According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50 million Americans suffer from some type of foodborne illness or food poisoning in an average year. Of course, foodborne illnesses are also a problem throughout the rest of the world as well.

Consider the example of a British couple who planned to celebrate their wedding and enjoy a honeymoon trip to the United States—complete with a Hawaiian cruise, a visit to Disneyland, and a few days in sunny Los Angeles. Everything was coming together nicely for the bride and groom until she—along with more than two dozen wedding guests—fell ill following the reception at a well-known wedding venue in London.

The Background

The couple got married in March 2018 after more than two years of planning and finding the right venue. They selected a particular venue based on recommendations and favorable reviews. However, following the reception, the bride plus a staggering 28 of the 180 guests reported suffering from food poisoning. A report by Public Health England would eventually determine that a campylobacter outbreak occurred that day, most likely caused by contaminated chicken liver pâté that the guests were served.

Despite laws and regulations that require manufacturers to follow the proper safety protocols, contaminated foods are sold to consumers on a regular basis. People who consume these products may experience food poisoning due to the presence of harmful bacteria such as salmonella. Recently, people in Illinois were affected by leafy greens that were contaminated with salmonella, and Newland & Newland, LLP has filed a complaint against the manufacturer of these products on behalf of a food poisoning victim.

Hillard vs. BrightFarms, Inc.

In July of 2021, the FDA and the CDC began investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella food poisoning. While nine people in Illinois and Wisconsin reported infections, the actual number of people who were affected is likely much higher, and people in other states may have been affected as well. Some people may have been able to recover without receiving medical care, and other illnesses may not yet have been reported, since it may take three to four weeks to determine whether an infection is related to this specific outbreak.

The investigation found that all nine victims reported eating leafy greens, and most of the victims ate prepackaged salads manufactured by BrightFarms. The FDA traced the infection to a greenhouse farm operated by this company located in Rochelle, IL. This led BrightFarms to conduct a recall of multiple products, including those sold under the product names of Baby Spinach, 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Butter Crisp, Harvest Crunch, Sunny Crunch, Spring Mix, Mighty Romaine, and Nutrigreens.

Going out to eat should be an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, some restaurant-goers find themselves suffering from debilitating symptoms after the meal. If you or a loved one contracted food positioning after eating at a restaurant, diner, pub, or fast food establishment, you may be curious about your legal options. You may wonder whether you can pursue financial compensation through a lawsuit. While bringing a successful food poisoning lawsuit can be challenging, it is possible under certain circumstances.

What You Need to Prove in a Food Poisoning Case

Food poisoning can be caused by bacterial contamination, viruses, and parasites. Many of these pathogens can cause symptoms like painful cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Sometimes, food poisoning can lead to severe, long-term health consequences, including kidney failure, arthritis, and even brain damage. These symptoms can lead to lost income, medical bills, and other expenses. Through a food poisoning lawsuit, an individual may be able to recover compensation for these and other damages.

To recover compensation through a food poisoning lawsuit, you will need to prove that:

Laws and regulations in the United States exist to ensure that the food people eat is safe. Unfortunately, businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, or food product manufacturers do not always follow these regulations, and this can result in serious cases of food poisoning. Recently, approximately 40 people claimed to have food poisoning after eating at an Arby's restaurant in Springfield, Illinois. Starting on February 15, 2021, the Sangamon County health department began receiving reports that people who had eaten at the restaurant had become ill. Over the following days, 40 cases were reported, causing the restaurant to shut down. After a deep cleaning, the Arby’s has reopened. An investigation is being performed, but the source of the foodborne illness has not yet been identified.

Potential Causes of Food Poisoning at Restaurants

Workers at restaurants should be trained on the proper methods of handling and preparing food to prevent dishes from being contaminated by viruses, bacteria, or toxins. If employees do not receive the proper training or do not follow the correct procedures, customers may contract food poisoning due to contaminated food. Some ways that foodborne illnesses can be spread by restaurant workers include:

Your child’s health is of great importance to you as a parent, and you do not want to think that the food you have given them may have made them sick. Unfortunately, children can be victims of food poisoning and, depending on the type of food poisoning, they could be even more vulnerable to the symptoms than adults. Assuming that you have taken precautions about food safety, it is possible that the food producer or restaurant may be responsible for your child’s food poisoning, which may mean that you can receive compensation for their pain and suffering by filing a lawsuit.

How to Identify Food Poisoning in Children

There are several common symptoms that may appear in people who are suffering from foodborne illnesses, including:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headaches

Because there are multiple illnesses that could cause these same symptoms, you may not know for certain whether your child’s illness is food poisoning without a diagnosis from their pediatrician. The pediatrician will likely want to know a history of the meals that your child has recently eaten. Even if you did not get food poisoning from eating the same meal as your child, your child may have been more vulnerable to the harmful bacteria in the food if they have a weaker immune system.