Food Poisoning
Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice Botulism Outbreak
In 2006, five people in the United States and Canada became violently sick and one victim died after drinking Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice. An investigation revealed that the juice was contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, a dangerous organism that produces a nerve-paralyzing toxin. The victims experienced breathing difficulties and muscle paralysis, which led to extensive hospitalization and lengthy recovery. Several victims of the botulism outbreak sued Bolthouse Farms in Canada and the United States in order to obtain compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, intense physical pain and emotional suffering.
Botulism
Botulism is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the botulism bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Every year, about 150 people in the United States contract botulism, with about 25 cases resulting from contaminated food. Among various food items, the most common source of botulism poisoning is canned food, such as canned meat, fish, corn and beets. Once the botulism toxin enters the bloodstream, it compromises proper nerve function, causing the onset of gradual muscle paralysis. Without treatment, botulism is often fatal, as the paralysis of the lung muscles can render victims unable to breathe.
Campylobacter
Every year, more than 2.4 million Americans contract campylobacter — a bacterium that can cause severe diarrheal illness. The second most common food-borne gastrointestinal disease after salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis kills about 120 of its victims each year. The most common source of campylobacter infection is raw or undercooked poultry and meat, as well as raw milk products. Some of the most recent large-scale campylobacteriosis outbreaks occurred in 2009 at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Minnesota and Kinkin Corner Dairy in Colorado.
Castleberry Recall
In 2007, seven people became severely ill and one victim died after consuming hot dog chili sauce made by Castleberry's Food Company. An FDA investigation revealed that all of the affected persons had contracted botulism bacteria found in improperly pasteurized cans of Castleberry's chili sauce. The company issued a recall of 10 million pounds of canned meat sold under 27 brand names.
Caudill Sprouts Salmonellosis Outbreak
Among various types of produce, sprouts are the number two vehicle for salmonella contamination after leafy vegetables. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the last two decades, at least 33 salmonella outbreaks have been caused by contaminated sprouts. One of the largest recent sprout-related salmonella epidemics occurred in 2009 when alfalfa sprouts grown from contaminated seeds distributed by the Caudill Seed Company sickened more than 200 people.
Chipotle Food Poisoning Lawsuit - Campylobacteriosis
In 2009, more than 10 people became sick with severe gastrointestinal symptoms after dining at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Apple Valley, Minnesota. In nine cases, laboratory tests confirmed campylobacteriosis – a diarrheal illness caused by the Campylobacter jejuni bacteria. A subsequent environmental health investigation revealed that the restaurant had violated food safety codes by serving undercooked chicken, the most likely source of the campylobacteriosis outbreak.
Cholera Outbreaks
Cholera is an infectious disease that has killed millions of people worldwide. While it rarely occurs in the United States, more than 100 cases have been reported over the last two decades. The most recent cholera outbreak occurred in Texas in 2009 as a woman suffered stomach cramps and violent diarrhea lasting for two weeks after being exposed to a sewage-contaminated bayou.
Ciguatera and Fish Tapeworm Infection: Legal Help
Fish is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids that can help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers. However, consuming contaminated and/or improperly prepared fish can pose grave health risks, such as ciguatera fish poisoning and fish tapeworm infection. According to the estimates of the World Health Organization, ciguatera fish poisoning sickens about 500,000 people worldwide each year.
E. Coli
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 70,000 Americans get sick with E.coli-caused infection each year, and about 60 of them die as a result. For example, in 2006, three people died and 199 became ill after consuming Natural Selection Foods spinach tainted with the dangerous E.coli O157: H7 bacteria. Later the same year, eight people suffered kidney failure and 71 were sickened after eating Taco Bell tacos contaminated with the same bacteria.
Kroger Beef Recall - E. Coli Outbreak
In the summer of 2008, more than 40 people across the United States developed E. coli food poisoning after consuming ground beef purchased at Kroger's grocery stores. At least 14 people required hospitalization and one victim developed hemolytic uremic syndrome — a serious E. coli food poisoning complication that can cause acute renal failure. In order to hold the Kroger Company responsible for their financial, physical and psychological damages, many victims filed personal injury lawsuits seeking compensation.
Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes are bacteria that cause a relatively rare but dangerous food-borne illness called listeriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every year 2,500 Americans get sick with listeriosis, and about 25 percent of them die as a result. While not very common, large-scale listeriosis outbreaks resulting from consumption of listeria-contaminated foods can and do occur.
Malt-O-Meal Salmonella Outbreak - Legal Recourse
In April, 2009, Malt-O-Meal issued a large-scale recall of its unsweetened puffed rice and unsweetened puffed wheat cereals after salmonella were found in these products. Salmonella are dangerous bacteria that can cause severe diarrheal illness characterized by stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and fever. While in most cases salmonellosis victims fully recover within 10 days, every year about 600 Americans die due to salmonellosis complications.
Nestle Cookie Dough Recall – E coli Contamination
Nestle USA issued a voluntary recall on June 19, 2009, of its Toll House prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough products, including refrigerated cookie and brownie dough bars, cookie dough tubs, cookie dough tubes, seasonal cookie and brownie dough, and Ultimates cookie bar dough. The recall follows reports of E. coli contamination in the cookie dough.
Organic Pastures E. Coli Lawsuit
In 2006, Organic Pastures, the leading raw milk dairy in California, became the epicenter of an E. coli outbreak that sickened at least six children. Two of the victims developed the hemolytic uremic syndrome that caused them to suffer acute kidney failure. In addition, one child experienced congestive heart failure, seizures and pancreatitis as a result of E. coli food poisoning.
Peanut Butter Salmonella Lawsuits - Peanut Corporation of America
One of the largest food recalls in the United States occurred in January 2009 when the FDA recalled all peanut products manufactured at the Peanut Corporation of America plant in Blakely, Georgia, since 2007. Several peanut products made by the company were found to contain Salmonella Typhimurium, a dangerous bacterium that can cause severe diarrheal illness. Because Peanut Corporation of America shipped its products nationwide, thousands of people contracted salmonella.
Salmonella
Salmonella bacteria are the most common cause of food-borne illness in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year approximately 1.4 million Americans get sick with salmonellosis, and about 600 of them die as a result. Oftentimes, salmonella contamination leads to large-scale outbreaks of salmonellosis. For instance, in 2001, a toddler and an elderly man died and hundreds of people became sick after consuming salmonella-tainted Viva brand cantaloupe.
Salmonella Tainted Egg Recall
In July 2010, over half a billion eggs were recalled after a salmonella outbreak was discovered at two Iowa egg farms, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. Nearly 2,000 people have been reportedly affected with varing degrees of salmonella food poisoning. Affected brand names include Albertsons, Boomsma's, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Shoreland, Sunshine, Trafficanda, Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, Sunny Meadow, Wholesome Farms and West Creek.
Setton Pistachio Lawsuits - Salmonellosis Legal Recourse
In April 2009, Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, the second largest pistachio producer in the United States, announced a recall of its 2008 pistachio crop after salmonella were found in some of its pistachio products. Subsequently, the FDA issued a blanket warning cautioning consumers not to eat any products containing pistachios until further notice.
Shigella Food Poisoning
Shigellosis (also referred to as bacillary dysentery) is an infectious disease that causes bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Shigellosis is caused by a group of bacteria called shigella and affects about 25,000 people in the United States every year. In severe cases of shigellosis, the infected individuals can experience chronic arthritis, renal failure, dehydration and coma — serious conditions that can have fatal consequences.
Taco Bell E. coli Food Poisoning
One of the largest recent E. coli outbreaks occurred in 2006 when more than 70 people in Northeast states developed severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and nausea. Fifty-three of the sickened people had to be hospitalized, and eight of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure that can lead to fatal consequences if not diagnosed and treated promptly.