food

Each year, contaminated foods and recalled food products are responsible for countless illnesses and deaths throughout the United States. For example, a peanut butter manufacturing facility in Plainview, Texas, was shut down after salmonella was found, and workers in microwave popcorn factories have a high incidence of a serious lung disease caused by inhaling chemicals used in the manufacturing process.

Even as technological advances begin to cure many food-borne diseases, others are being discovered. If you suffer from a food-borne illness, or have lost a family member because of a contaminated food product or food-related illness, you should seek counsel from a lawyer with experience handling claims involving food-borne illnesses and fatalities.

At the Rasansky Law Firm, we have extensive experience handling food-borne illness claims relating to contaminated or recalled foods. Lead attorney Jeff Rasansky has been recognized for his legal ability and is the recipient of several awards and honors. For additional information about our law firm and some of the many benefits of retaining us to assist you with your food-borne illness claim, visit our About Us page. Call 1-877-659-1620 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about your injuries or loss from contaminated or recalled foods.

Information about Food-Borne Illnesses

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), food-borne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Known pathogens account for an estimated 14 million illnesses, 60,000 hospitalizations, and 1,800 deaths. Three pathogens: salmonella, listeria and toxoplasma, are responsible for 1,500 deaths each year, more than 80% of the deaths from known pathogens.

Types of Food-Borne Illnesses

Food-borne illness can take one of three forms:

• Viral: There are several viral diseases related to food-borne illness. Perhaps the most well-known is Hepatitis A, which can be transmitted by unsanitary employees who handle and prepare foods.

• Bacterial: Botulinum (which causes botulism), salmonella, listeria and E. coli are probably the most common bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses. Exposure to food-borne bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli comes from ingestion of undercooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products and seafood.

• Parasitic: Toxoplasma and giardia lamblia are two of the most common food-borne parasites. They can be transmitted through unsanitary workers and undercooked foods.

In addition to causing death, food-borne illnesses can have long-term effects such as joint pain and infected internal organs (such as liver or intestines). It is important to obtain regular check-ups and talk to your doctor about any changes in your physical condition, including rapid weight loss, flu-like symptoms, fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

Foods that have been recalled, or that are known to cause illness, are listed below. We update this information regularly, so please bookmark this page and check back often.

• Peanut butter – Certain peanut butters and other peanut products have been recalled by the FDA because of ties to a salmonella outbreak. The recall specifically targets products from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) plant in Plainview, Texas.

• Popcorn lung – According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a chemical called diacetyl, which gives popcorn its buttery taste, can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, lung disease in workers at microwave popcorn factories. Most individuals with the illness (dubbed “popcorn lung”) are factory workers, but some cases have also been linked to excessive consumption of microwave popcorn.

• Packaged salad – Packeged salad and/or greens have a relitively high rate of contamination – be it salmonella, listeria, etc.
• Chicken and Ground Beef – Unfortunately, meat is still one of the most common products to be recalled due to contamination.

Contact an Experienced Food-Borne Illness Lawyer

Your future and the future of your family are too important to trust to a less experienced law firm. We have a track record of success, as well as the necessary experience and background to handle your claim involving injury, disease or death from contaminated or recalled food, and we always provide the personal service you seek.

To schedule a free confidential consultation with award-winning attorney Jeff Rasansky or one of our other experienced personal injury lawyers, call us toll free at 1-877-659-1620. If you prefer, you can fill out our contact intake form and we will contact you to schedule a consultation. Our track record and our service are our legacy, call today.