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Foodborne Illness

Foodborne Illness

Harford, P.C., Is Accepting Food-borne Illness Lawsuits

Bacteria can contaminate food and leave innocent people who consume that food sick. A serious bout of food poisoning can leave a victim with significant pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term adverse events to their health. According to the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), food poisoning causes about 48 million people to get sick, 128,000 hospitalizations, and up to 3,000 deaths each year.

Food-borne illnesses can arise from all types of foods such as contaminated meat or cheese, tainted lettuce, defective children’s snack food, and even food for pets. The bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses can arise from poor sanitation conditions at factories, improperly packaged or stored food, untreated water, and fruits or vegetables exposed to animal waste.

What are the common causes of food-borne illnesses?

Bacteria is one of the more common causes of foodborne illnesses with infections caused by campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, E. coli, listeria, botulism, and norovirus.

Campylobacter infections can be serious, particularly in victims with weakened immune systems. This bacteria is found in the intestines of birds, chickens, and other animals. The symptoms occur 1 to 10 days after infection and include muscle pain, headache, and fever followed by diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. Although Campylobacter infections do not commonly cause death, it has been estimated by the CDC that approximately 76 people with Campylobacter infections die each year.

Salmonella typically is transmitted by undercooked food and can cause severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly arthritis. The symptoms develop 12 to 72 hours after infection and can become life-threatening for people with weakened immune systems.

Shigella is an infectious disease that causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within one to two days after exposure. It is often found in water that has been contaminated with human feces.

E. coli 0157 is transmitted through raw or undercooked meat, unpasteurized milk, or contaminated water. It is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli and infects thousands of innocent victims every year. Symptoms may include bloody diarrhea, cramps, mild fever, kidney failure, colitis, brain damage and possible death. The symptoms start approximately seven days after infection.

Listeria is a bacterium found in vegetables, milk, meat, chicken, cheeses, and salads. It has been known to cause flu-like illnesses, meningitis, and septicemia. The CDC has commented that listeria can remain in your symptoms months before any symptoms.

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease that can also impair vision and speech and cause difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and paralysis of breathing. The symptoms most commonly appear between 12 and 36 hours after exposure to the bacteria. Most outbreaks are associated with inadequately-produced food products.

Do I have a claim for a food-borne illness?

Harford, P.C., is now accepting food-borne illness cases from all 50 states. We have the necessary experience representing and litigating these claims. If you or someone you know developed a bacterial food-borne illness, please contact us immediately at (212) 390-8983 for a free consultation. You may also complete the form below and we will contact you to set up a consultation.

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