Posted on July 21, 2017 in Food borne illness

A Chipotle restaurant in Virginia had to shut its doors temporarily in July of 2017 due to customers' reports of diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pains after eating there. For Chipotle, cases of alleged food poisoning reaching the news is nothing new. In 2015, the fast casual burrito vendor faced numerous food poisoning cases at locations across the nation, including E.Coli, Norovirus, and Salmonella. With each outbreak, Chipotle saw its stock prices fall. It recovered from these outbreaks by publicly making changes to its food preparation and handling operations and offering customers free food products. Although customers returned to Chipotle, the association between the restaurant and food poisoning remains in the back of many minds.

How Food Poisoning Scandals Change the Public's Perception of a Brand

Because of the previous cases of food poisoning involving Chipotle, many individuals mentally associate the brand with food poisoning and if they experience food poisoning symptoms themselves, may be quick to assume the symptoms are because of food consumed from Chipotle rather than food consumed elsewhere. This is not a new or isolated phenomenon – years following its E.Coli outbreak in the early 1990s, potential customers were still wary of eating at Jack in the Box.

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 Posted on July 14, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

Generally, a party whose negligence is deemed to be the cause of one or more victims' food poisoning is liable for those victims' related financial damages. Victims can seek compensation for their damages through personal injury claims, but this is not always a simple, straightforward process. It can be difficult to pinpoint a case of food poisoning to a specific food item or prove that the victim's illness could have been prevented through better care on the part of the food vendor.

An example of this is the food poisoning case currently moving through courts in Georgia. Wedding guests who became ill after eating food provided by a caterer wanted to sue the caterer for their damages, but the court ruled that they could not pursue a lawsuit because of a lack of substantial evidence linking one guest's Salmonella illness to the catered food eaten at the wedding rehearsal dinner and the lack of proof showing that another affected guest's illness was Salmonella poisoning. The Georgia Court of Appeals reached a 5-4 split on the case. The plaintiffs' attorney will appeal the case to the Georgia Supreme Court.

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 Posted on July 09, 2017 in Food Poisoning

If you think you are safe from food poisoning because you maintain a vegan diet, think again. Although animal products like meat and dairy can harbor harmful bacteria, so can produce and grains. Take the time to learn about which specific vegan and vegetarian foods can potentially put you at risk for suffering from food poisoning and how you can reduce these risks through proper food handling and storage. Even with taking these steps, remember that you can never completely eliminate your risk of becoming ill from contaminated food. If you do experience food poisoning because of another party's negligence, you can potentially recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

Canned Products can Contain Botulism

If you buy and consume canned products, beware of botulism. Botulism is a rare form of food poisoning that can be deadly. Do not consume food from cans that:

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 Posted on July 02, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

If you think you know a lot about food poisoning, test your knowledge by trying to guess whether the following statements are true or false. If you get them all right, you are well-versed in food poisoning. If not, take some time to learn more about different types of food poisoning, how they are transmitted, their symptoms, and how to treat them. In fact, do this anyway – it never hurts to refresh your knowledge or learn something new.

Fruits with Rinds are Safe from Harmful Bacteria

False. A fruit's outer rind protects it from pests and microbes found in its environment. Although it does keep out some of the bacteria that can harm the fruit, do not assume it will keep out bacteria that can harm you. Fruits like honeydew and watermelon can harbor listeria, sometimes right on the rind. This is why you should always wash your fruit thoroughly before consuming it.

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 Posted on June 27, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

In June of 2017, Trader Joe's recalled a few of the granola products it carries, including one of its store brand products, due to concerns that they could potentially be contaminated with listeria. No cases of food poisoning involving these products have been reported yet, but Trader Joe's has proactively opted to recall the products and offer full refunds to any individuals who return them to a Trader Joe's store.

Which Products were Recalled?

The recalled products were:

• Trader Joe's Grainless Granola. This product was recalled in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia; and
• Nationwide, Wildway recalled its Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut grain-free granola, Coconut Cashew grain-free granola, and Vanilla Bean Espresso grain-free granola.

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 Posted on June 23, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

When you are suffering from food poisoning, whether it is a case of Salmonella, Listeria, or another type of illness, you can make the illness easier or more difficult for yourself through your choices. Always put your health and safety first, which can be easier said than done for many individuals with work and family obligations. Ignoring your health when you are suffering from food poisoning can make your condition worse and potentially subject you to complications like dehydration and permanent organ damage.

Ignoring Your Symptoms

Different types of food poisoning have similar symptoms. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are typical symptoms of many different types of food poisoning. Although they can seem minor, it is important that you listen to your body and rest while you are experiencing these symptoms. Sleeping helps your immune system fight the infection, which will help you to recover more quickly.

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 Posted on June 12, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services recently reported that 14 people in the state hailing from 11 different counties have become ill with salmonella poisoning, also known as Salmonellosis. More than one third of the victims are under 10 years old. This is not uncommon with food poisoning outbreaks; children and the elderly are more susceptible to food poisoning because they have weaker immune systems than healthy adults. Individuals with compromised immune systems and pregnant women are also cautioned to be especially vigilant of food poisoning hazards because of their increased risk of becoming ill.

In total, 372 people in 47 states have reportedly become ill with salmonella poisoning this year. This data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although salmonella poisoning often resolves itself within a few days and rarely causes a victim to face prolonged suffering, it can have serious complications like endocarditis or meningitis if the infection spreads to these respective tissues. When salmonella poisoning is the result of an act of negligence, the victim can seek compensation for his or her damages through a personal injury claim.

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 Posted on June 03, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

The story of the man who died from contracting botulism as part of an outbreak in northern California hit the news recently, making food poisoning and safe food handling procedures a national discussion. In total, nine people were hospitalized as a result of becoming ill with botulism after consuming nacho cheese sauce purchased from a gas station near Sacramento in April 2017. After health officials removed four batches of the sauce from the gas station, the sauce tested positive for the botulinum toxin, the toxin that causes botulism.

Botulism can have deadly effects on victims. Know the types of food that can be contaminated with botulism and how you can protect yourself and your children from this risk. Knowing the symptoms of botulism and when to seek medical treatment are also critical to overcoming this illness if you or your children become sick.

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 Posted on May 17, 2017 in Food borne illness

For many, falling ill briefly is just an expected part of traveling abroad. These short bouts of gastrointestinal difficulties are often referred to as “Delhi belly” or “Montezuma's revenge” and are frequently blamed on adverse reactions to new foods or water sources. This is not correct. According to Richard Conroy, a travel sickness researcher and food scientist from the United Kingdom, issues like diarrhea and vomiting while traveling are always caused by food poisoning. Harmful bacteria in food and water cause these issues just like it can cause them at home.

Food poisoning can have a lasting, harmful effect on a victim's body. If you encounter this issue while traveling, do not downplay it. Take time to help yourself recover and if necessary, seek medical care.

Water Can Transport Pathogens that Cause Food Poisoning

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 Posted on May 14, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

The voluntary recall The SoyNut Butter Company issued for its I.M. Healthy SoyNut butter products in March of 2017 raised awareness of the potential E.coli contamination in these butters and likely pushed many consumers to throw out any remaining containers of the product in their homes, thereby protecting them and their families from contracting food poisoning illness. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that illnesses stemming from this outbreak can continue to be reported for months to come because these butters will likely remain in individual's homes and on kitchen shelves in schools and office buildings because of their long shelf life.

Nut Butter Products Have Long Shelf Lives

Unlike fresh produce and meat, nut butters can remain fresh for months, even years or longer if stored properly. Individuals who missed the initial recall for I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butters might continue to consume open containers of these butters, putting themselves at risk of contracting E.coli poisoning.

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