Posted on October 08, 2015 in Foodborne illness

Aspen Foods of Chicago is continuing its recall of frozen chicken products after receiving more reports of salmonella illnesses linked to their products. The products recalled include packages of breaded Chicken Kiev, Chicken and Broccoli, and Chicken Cordon Bleu. This recall comes after the company issued a previous recall in July 2015.

Salmonella infection can lead to serious, even deadly, complications. When a company's product is found to be responsible for a consumer's illness, that company may be held liable for the consumer's medical costs and other economic losses caused by the illness. If you or your child became ill after consuming a product such as the products listed above, you could be entitled to a monetary settlement. Contact an experienced food poisoning attorney today to begin this discussion.

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 Posted on September 30, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Stewart Parnell, former owner of Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) was sentenced to 28 years in prison for knowingly shipping peanut products contaminated with salmonella in 2007. The outbreak that ensued caused nine deaths and more than 700 illnesses. Alongside Stewart Parnell, his brother, food broker Michael Parnell received a 20-year prison sentence. Mary Wilkerson, the PCA plant's quality assurance manager, was sentenced to five years in prison. “Just ship it,” Parnell wrote in a 2007 email to a plant manager after being notified of the contamination in the latest batch of peanut products.

Food safety activists are hailing this ruling as a step toward a safer, more transparent food industry for America. We still have a long way to go in containing salmonella and other dangerous bacteria in foods. If you have been affected by salmonella or another type of food-borne illness, seek medical care for your condition. Then, contact an experienced food poisoning attorney to discuss the possibility of filing a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your illness. This party could be the food product's manufacturer, supplier, distributor, or retailer. In some cases, the fault could potentially fall on more than one of these parties.

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 Posted on September 23, 2015 in Food Poisoning

As a parent, the thought of your child being injured or falling ill when you are not available to protect him or her is likely one of your greatest fears. Although you do all that you can to protect your child from harm, part of growing up is spending time away from parents and learning to make independent decisions. Your child could be exposed to contaminated food at school, at friends' homes, and in public places like food courts, restaurants, and snack stands. Although you can not prevent food poisoning from happening to your child, you can make sure he or she gets the treatment he or she needs to recover.

In some cases, food poisoning is severe enough to require substantial medical care. If this is the case for your child, you might be able to recover monetary compensation for the cost of this medical care through a food poisoning claim. This is a type of personal injury claim that can cover costs associated with food poisoning treatment. Discuss this option with an experienced food poisoning attorney to determine if you have grounds for a claim.

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 Posted on September 13, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Over the past three years, more than 600 people in the United States have become ill with Salmonella Poona after consuming cucumbers grown and packed in Mexico by Rancho Don Juanito and distributed in the United States by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. The victims hailed from 30 states. As of September 4, 2015, 70 victims have been hospitalized and two have died.

In response to the outbreak, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has recalled all of the cucumbers that were released with the contaminated crops. Recalls serve as a way for companies to remove their harmful products from the marketplace to protect consumers from falling ill or being injured. If you have been affected by a recalled product, you could potentially have grounds for a product liability claim. When that product is a type of food or food product, it is in your best interest to work with an experienced food poisoning attorney to file and pursue your claim.

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 Posted on September 07, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Earlier this summer, 17 people became ill after eating at a golf course lunch buffet in Elgin, Illinois known as The Grumpy Goat Tavern. The individuals affected experienced flu-like symptoms including nausea, sweating, body aches, runny nose, dehydration, and fatigue. One of the victims contacted the city health department to conduct an investigation of the restaurant. Once the investigation was complete, the health department declared The Grumpy Goat Tavern to meet sanitation and safety standards. There was no conclusive ruling about whether the food from the buffet actually caused the gastrointestinal disruptions in the individual who became ill because there was no food leftover from the meal in question for the health department to inspect.

Food poisoning can have serious consequences, especially for individuals with weak immune systems. If you experience food poisoning after eating in a restaurant or other public place, you could potentially recover damages for your losses by working with an experienced food poisoning attorney to file and pursue a personal injury claim.

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 Posted on September 03, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Earlier this summer, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a product recall for barbecued whole hogs produced by Kapowsin Meats after its inspectors discovered Salmonella in a sample of the product. Since the recall, Salmonella has been discovered in other products made by Kapowsin Meats. The USDA responded to this further discovery by recalling all products by Kapowsin Meats and those from other companies that came from the same sources as the tainted meat. Examples of these other products include pork offal products, pork blood, and pork trimmings.

Kapowsin Meats voluntarily suspended its operations.

Salmonella refers to two species of bacteria: Salmonella bongori and Salmonella enteria. Both types of Salmonella can be found in a variety of animal species. Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can cause food poisoning, typhoid fever, and paratyphoid fever. If you become ill after consuming food contaminated with Salmonella, you could potentially have grounds for a food poisoning claim. This is a type of personal injury claim, which means that you may be able to recover your economic damages through a claim against the party responsible for your exposure to Salmonella.

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 Posted on September 01, 2015 in Food Poisoning

A recent outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at the Illinois Veterans' Home has left 23 residents suffering its symptoms. These symptoms include fatigue, body aches, fever, coughing, and lung inflammation. The cause of the outbreak has not yet been identified. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) are working together closely with the Adams County Health Department to determine how the disease was brought into the facility.

Individuals who suffer from food poisoning may be able to recover economic damages through a food poisoning claim. Food poisoning claims are a type of personal injury claim that are made by a victim to recover money from the party responsible for his or her illness or injury.

What is Legionnaires Disease?

Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia that is caused by the Legionella bacteria. It is transmitted through the inhalation of contaminated water or soil in aerosol form. For example, when contaminated water passes through shower heads, faucets, swimming pools, or humidifiers, individuals who inhale the water vapor can be exposed to the bacteria and put at risk for developing Legionnaires Disease.

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 Posted on August 10, 2015 in Foodborne illness

A cyclospora outbreak traced to cilantro has infected 218 people so far this summer, making it the third consecutive summer that the parasite has travelled to the United States.

The 2013 Outbreak

In 2013, 631 people in 25 states were sickened from multiple cyclospora outbreaks beginning in June and ending in December. The outbreaks were traced to multiple food sources but the majority of illnesses were related to tainted produce from Mexico. 80% of the cases ocurred in Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas.

The 227 cases in Iowa and Nebraska were linked to commercial bagged salad mix produced by Taylor Farms, originating in Mexico. The salads were served at restaurants such as Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

The 270 Texas cases were traced to contaminated cilantro that was imported from the Puebla region of Mexico.

The 2014 Outbreak

In 2014, contaminated cilantro from the Puebla region of Mexico was again the source of a cyclospora outbreak. This particular outbreak infected over 120 people in Texas who ingested the cilantro that was either sold at grocery stores or served in restaurants.

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 Posted on August 04, 2015 in Foodborne illness

Who is Stewart Parnell?

Stewart Parnell, 61, is the former CEO of the Peanut Corporation of America (“PCA”), a peanut butter manufacturer. As a result of a salmonella outbreak tied to PCA products, Parnell has been found guilty on 71 counts of various crimes such as conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and wire fraud. Parnell's sentencing will take place on September 21.

The Salmonella Outbreak

Between 2008 and 2009 there was a salmonella outbreak from PCA products. PCA sold contaminated peanut butter from its southwest Georgia plant after salmonella was found in the factory. As a result of the salmonella outbreak, nine people died and over 700 fell ill from the tainted peanut products.

Parnell knew the product was tainted and proceeded to ship out truckloads of peanut butter to food brokers. PCA manufactured the peanut butter then sold it through brokers, which means that the contamination spread throughout the entire food supply. Even products that merely use peanut butter as an ingredient were contaminated. Parnell's brother was a food broker, which made tracing the outbreak even tougher.

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 Posted on July 29, 2015 in Food Poisoning

The Garden Fresh Steakhouse Potato Salad that is sold at Jewel-Osco stores in Illinois has been recalled for possible listeria contamination in the Chicago area. Although there have not been any reported illnesses, the possibly contaminated potato salad was sold between May 30 and June 9 of this year.

After being notified by Garden Fresh of the possible outbreak, Jewel stores removed and destroyed any possibly contaminated products. Garden Fresh health officials identified the possible presence of Listeria through internal testing as part of the company's robust testing protocols. No other Garden Fresh brand products or potato salads sold at Jewel stores were part of this recall.

Health officials have urged any person that purchased Garden Fresh Potato Salad between the May 30 to June 9 time frame to dispose of it immediately and return to the local Jewel store for a refund.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a serious bacteria that can cause infection. People usually become infected by eating food that is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. However, Listeria can also grow in a refrigerator if food is not stored at an appropriate temperature.

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