What are the Most Common Causes of Food Poisoning?

 Posted on October 02, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

When you read about food poisoning in the news, you probably see a lot of the same causes listed again and again: Meat, leafy vegetables, and dairy products are often the foods mentioned as harboring harmful Listeria, Salmonella, and E.Coli bacteria. These are some of the most common types of food poisoning to occur in the United States and the foods known for causing them.

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report detailing the most common types of food poisoning in the United States and their causes. Below are a few highlights from the report. These four types of bacteria accounted for 75% of the reported food poisoning cases in the United States. Although these are the most common types of food poisoning reported, remember that there are many other types of food poisoning that exist. Familiarize yourself with their symptoms as well to determine if you need to seek medical attention after consuming a contaminated food product.

E.Coli

Escherichia coli, commonly shortened to E.coli, is frequently one of the most commonly reported types of food poisoning in the United States. It is often linked to beef and vegetables that are grown in long rows, like lettuce. According to the CDC report, 82% of E.coli infections reported were attributed to these two types of food.

Campylobacter

Capylobacter is often associated with chicken and dairy products, like milk. The risk of contracting this type of bacteria is especially prevalent with raw milk and raw milk products. According to the CDC report, 74% of the total Campylobacter instances reported were due to dairy and chicken products.

Listeria

Listeria can be found in a wide variety of foods and food products. According to the CDC report, 81% of reported Listeria cases were attributed to fruit and dairy products. Listeria can also be found in meat, poultry, and seafood that has not been thoroughly cooked.

Salmonella

According to the CDC report, 77% of the reported Salmonella illnesses were due to the following types of food:

• Seeded vegetables;
• Chicken;
• Beef;
• Eggs;
• Pork;
• Fruit; and
• Sprouts.

Salmonella can be found in many different types of food. In addition to those listed above, Salmonella can be found in dairy products, especially those made with raw milk.

Work with an Experienced Crystal Lake Food Poisoning Lawyer

Although certain types of food are linked to food poisoning more frequently than others, you can become ill from virtually any type of food or consumable product. If you or your child have suffered from food poisoning to the point that you suffered substantial damages, speak with a member of our team of food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP to determine how you can proceed with a personal injury claim. Contact our firm today to set up your free phone consultation in our office. We serve clients in the North Chicago, Fox Lake, Zion, Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan areas from our office located in Chicago.

(image courtesy of Andre Autza)