Posted on March 31, 2018 in Food Poisoning

In March 2018, PDX Aromatics recalled many of its kratom products amid concerns that the products could be contaminated with Salmonella. These products include white vein powder products, capsule products, and red vein powder products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a comprehensive list of all the products recalled and their lot numbers to its website.

Food poisoning does not always come from food. In this case, consumers of an alternative medicine product faced a risk of contracting Salmonella poisoning. It is an herbal drug taken from Mitragyna speciosa, a species of evergreen tree in the coffee family. Kratom is usually sold and consumed in its powder form, which can be swallowed in capsules or made into a paste to be taken with water.

What Does Kratom do?

Although kratom has been used in Southeast Asia for centuries, many Americans are unaware of its use or benefits. Kratom is a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at high doses. It can be used as a painkiller and an aid in recovery from opioid recovery. It can also put the user into a dreamlike or euphoric state. Although kratom is legal to purchase and consume in the United States, it is banned in many other countries, such as Thailand and Australia.

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 Posted on March 11, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) filed in early March 2018, 170 people became ill after consuming chicken salad that was contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium. Of these victims, 62 were hospitalized for their symptoms.

The food poisoning cases related to this outbreak occurred in seven states - Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, and South Dakota. The outbreak was linked to chicken salad produced by Triple T Specialty Meats, which was sold in Fareway supermarkets. Of the people who became ill, 66% were female. Victims ranged in age from 7 to 89 years old with a median age of 59. No deaths were reported in conjunction to this outbreak.

Product Recalled Amid Safety Concerns

The chicken salad linked to the illnesses was produced between January 2, 2018 and February 7, 2018. After reports of illnesses were linked to the product, Triple T Specialty Meats voluntarily recalled all remaining packages of the chicken salad from store shelves.

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 Posted on March 03, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

Reports of vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea from individuals who attended a February 2018 fundraising event for the conservation group We Are Outdoors in Ohio have local health officials concerned that there could be a food poisoning outbreak in the area. 24 people who were at the event reported symptoms that could mean a few different types of food poisoning, such as norovirus, Salmonella, E.Coli, or Clostridium perfringens. Local health officials cannot determine a specific bacterial or viral cause of the attendees' symptoms just yet, but are currently investigating the situation.

Few Details for the Outbreak Yet

Health department officials reported that they do not know much about the outbreak yet, other than that 24 people who were at the event reported feeling ill afterward. Their illnesses could have been caused by one or more of the following:

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 Posted on February 25, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

When a pet suffers from food poisoning, every member of the household is at risk of becoming ill. Recently, four pet food brands issued recalls of their products after reports linked them to a Salmonella outbreak. Six pets died or became ill after consuming the pet food products. Two children also became ill, though it is not currently known if this was because the children consumed the pet food or if they became ill from being exposed to the pathogens in the food.

Although a pet owner cannot file a personal injury claim on behalf of his or her pet, the owner can file a claim for personal property damage to cover the animal's veterinary bills if the pet becomes ill due to a pet food seller or producer's negligence. When a human becomes ill after harmful bacteria enters the home through pet food, he or she may recover compensation for damages through a food poisoning claim.

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 Posted on February 08, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

It might soon be possible for individuals who become ill to identify whether their symptoms were caused by food poisoning with a simple smartphone accessory. Food scientists at UMass Amherst have developed a way to examine samples of potentially contaminated food with a smartphone app that uses a $30 microscope attachment.

Using a Microscope Attachment to Test Samples for Harmful Bacteria

The attachment uses a chemical-coated chip that binds to the harmful bacteria present in water samples collected after rinsing food believed to be contaminated. Bacteria travels from the food to the water via molecules, then becomes stuck to the chemical chip, where it can be examined with the microscope. The smartphone's screen shows the microscope's display.

Making Testing Accessible can Help to Prevent Food Poisoning

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 Posted on January 31, 2018 in Food borne illness

In a recent blog post, we talked about the recent multi-state Salmonella outbreak that was linked to raw bean sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurants in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Currently, the outbreak is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

When a food poisoning outbreak is linked to a specific food retailer or distributor, the responsible party may be required to take certain steps, such as recalling the contaminated product, to protect consumers from further illness. In other cases, the responsible party voluntarily makes changes and takes precautions to eliminate the chance of further illnesses occurring because of their product. A recent example of a retailer taking steps to protect its consumers is Chipotle's publicized changes to their food handling measures after it was linked to an E.Coli outbreak.

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 Posted on January 25, 2018 in Food Poisoning

An outbreak of Salmonella that caused eight people to become ill was recently linked to raw bean sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurants in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. As a precautionary measure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that consumers avoid eating raw sprouts from Jimmy John's restaurants until the cause of the outbreak has been identified and the sprouts are certified to be safe for human consumption again.

Currently, the CDC is working with state agencies in Illinois and Wisconsin to determine the cause of the outbreak. It is possible to trace a food poisoning outbreak to its source, but this can take time and requires cooperation from multiple parties, including the restaurant or retailer that sold the contaminated food, local health departments, and the infected patients themselves.

The CDC's Recommendations for Avoiding Illness

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 Posted on January 13, 2018 in Food borne illness

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association illustrated how restaurant review website Yelp helped the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene uncover 10 food poisoning outbreaks between 2012 and 2017. The researchers who conducted the study used a computer program that scanned Yelp reviews for specific food poisoning-related keywords like “vomit” and “sick.” After successfully uncovering local outbreaks through the program, the researchers hope to use it to track foodborne illnesses in other cities.

Studying How User Reviews can be Used to Trace Outbreaks

The researchers followed up with many of the reviewers about their symptoms, which items they consumed, and whether their dining companions became ill as well. In doing so, they tracked a few outbreaks that were not reported to health authorities. It is not uncommon for an individual to simply let his or her illness run its course, especially if the illness does not require the victim to receive medical attention.

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 Posted on January 06, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

After an E.Coli outbreak left 40 people sick and one dead across Canada, it came to the United States, and since November of 2017, it has resulted in 17 recorded cases of food poisoning. Among these cases, five victims were hospitalized, two of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. One of the hospitalized victims died as a result of the illness. The cases in the United States were primarily concentrated in the Northeast, but did include reports from across the nation.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not confirmed a specific source of the E.Coli bacteria, Consumer Reports magazine is warning Americans to avoid consuming romaine lettuce until the outbreak is traced to a definitive source. 41 of the reported cases in Canada were linked to consuming romaine lettuce, and the bacteria found causing the illnesses in the United States is genetically similar to the type of E.Coli linked to the illnesses reported in Canada.

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 Posted on December 31, 2017 in Food Poisoning

Segways have been a common sight in malls and among city touring groups since their debut in 2001. Although the Segway's creator hoped to fundamentally change the way we travel, potentially replacing the motor vehicle and altering pedestrian traffic, it never reached this level of influence. It was, however, adopted by many companies and organizations for use by security guards, police officers, and tour group leaders and participants.

Segways, like any other type of vehicle, can be dangerous. A Segway's top speed is 12 miles per hour, and when ridden on a sidewalk among bicyclists and pedestrians, a fast, bulky Segway can cause a collision that results in injury. They are also at risk of mechanical failures just like any other mechanical or electronic product. When an individual is injured in a Segway accident that could have been prevented through better care on another party's part, he or she can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for his or her related damages. The type of personal injury claim the individual files depends on the nature of the incident. It could be a premises liability claim, a product liability claim, or a simple claim based on negligence.

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