salmonella. Salmonella poisoning can be especially pervasive because it can be found in a large variety of food products. Protect yourself and your family from salmonella poisoning by practicing safe food handling techniques.

Sushi Tuna Salmonella Outbreak

The fourth-largest food poisoning outbreak of 2015 was a salmonella outbreak found in frozen raw yellowfin tuna for sushi and sashimi dishes. The affected tuna came from a processing plant in Indonesia owned by the Osamu Corporation. 65 cases of illness were reported, 11 of which required victims to be hospitalized. These reports came from 11 states. The company recalled its tuna in response to the reports of food poisoning.

Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Cilantro from Mexico

Another significant multi-state food poisoning outbreak was the cyclospora outbreak linked to fresh cilantro imported from Mexico. A total of 546 victims were reported in 31 states.

E.coli Outbreak Linked to Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Another significant food poisoning outbreak of 2015 was the E.coli outbreak linked to chicken salad sold at Costco. The chicken salad was made from the store's rotisserie chickens, but the exact cause of the E.coli poisoning could not be determined. 19 people in seven different states reportedly became ill, five of whom suffered badly enough to be hospitalized. This outbreak was fairly serious: two of the victims who were hospitalized developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a condition that causes the kidneys to shut down due to being overloaded with damaged red blood cells.

Kapowsin Pork Products Salmonella Outbreak

Another salmonella outbreak, this time attributed to pork products produced by Kapowsin Meats of Washington, sickened 192 people. These victims were spread across five states and reported their illnesses through the time period stretching from April 2015 to October 2015.

Barber Foods Salmonella Outbreak

Salmonella poisoning was also linked to frozen stuffed chicken entrees produced by Barber Foods. These individuals were from seven states. A total of 15 people became ill from this outbreak, four of whom had to be hospitalized.

Work with an Illinois Food Poisoning Attorney

Despite taking all the safety precautions you can to protect yourself from food poisoning, sometimes it is beyond your control. When you become ill because of another party's negligence and suffer significant financial damages, you could have grounds for a personal injury claim. Contact our team of experienced food poisoning attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP today to schedule your free legal consultation with us.