Posted on May 06, 2017 in Botulism

Two residents of Orange County have become ill with botulism, a potentially deadly illness linked to the consumption of canned and fermented goods. One of the residents was confirmed to be suffering from botulism by the Orange County Health Care Agency. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health suspects the two cases are linked to the consumption of deer antler tea obtained in March of 2017 and urge all individuals who have this tea in their possession to dispose of it.

Botulism and other types of food poisoning can have long-lasting repercussions for victims. Individuals who suffer from these repercussions may seek compensation for their damages from the parties responsible for their illnesses.

Botulism Symptoms

Botulism poisoning can have the following symptoms:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 29, 2017 in Food borne illness

Salmonella was once the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States. It has recently been dethroned by Campylobacter, a parasite frequently found in unpasteurized dairy products and chicken. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella reigned for 20 years as the most common food poisoning cause in the nation. The report also noted other common causes of food poisoning, such as Listeria and E.Coli. It reported that overall, there has not been a change to the number of food poisoning cases reported in the United States and that there has been a decrease in Salmonella cases because of tighter regulations on the food industry and new vaccination requirements for chickens.

Foods that Harbor Campylobacter

The most common way for humans to become ill with Campylobacteriosis is to consume contaminated chicken. Campylobacter can be found in many types of meat, including pork and beef. It can also be transmitted through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, specifically raw milk and products made with raw milk. It can also be transmitted through drinking water supplies.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 23, 2017 in Food Poisoning

Giardiasis illness, also known as Giardia infection, is an illness that occurs when an individual consumes food or water that has been contaminated with Giardia, a microscopic parasite. Generally, Giardia contaminates food and water through the feces of animals harboring the parasite. When a human comes into contact with Giardia, he or she can become very ill and suffer numerous symptoms.

Giardiasis illness is one of the most common waterborne illnesses in the United States. When Giardiasis illness is contracted through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, it can be considered a case of food poisoning.

How is Giardiasis Illness Contracted?

Giardiasis illness is contracted by coming into contact with contaminated water or food. It can be spread through person-to-person contact if one of the people involved has been infected. Generally, it is contracted in areas with dirty water and poor sanitation. When it is spread through food, the food is typically contaminated by handlers who have not washed their hands thoroughly or through produce that was washed in contaminated water.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 16, 2017 in Food Poisoning

To say that food poisoning is unpleasant is an understatement. It can result in days or even a week of abdominal discomfort, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, and other painful, uncomfortable symptoms. In many cases, the only way to treat food poisoning is to rest, stay hydrated, and avoid making the symptoms worse by consuming foods that are difficult to digest. While you are recovering from food poisoning, keep the following four guidelines in mind to help yourself make a speedy, comfortable recovery.

Know the Symptoms of Your Condition

Although you might not know the exact condition from which you are suffering, you will know that you are experiencing food poisoning symptoms. Use your symptoms and knowledge of foods you recently consumed to make an educated guess about which condition, such as Listeria or Salmonella poisoning, you are facing. This will let you know what other symptoms to anticipate and when it is necessary to seek medical care.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 07, 2017 in E. Coli

In a recent blog post, we discussed the E.Coli outbreak that affected 12 victims in five states who had consumed nut butters and granola products produced by The SoyNut Butter Company. By the end of March 2017, the number of people impacted by the E.Coli outbreak had risen to 29. The victims were in 12 states: Oregon, California, Washington, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The people affected ranged from 1 to 57 years of age, with a median age of 8. 59% of the people affected were male. No deaths were reported in conjunction with this outbreak, but 12 victims were hospitalized and of these individuals, nine developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 03, 2017 in Food poisoning claim

If you are served contaminated food in a restaurant, the restaurant may be liable for your food poisoning damages. But before you go ahead and file a personal injury claim after becoming ill from eating restaurant food, it is important that you understand a few important facts about filing a food poisoning claim. Below are four issues to consider and discuss with your lawyer before you move forward with your claim.

The Pathogen Responsible for your Illness Must be Identified by a Doctor

Your claim cannot simply state that you felt sick and experienced symptoms of food poisoning after eating in a restaurant. You must be able to prove that you suffered from the effects of a specific bacterial or viral infection, such as Salmonella, Listeria, Hepatitis A, or E.Coli. Your doctor can determine and document the cause of your illness through a stool or blood test.

You Need Evidence to Support your Claim

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 29, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

When you find yourself running to the bathroom, clutching your abdomen in pain, and feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and simply lousy, you could be suffering from food poisoning. You could also be suffering from gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu. More than three million cases of gastroenteritis are reported in the United States each year. Like many types of food poisoning, its symptoms are easily self-treatable and often subside on their own after a few days.

Use the guidelines below to determine whether your illness is gastroenteritis or food poisoning. If your food poisoning was due to being sold or served contaminated food, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages through a food poisoning claim.

When Did your Symptoms Begin?

Food poisoning symptoms can appear two to six hours after consuming the contaminated food, but in some cases, they appear later than this. Symptoms of stomach flu, on the other hand, tend to appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the gastroenteritis virus. It can be impossible to know when you were exposed to a virus, but try to think back to who you were with one to two days before the onset of your symptoms. Did he or she appear to be ill? Ask about the symptoms he or she is experiencing.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 19, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

Vulto Creamery of Walton, New York has recalled eight of its cheese products amid concerns of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recalled products are its Blue Blais, Hamden, Willowemoc, Miranda, Heinennellie, Walton Umber, Ouleout, and Andes raw milk cheeses, which were distributed nationwide and primarily sold at retailers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The products were also found in Chicago, California, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon.

Listeria is a strain of bacteria that can cause severe food poisoning symptoms when consumed, particularly when it is consumed by individuals with weakened immune systems. When left untreated, Listeriosis can spread to the nervous system and cause the victim to suffer from convulsions, confusions, a stiff neck, and loss of balance. Treatment requires the use of antibiotics, which can be costly. Individuals who suffer from Listeriosis after being served or sold contaminated products may seek compensation for their damages through personal injury claims.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 11, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

The SoyNut Butter Company, an Illinois-based food manufacturer, recently issued a recall of all varieties of its I.M. Healthy nut butters and its I.M. Healthy granola products due to concerns about potential E.Coli contamination. 12 victims from five states, all but one of whom are younger than 18 years old, reportedly suffered from food poisoning symptoms after consuming these products. Of these victims, six were hospitalized. Four of the hospitalized victims suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome. No deaths have been reported in connection to this outbreak. One of the victims in this lawsuit is being represented by Gary Newland of Newland & Newland, LLP.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a type of kidney failure that can be fatal. When an individual dies from consuming contaminated or otherwise harmful food because of another party's negligence, his or her loved ones may seek compensation for their damages through a wrongful death claim. In cases in which victims survive their illnesses, they may seek compensation for their financial damages related to the illnesses through personal injury claims.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 05, 2017 in Food borne illness

There are many ways you can become ill after consuming food. You are probably aware that it is likely to become ill after consuming spoiled food. Though this can lead to food poisoning, it is not the only way to become ill after eating.

Below are numerous ways to potentially become ill after eating food. Be aware of the foods that put you at risk for each type of foodborne illness and how to reduce your chance of becoming ill. If you are pregnant, elderly, or have a weakened immune system, you have a greater risk of suffering from food poisoning than individuals who are not in these categories. Young children also have an increased risk of developing food poisoning. If another party's negligence is to blame for your food poisoning illness, such as a restaurant or a food vendor, you can potentially recover compensation for your damages through a food poisoning claim.

Consuming Spoiled Food

Continue Reading ››