Today is National Taco Day. Who doesn’t love tacos? But what happens if your tacos don’t love you?

Food poisoning, in certain circumstances, can be deadly. While most cases of food poisoning are minor and resolve on their own, some quickly become serious, leading to hospitalization. When you purchase food at a grocery store or eat at a restaurant, you expect the food to be safe to eat. You don’t expect food tainted with bacteria. If you become seriously ill due to  food poisoning, it is important to work with a personal injury lawyer who will determine whether you may be eligible for compensation from those responsible.

TYPES OF FOOD POISONING

Each year in the U.S. doctors admit more than 100,000 people to the hospital due to food poisoning. The Federal government estimates that there are approximately 48 million cases of food-borne illness each year. With current population statistics, this is the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans annually. Additionally, each year these illnesses result in an estimated  3,000 deaths. There are several types of food poisoning, including:

1. Escherichia coli (E. coli)
2. Listeria
3. Salmonella
4. Botulism
5. Hepatitis A

In most cases, victims experience pain, nausea, cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dehydration, and fatigue or weakness. The symptoms are usually associated with a “stomach virus”. However, food poisoning can become a very serious and even life-threatening situation for anyone with a compromised or weak immune system.

COMMON CAUSES OF FOOD POISONING

Food poisoning is transferred, or  originates, in several ways, including:

1. Contamination of food at any point in the process of growing, harvesting, processing, shipping, preparing, or even storage
2. Inadequate cleaning of equipment/utensils used to prepare food
3. Failure to properly clean food preparation surfaces
4. Food remains at room temperature for too long
5. Cross contamination through utensils (for example, using the same knife to cut up a raw chicken to chop salad ingredients without washing the knife)

Public Health Inspections

Local public health agencies in Missouri conduct routine inspections of retail food establishments. These periodic inspections often occur unannounced to assure compliance with local and state food safety laws and regulations.

Above all, if you suspect food poisoning, see a doctor immediately. After that, we recommend that you, if possible:

1. Save what is left of the food so that it can be analyzed.
2. Report the incident to your local Health Department.
3. Save all written evidence of purchase such as receipts and checks.
4. Obtain names and phone numbers of all witnesses.
5. Notify the food seller of the purchase and the illness and make a note of the name and position of person notified.

You may be eligible for compensation for your food poisoning experience. These costs may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, out-of-pocket expenses, and more. In the event a loved one has died because of food poisoning, you may want to consider a wrongful death claim. Take action and contact our experienced Poplar Bluff personal injury attorneys to discuss your claim. You can also call us at (573)686-2459. We are here for you when you need us. Our commitment is to earn your confidence by answering all questions and providing quality representation.