Posted on October 14, 2017 in Food Poisoning

A heater-cooler is a device placed inside a patient's body during surgery to keep his or her body temperature at a consistent, safe level. They are most commonly used in surgeries on the heart or lungs. The devices control patients' temperatures by moving water through a small unit where it is air-cooled to an appropriate temperature.

There have been numerous class action lawsuits filed against LivaNova PLC, the manufacturer of 3T heater-coolers. This specific brand of heater-coolers has been linked to illnesses associated with bacterial contamination in patients. When a patient suffers a worsened health condition because of a defective medical device, he or she can seek compensation for his or her related damages through a defective medical device claim.

Issues that Can Arise with Heater-Coolers

A heater-cooler works by cycling water through a temperature control tank. When the water completes its cycle, it is released into the air as water vapor. When water is contaminated with harmful bacteria, it poses a serious threat of infection to patients with weakened immune systems.

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 Posted on September 30, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, is the cause of approximately 85% of urinary tract infections (UTIs). E. coli can develop in raw produce, unpasteurized fruit juice, raw and undercooked beef, and contaminated water. In most cases, individuals with healthy immune systems do not experience negative symptoms when exposed to E. coli. If an individual has a weakened immune system, he or she can become ill from E. coli exposure. One of the ways a victim can suffer from this type of food poisoning is a UTI.

UTI Symptoms

Symptoms of a UTI include:

• Cloudy urine;
• Blood in the urine, which can cause it to appear red or brown;
• An unusually foul smell to the urine;

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 Posted on September 24, 2017 in E. Coli

Currently, the La Crosse County Health Department is investigating eight reported cases of E.Coli poisoning. This specific strain is known to cause diarrhea in victims and can send young children to the hospital. It has not yet been linked to any specific food item or retailer.

Many Americans associate E.Coli with the Jack in the Box outbreak in the 1990s. It can develop in beef, as it did during that outbreak, and it can also develop in produce like spinach, kale, and sprouts as well as unpasteurized milk. Food poisoning can have severe symptoms for victims. It can also be preventable, containable, and most importantly, curable.

Ways to Prevent the Spread of E.Coli

E.Coli can be spread through unsanitary food handling and storage procedures. Regardless of the perceived E.Coli risk, it is important for all food handlers to take special precaution to wash their hands frequently and avoid cross contamination by using separate utensils, cutting boards, and storage containers for food.

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 Posted on September 18, 2017 in Salmonella

As of September 1, 2017, the deadly Salmonella outbreak currently sweeping our nation has impacted more than 200 victims in 23 states. 65 people have been hospitalized due to illness related to the outbreak and one victim from New York City has died.

This food poisoning outbreak involved four strains of Salmonella: Salmonella Thompson, Salmonella Kiambu, Salmonella Agona, and Salmonella Gaminara. Salmonella Thompson is by far the most prevalent of the strains; it was cited in 131 of the reported cases. Although Salmonella poisoning symptoms generally resolve themselves within a few days, they can require medical care in certain cases. When a victim does not receive the medical care he or she needs, he or she can die.

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 Posted on September 08, 2017 in Food Poisoning

When you are suffering from food poisoning, putting your health first will help you make a timely, complete recovery. One of the most important ways to keep yourself healthy is to drink enough water to keep yourself fully hydrated. There are benefits to being properly hydrated all the time, regardless of your health status. When you are ill, these benefits are magnified.

Staying Hydrated Combats Nausea

Food poisoning nearly always causes the victim to experience nausea. Nausea can make it difficult to eat, which can make it impossible to consume the necessary nutrients to fight an illness. Drinking water while you are recovering from food poisoning can reduce your feelings of nausea and keep you from vomiting.

For a man, a gallon of water per day is an appropriate amount of fluid intake. For a woman, about three quarts of water is appropriate on a daily basis. Keep track of the amount of fluid you lose to vomiting and diarrhea and put it back accordingly.

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 Posted on September 03, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

Next time you host an event, whether you prepare the food yourself or have it catered, make food choices that will stand up to the environment in which you serve them. Buffet-style is generally the most practical choice for serving a large crowd of people at a social event, but it is not perfect. When food is served buffet-style in large dishes or on sternos, it can easily enter the danger zone of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature range where harmful bacteria can easily grow.

To reduce your guests' risk of developing food poisoning after eating at your event, make the following switches. There is no way to guarantee that food poisoning will not happen, but there are ways to reduce the chance of it happening.

Instead of a Pre-Cut Fruit or Veggie Platter, Cut Them Yourself

With pre-cut fruit salads and vegetable platters, the risk of contamination comes from the many different handlers the produce had between the farm and your serving table. Cut out a few steps by purchasing your produce whole and cutting it yourself. Be sure to wash it thoroughly before you begin cutting and plating your platters.

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 Posted on August 20, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

In most cases, food poisoning does not require medical attention. This kind of illness generally runs its course within a few days to a week. Although medical intervention is generally not necessary, there are ways a food poisoning victim can make him- or herself more comfortable during recovery and even lessen the impact of his or her symptoms.

Below are a few home remedies you can use while you are recovering from food poisoning. It is important to keep an eye on your symptoms as you recover, and if they become worse or do not subside within the appropriate length of time for your condition, contact a doctor. You could need medical intervention to overcome your illness, especially if you are elderly, pregnant, or have a compromised immune system.

Ginger

Ginger is a useful way to reduce your nausea, inflammation, and pain. An easy, pleasant way to consume ginger is to drink ginger tea, which is made by boiling a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger in a cup of water, then adding sugar or honey to taste. Other ways to take ginger include eating raw ginger slices and swallowing small amounts of ginger juice.

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 Posted on August 13, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

In recent years, the Moscow Mule, a simple cocktail made of vodka, lime, and ginger beer, has surged in popularity. Restaurants and bars across the nation have made it a menu staple, with many creating their own personalized twists on this recipe that made its initial debut in the 1940s. A key component of a classic Moscow Mule is its copper mug.

Recently, that copper mug has been identified as a potential food poisoning risk. According to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) food code, copper and copper alloys may not be used to hold and serve food and beverages with pH contents lower than six. Liquids that fall into this category include wine, fruit juice, vinegar, and Moscow Mules. Specifically, the risk with drinking from copper mugs is copper poisoning, not food poisoning, but the two can have similar symptoms and long-term complications.

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 Posted on August 06, 2017 in Food Poisoning

When you use a consumer product, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is safe for you to use. Many of the food allergens that can cause uncomfortable and harmful reactions can also be found in non-food products. Although you do not eat these products, you can still suffer an allergic reaction just by coming into contact with them.

Your responsibility is to ensure that a product is safe for you to use according to the information available to you. The product's manufacturer should provide you with this information, but many are not held to the same strict standards to which the food industry is held. A food manufacturer or vendor is liable for food poisoning damages if it does not take care to prevent consumer illness and generally, manufacturers and sellers of non-food items can be liable for these kinds of damages, as well. However, their labeling is voluntary and can contain alternative terms for specific ingredients. There is also no standard definition for “hypoallergenic,” so use products with this label carefully.

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 Posted on July 30, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

A recent salmonella outbreak linked to the consumption of Maradol papayas left 47 victims sick and one dead. These victims hailed from 12 states:

• New Jersey;
• Iowa;
• Maryland;
• Kentucky;
• Louisiana;
• Massachusetts;
• Minnesota;
• New York;
• Pennsylvania;
• Texas;
• Utah; and
• Virginia.

Often, food poisoning outbreaks have “illness clusters” in one specific location, and this outbreak is no different. Although only five of the victims were from Maryland, an illness cluster was identified there. Illness clusters are defined as two or more people from different households reporting that they engaged in the same behavior, such as dining at a specific restaurant or attending the same event, within the same week of falling ill. Illness clusters help investigators identify the foods that could have caused their illnesses and track them down to specific retailers.

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