Posted on September 24, 2016 in Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can occur with fresh items, like meat and vegetables straight from the farm, or with packaged items that can be purchased frozen or vacuum-sealed. Many individuals do not realize that processed and packaged foods can be as dangerous as fresh foods because the processes the foods go through before reaching store shelves should ideally kill any harmful bacteria. A recent report of listeria being found in packages of Eggo Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat waffles has changed many individuals' perception of the safety of packaged foods.

Only the Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat variety of waffles was recalled. Other varieties and other products from Kellogg Company are safe to eat, the company reports. Kellogg Company voluntarily recalled packages of potentially-affected waffles in September 2016.

Strong>Effects of Listeria

Listeria can cause the following symptoms:

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 Posted on September 16, 2016 in Ecoli

Bacteria are living organisms. It can sometimes be difficult to think of them this way because they are microscopic, but they are organisms just like birds, fish, and human beings. Bacteria are unicellular, which means that each individual is only made up of one cell, rather than the trillions of cells that comprise a human being.

As living organisms, bacterial populations can grow and evolve according to their environment. One gene that has been found in strains of E.Coli bacteria is mcr-1, which makes them resistant to certain antibiotics. Thus far, four cases of individuals falling ill to this strain of E.Coli have been identified in the United States, including a toddler in Connecticut who became ill in June 2016. E.Coli is especially dangerous to humans because it can be spread quickly through contaminated food. Young children can suffer significantly worse symptoms of food poisoning than adults because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, making antibiotic-resistant strains potentially deadly to young victims.

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 Posted on September 12, 2016 in Hepatitis

Although certain types of food are linked with food poisoning outbreaks more frequently than others, nearly any type of food or consumable product can carry harmful bacteria that can cause victims to fall ill. One recent report from Food Safety News cites frozen strawberries as the culprit for the recent outbreak of Hepatitis A. As of September 8th, 2016, 89 people in seven states have suffered from symptoms of Hepatitis A after consuming smoothies made with frozen strawberries imported from Egypt. Reports came from West Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Virginia.

In most of these cases, the victim consumed a smoothie made by a restaurant or retailer, rather than purchasing the strawberries and making the smoothie at home. Multiple chains, including Tropical Smoothie Cafe, were cited as the sources of the contaminated smoothies.

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 Posted on September 02, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

When you read about food poisoning outbreaks in the news or see them on television, you probably hear the same names over and over: Salmonella, Listeria, Norovirus, and E.Coli. These types of harmful bacteria can spread quickly, causing a large number of people to become ill. Although they are four common types of food poisoning, they are not the only types of food poisoning. Other types of food poisoning that you might not have heard of include Botulism, C. Perfringens, Hepatitis A, and Vibrio Vulnificus.

Botulism

Botulism is often associated with canned foods. This is because the bacteria that causes Botulism thrives in environments with little oxygen. Botulism can have serious side effects, such as paralysis. It can also be fatal. If you experience symptoms of Botulism, such as nausea, a drooping eyelid, facial weakness, difficulty swallowing or speaking, or blurred vision within a period of 36 hours after consuming a canned food or fermented seafood, seek medical attention right away.

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 Posted on August 26, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

As the new school year approaches, parents have a ton of decisions to make. One of these is what your child will eat during school hours. Some parents give their children money to buy lunch and snacks from the school cafeteria, while others pack lunches for their children to bring.

There are pros and cons to each approach. Although a home-packed lunch is often healthier than cafeteria fare, making and packaging lunches can be time-consuming. Parents also often have concerns about the safety of their children's food, whether the food comes from home or from the cafeteria. For example, cafeteria food is prepared on site and served while it is still hot, but there is no way to know how the food was handled or stored before it was prepared. Lunch from home, on the other hand, might sit in a brown bag or lunchbox for hours before lunch, allowing the food to enter the danger zone. There is no perfect school lunch solution, but there are steps a parent can take to lower a child's chance of succumbing to food poisoning at school this year.

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 Posted on August 17, 2016 in Food Poisoning

Gel Spice Inc., a New Jersey-based spice producer that manufactures multiple brands of turmeric, has recalled its product after lead was found in multiple brands' packaged ground turmeric. Initially, a routine sampling of the turmeric by the New York State Department of Agriculture determined that one lot of Fresh Finds brand turmeric powder contained an unsafe level of lead. Further testing found high lead levels in multiple brands from Gel Spice Inc. These brands include Gel, Market Pantry, Lieber's, Clear Value, Spice Supreme, and Spice Select.

These brands are distributed at food retailers throughout the nation. Although no illnesses have been reported in conjunction with the tainted turmeric, individuals who have turmeric from any of the lot numbers listed in the FDA release linked above are urged to throw the spices away and call the company's consumer hotline with any questions.

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 Posted on August 13, 2016 in Food borne illness

Whether you believe in climate change or not, whether you believe climate change is due to human activity or not, the fact is this: There have been measurable changes to the planet's temperature in recent decades. These changes have led to multiple chain reactions, such as thinner ice sheets in the Arctic Ocean driving polar bears south and rising sea levels threatening human residences in coastal areas. Another effect of climate change is the increased number of waterborne food poisoning cases reported.

Raw oysters have been linked to foodborne illness more than other types of seafood, though illness has been linked to the consumption of multiple species. For comparison, in the late 1990s, an average of 390 lab-confirmed cases of waterborne food poisoning were reported in the United States each year. Today, that number is more than 1,000 each year. Food poisoning can be caused by many different types of bacteria, and each type of bacteria is linked to specific symptoms. If you become ill because of another party's failure to properly clean, store, transport, or prepare food, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages.

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 Posted on July 31, 2016 in Food Poisoning

Every year, thousands of children and teens from around the country head off to summer camp to spend a week or longer away from their families, mastering new skills and building new friendships. Although some camps only last a few hours each day, known as day camps, others have campers sleep over in cabins or tents. These camps are known as sleep-away camps and while campers are there, the camps provide them with all their meals.

If a child is served unsafe food at camp, he or she can become ill. Examples of dangerous bacteria that can be found in food served at summer camp as well as food found elsewhere include Salmonella, Listeria, Norovirus, E.coli, and Staphylococcus. Food poisoning can be much more dangerous for children than it is for adults because children's immune systems are still developing. The younger the child, the more profoundly food poisoning can affect him or her. If your child becomes ill with food poisoning and requires medical care, you can seek compensation for any damages associated with the illness through a food poisoning claim.

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 Posted on July 24, 2016 in Food Poisoning

The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has come to a close, and from it came speeches from Republican leaders from around the country, hours of footage, and presidential nominee Donald Trump's official nomination, along with his running mate, Michael Pence. But something else happened during the convention. 11 members of the California delegation's support team fell ill with what appears to be norovirus, a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted from person to person and through consuming contaminated food or water. The individuals who fell ill were staying at the Kalahari Resorts approximately one hour away from the convention in Sandusky, Ohio.

Two of the 11 victims were pregnant and needed to be hospitalized. Like other types of food poisoning, norovirus can be especially dangerous for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems. If you experience any of the symptoms of norovirus listed below, take steps to keep yourself hydrated and avoid any strenuous activity while you recover. It is also important that you avoid contact with others during your recovery because norovirus is contagious. If your symptoms worsen or fail to subside within a few days, seek medical attention.

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 Posted on July 16, 2016 in Food Poisoning

The midst of summer is upon us and during this time of year, many Illinois residents and families choose to enjoy the long, hot days and nights outside, gathered around campfires and backyard fire pits. Often, these outdoor fires are used to cook hot dogs, shish kabobs, and other foods like marshmallows for s'mores. Sitting around the campfire eating a freshly charred dinner is a great way to make warm summer memories with family and friends.

It can also be a great way to contract dangerous bacteria if you are not careful. Processed meats like hot dogs and summer sausages can harbor Listeria among other types of dangerous bacteria. Chicken, which you might eat on a skewer with peppers and onions cooked over the fire, can harbor Salmonella, and the fresh side salad can also be home to bacteria that can cause you to suffer from food poisoning. With this information in mind, make smart choices about food safety this summer to reduce your chance of suffering from food poisoning.

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