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Food Poisoning Lawyers

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The food poisoning lawyers at our firm have represented hundreds of people sickened by tainted foods.  Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria are just a few of pathogens that can invade a food product, leaving those who consume the contaminated item with a serious illness that can sometimes have long-term health consequences.  Our food poisoning lawyers have seen countless incidents where a manufacturer's or retailer's negligence has been directly responsible for outbreaks of food poisoning.  A serious bout of food poisoning can leave a victim with significant medical expenses, lost wages and other problems.  The food poisoning lawyers at our firm are committed to helping victims of food borne illnesses receive the compensation they deserve.

 
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), food poisoning causes about 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and up to 5,000 deaths each year. Salmonella alone - one of the most common forms of food poisoning - account for one billion dollars in medical costs and lost work time. Everything from tainted lettuce, contaminated meat and even defective children's snack foods have been implicated in large-scale food poisoning outbreaks. Our food poisoning lawyers have represented people sickened by a variety of tainted foods, and we are dedicated to obtaining the best financial results for our clients.

 
There are many ways that foods can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses.    Food usually becomes contaminated from poor sanitation or preparation. Food handlers who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom or have infections themselves often cause contamination. Often, manufacturers do not maintain sanitary conditions at factories or packing plants, and fruits and vegetables have become contaminated with bacteria while still in the fields as a result of exposure to animal waste.  Improperly packaged food stored at the wrong temperature also promotes contamination. The food poisoning attorneys at our firm have worked with clients who have been sickened as a result of all of these scenarios.

 
Bacterial that Cause Food Poisoning

 
Bacteria are one of the most common causes of food borne illnesses, and our food poisoning lawyers have represented hundreds of people sickened by bacteria tainted peanut butter, meats and even lettuce.   Salmonella causes a moderate illness with nausea, vomiting, crampy diarrhea, and headache, which may come back a few weeks later as arthritis (joint pains). In people with impaired immune systems (such as people with kidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those on chemotherapy for cancer), Salmonella can cause a life–threatening illness. The illness is transmitted by undercooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood.

 
E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless, this particular strain produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness and even death.  This strain of E. coli causes approximately 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths in the United States each year. E. coli causes moderate to severe illness that begins as large amounts of watery diarrhea, and then turns into bloody diarrhea. E,. coli O15:H7 can cause kidney failure and death (about 3–5% of all cases). It is transmitted by eating raw or undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized milk or juices, or contaminated well water. Outbreaks of food poisoning due to E. coli have also occurred following ingestion of contaminated produce. Our food poisoning lawyers have successfully represented people sickened with E. coli as the result of tainted meats and fresh greens.

 
Listeria is a bacterium that is found in soil, vegetation, raw milk, meat, poultry, cheeses (particularly soft mould-ripened varieties) and salad vegetables.  Listeria symptoms can vary from mild flu-like illness to meningitis and septicemia.  In pregnant women, Listeria can result in  abortion, miscarriage or birth of an infected child. Other people at risk are those whose immune systems that are compromised, the very young and the very old.

 
Our food poisoning lawyers have worked with the victims of numerous other food borne bacteria, including shigella, botulism and campylobacter.  Our vast experience with food poisoning litigation has helped many food poisoning victims obtain the justice they deserve from the growers, manufacturers and sellers of  bacteria tainted foods.

Viruses that Cause Food Poisoning

 
Viruses are a major cause of food borne illnesses, and our food poisoning lawyers have represented hundreds of people infected by virus-tainted foods.  In many instances, viruses contaminate food because food industry workers do not take precautions to insure a sanitary environment.  One such virus that can be passed in this manner is the Norwalk Virus which causes a mild illness with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, and low–grade fever.  It is the most common viral cause of adult food poisoning and is transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables contaminated by feces, as well as from person to person.

 
Hepatitis A  is another virus that can be transmitted via food.  Hepatitis A causes mild illness with sudden onset of fever, loss of appetite, and feeling of tiredness followed by jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and skin. In extreme cases, Hepatitis A can lead to the need for a liver transplant and even death.   It is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food.  In the past, infected waiters have passed Hepatitis A on to restaurant patrons.  The largest Hepatitis A outbreak in US history occurred in Pennsylvania in 2005. More than 500 people contracted Hepatitis A, and three died after eating at a Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurant. That outbreak was linked to tainted green onions.

 
Rotavirus is another virus that can be passed through contaminated food.  Rotavirus causes moderate to severe illness with vomiting followed by watery diarrhea and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children and is transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food and shared play areas.

 
Long Term Effects of Food Poisoning

 
A bout of food poisoning can cause serious long-term health problems, and our food poisoning lawyers have seen many victims who were still dealing with the consequences of food borne illnesses months and even years later after an initial illness.  E. coli victims sometimes require kidney transplants. They may also have scarred intestines that cause lasting digestive difficulty. Even E. coli  patients who supposedly recovered can experience long-term health problems later on, as it is estimated that  10 percent of E. coli sufferers develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, where their kidneys and other organs fail.

 
Salmonella also has potential long-term health consequences.  Some victims of Salmonella will develop a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult- to- treat form of reactive arthritis that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. Reiter’s Syndrome can plague its victims for months or years, and can lead to chronic arthritis.  Certain strains of shigella and yersinia bacteria, far more common abroad than in the U.S., can also trigger Reiter’s Syndrome.

 
About 1 in 1,000 sufferers of campylobacter, a diarrhea-causing infection spread by raw poultry, develop far more serious Guillain-Barre syndrome a month or so later. Their body attacks their nerves, causing paralysis that usually requires intensive care and a ventilator to breathe. It is estimated about a third of the nation’s Guillain-Barre cases have been linked to previous campylobacter, even if the diarrhea was very mild, and they typically suffer a more severe case than patients who never had food poisoning.  Our food poisoning lawyers have represented many people who have experienced such health problems years after they thought they were recovered from food poisoning, and we know how devastating these disorders can be.  For that reason, our food poisoning lawyers will do everything they can to insure that victims of these illnesses are compensated for their suffering.

 
Legal Help for Food Poisoning Victims

 
Our food poisoning lawyers have helped hundreds of people get the compensation they deserve from manufacturers, growers and retailers who negligently allow tainted foods to come to market.   If you or a loved one suffered from food poisoning, you have valuable legal rights.  Please fill out our online form or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for a free consultation with an experienced food poisoning lawyer at our firm.

Food Poisoning