Posted on March 19, 2016 in Food Poisoning

Spring is right around the corner and for many families in the United States, this means it is time to celebrate Easter. An Easter celebration would not be complete without dyed Easter eggs. Easter eggs are nearly always hard boiled, but do not think that this means they cannot carry harmful bacteria. When eggs are not cooked to a safe temperature or they are stored improperly, Salmonella can develop within them and put those who consume the eggs at risk of becoming ill.

Salmonella is a type of food poisoning that can become serious in individuals with weak immune systems, such as young children, pregnant women, and the elderly. For others, Salmonella usually resolves itself within a few days. When Salmonella symptoms appear in an at-risk individual or fail to subside in an individual with a strong immune system, it is important for that individual to receive medical attention as soon as possible. Untreated salmonella can lead to complications like dehydration, bacteremia, and reactive arthritis.

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 Posted on March 09, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

By the time the source of a food poisoning outbreak is determined, acknowledged, and publicized, usually hundreds or even thousands of victims or more have been exposed to the dangerous bacteria. This is especially true if the outbreak is linked to a popular or widely-distributed food product. This is currently happening with the Listeria outbreak linked to Dole prepackaged salads, which has affected 18 people in nine states: Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The first reports of illness linked to the salads were made in the summer of 2015, with more coming in during the following months, right up to January 2016.

All 18 of the victims affected by this outbreak, one of whom was a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. The victims ranged in age from three to 83 years old. In Canada, 11 people were affected by the outbreak, three of whom died of complications related to the infection.

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 Posted on March 04, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

In an earlier blog post, we discussed the Salmonella virchow outbreak linked to Garden of Life meal replacement shakes. Since the time of that blog post, the number of people affected by the outbreak has risen to 18 and spread across 15 states.

Dangerous strains of bacteria that cause food poisoning are not always easy to contain. Sometimes, it is because it is difficult to find the source of the bacteria and other times it is because more foods or products were affected by the bacteria than initially thought. In this case, Garden of Life had to expand its product recall to include more products after people continued to fall ill after its initial recall. The first recall was made in January 2016, followed by an expanded recall in mid-February. The first case of Salmonella linked to Garden of Life's products was reported in Otero County, New Mexico. Since then, reports of illnesses linked to the shake powder have come in from Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Utah, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

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 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;

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 Posted on February 20, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

Recently, our firm was featured in the Chicago Tribune because of a claim we filed on behalf of a client who allegedly became ill with Salmonella poisoning after eating at a funeral luncheon catered by Family Affair Catering.

Food poisoning can become serious, especially in individuals with weak immune systems. When food poisoning happens because of a responsible party's failure to take the correct precautions to ensure that it is providing consumers with a contaminant-free product, the food poisoning victim may seek compensation for his or her losses through a personal injury claim.

Personal Injury Claims Need Evidence

You cannot simply file a food poisoning claim and hope to recover compensation if you feel a bit queasy after eating at a local restaurant. Food poisoning claims, like all other types of personal injury claim, require that the following be proven:

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 Posted on February 17, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

We all know that certain types of foods are more likely to carry dangerous bacteria than others. This is why we take certain food preparation and storage rules so seriously, such as cooking chicken until it is well done and washing leafy vegetables like spinach and kale thoroughly before using them. A recent piece published on you.co.az contained an interview with food safety advocate Bill Marler, who listed the foods he refuses to eat because of the risk of food poisoning they pose. His list of foods to avoid included the following:

Raw Meat

A rare, juicy steak can be delicious, but it can also be dangerous. Marler said that he does not eat steak that has not been cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit because below this temperature, steak can contain dangerous bacteria like E.coli.

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 Posted on February 06, 2016 in Food Poisoning

When you are on a diet or looking to bulk up, you might choose to replace or supplement your meals with nutrition shakes. You probably never think that you are exposed to hazards by consuming these shakes but the truth is, you can be. Recently, a man in Otero County and ten others reported falling ill from Garden of Life Raw Meal Organic Shake and Meal products. These cases were caused by Salmonella virchow, a strain of salmonella that can cause individuals to become ill.

Salmonella virchow and other types of bacteria can cause food poisoning, which can lead to significant damages for an affected individual. If you have suffered from food poisoning because of another party's failure to properly clean, store, transport, or prepare food, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for these damages. Work with an experienced food poisoning attorney to get started on your case.

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 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.

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 Posted on January 25, 2016 in Food Poisoning

Usually, food poisoning resolves itself within a few days or a week. After eating a contaminated food product, you might experience some unpleasant symptoms and have to miss a day or two of work but generally, these effects are fairly short-lived. However, not everyone is so lucky.
Pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with weakened immune systems, and young children can face far more severe health complications caused by food poisoning. If you are a member of one of these groups or a parent of a young child, be mindful of the ways that food poisoning can become a life-altering illness for you or your child.

Your Kidneys Could Fail

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a condition that occurs when the red blood cells are damaged prematurely and they kidneys become overburdened by the process of discarding them. This is perhaps the most serious health complication that can occur as a result of food poisoning. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is linked to E.coli, which can be transmitted to humans through contaminated meat or contact with the feces of an infected human or animal.

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 Posted on January 17, 2016 in Food Poisoning

A recent report by Michigan State University discusses exactly how damaging food poisoning can be. In many cases, food poisoning can cause a victim to suffer significant health problems or even die if it is left untreated. This is why it is so important that you seek medical care for your illness as soon as you begin to feel the symptoms of food poisoning. Although food poisoning can often resolve itself within a few days, it can sometimes become a serious illness. This is especially true for individuals with weakened immune systems such as the elderly, infants and young children, and pregnant women.

It can be difficult to trace food poisoning to a specific source. To make it easier to determine when and how you became ill, try to remember what you ate within the 24-48 hour period before your symptoms began to appear. If you ate with others, ask them if they are experiencing any similar symptoms to narrow down the cause of your illness. If your food poisoning was caused by another party's failure to safely store, prepare, or clean food, you can potentially recover compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim.

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