San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer - Food Poisoning

Salmonella Food Poisoning, Now in Pot Pies, A National Epidemic?

Claude Wyle — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:49:49 GMT

Health officials reported that Con Agra Food's Banquet pot pies could be connected to 139 cases of salmonella food poisoning in 30 states. ConAgra stopped production of the pot pies. ConAgra said their pies were safe, if properly cooked, but they also advised consumers not to eat their chicken or turkey pot pies, until the pies are adequately investigated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been following reports of salmonella cases since last Wednesday. Although most cases of Salmonella go unreported, we do know that Salmonella strikes approximately 40,000 people a year in the United States, and that Salmonella kills about 600. It can cause bloody diarrhea, fever, dehydration, severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Serious complications are rare, however dehydration is a major cause of the more serious complications which may occur. Young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to Salmonella Food Poisoning.

By far, the biggest challenge we attorneys face with food poisoning cases is in proving the source of the tainted food. Because Salmonella is an invasive bacterial infection, it may become symptomatic at varying times after you have ingested tainted food, and with varying intensity. When Salmonella does strike full strength, it is crushing and horrible in its symptoms. One of our expert witnesses, a professor at the University of California in immunology and infectious disease, compares Salmonella to regular gastroenteritis, as "the difference between a bicycle and an eighteen wheeler". He says that you feel as if you have a rag soaked in gasoline in your gut. Another doctor we have used says that your gut is literally "crying", because it is so inflamed.
The best way we have learned to prove origin and causation for Salmonella is by marking the time of the onset of symptoms, and then counting backwards. Of course, you should go to the Emergency Room and they should take samples for lab testing. The results of the lab tests may not come back by the time you are over your symptoms, however they are important for proof and also for public health. Then, the poisoned person or a family member should count backwards and determine where they might have eaten, and when. Next, consult with the local Department of Public Health to determine if any other reports or complaints have been made about food poisoning, particularly regarding food from the same establishment. These cases are proven often not by direct proof but through circumstantial evidence such as poor hygiene and inadequate supervision of employees handling food. If you have Salmonella Food Poisoning, above all, stay hydrated. Water will probably just make you throw up. You should go to the ER and receive intravenous liquids. Good luck, Claude Wyle.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Unwanted Ingredient in Salmon Spread Prompts Recall

Claude Wyle — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:30:09 GMT

Eating Jensen's Smoked Salmon and Onion spread will give you more than just bad breath. "Listeria monocytogenes," a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, has worked its way into Jensen's product line. Listerine won't work on Listeria, so if this product is in your fridge, throw it out.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Ice Cream Recalled Due to Undisclosed Ingredient

Claude Wyle — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:05:50 GMT

Thousands of pints of Private Selection ice cream sold in Ralphs and Food-4-Less stores will soon be destroyed. While this may be tragic for some ice cream lovers, it may be a matter of life-and-death for people afflicted with egg allergies. This is because the product may contain eggs, but eggs are not listed on the product's label. Consumers with egg allergies could suffer serious or life-threatening allergic reactions from eating the product.

For more information on this subject, pleas refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Topps Meat Co. Recalls Tainted Beef

Claude Wyle — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:16:43 GMT

Twenty-three people in eight states fell ill after eating E.coli-laden hamburgers from Topps Meat Co. The average person recovers from E. coli poisoning in less that a week. However, E. coli can be fatal or cause serious injuries to the very young, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems. Topps destroyed 332,000 pounds of patties - now that's a lot of cows that didn't have to die. So, people aren't the only victims here.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Quong Hop & Co. Recalls Tofu Due to Potential Contamination

Jenny Albano — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:19:41 GMT

Quong Hop & Co., in conjunction with the FDA, is recalling all the Soy Deli brand tofu that has a code date of December 17, 2007 and is also recalling some kinds of Soy Deli and Quong Hop tofu with a code date of September 23, 2007.

The other kinds of tofu being recalled includes a 30 ounce Soy Deli Nigari Tofu, a 12 ounce Soy Deli Water Pack Tofu, and the 16 ounce Quong Hop Water Pack Tofu.

These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, sever headache, stiffness, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection in severe cases can cause miscarriages and still births among pregnant women. Consumers experiencing any of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

These products are sold in the Midwest and in the West Coast in supermarkets or natural food stores. The date code is printed on the front label and is printed in blue ink on the affected products. So far the company has not received any reports of illness from consumers.

The problem was found by the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Food and Safety Program during a routine test. Listeria monocytogenes was found in one 12 ounce pack of Soy Deli Firm Organic Nigari Tofu and the company is recalling all products produced in the same time period as a precaution.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jenny Albano

Dole Announces New E.Coli-Related Salad Recall

Claude Wyle — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:06:47 GMT

Dole Food Co. announced yet another recall, this time of "Dole Hearts Delight" bagged salads in the United States and Canada Monday, after finding that the salads may contain E. coli. Although, according to Dole, no one has been reported sick from eating the salads, some salad in Canada has been found to contain E. Coli which will cause severe food poisoning. The recall covers bagged salads with best used by Sept. 19 labels.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Members of Congress Raise Concern on Sale of Treated Meat

Claude Wyle — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:59:36 GMT

Democrats John D. Dingell and Bart Stupak of Michigan have written to Safeway and meatpacking companies in efforts to curtail sale of meat packaged in carbon monoxide gas. Treating meat with carbon monoxide gas prevents the meat from turning brown as quickly, making it appear fresher. Consumers can be tricked into purchasing unhealthy meat and suffer from food poisoning. Safeway has stepped up to the plate by voluntarily halting sales of treated meats.

For more information on this subject matter, please review our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Toys From China Fail To Meet U.S. Safety Standards

Claude Wyle — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:45:12 GMT

This blog has reported many defective children's toys imported from China. Of all recalls last year, more than half have been for Chinese goods. Since the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) alleges it is powerless to regulate safety standards such as controlling lead content, it is up to consumers to put pressure on companies like Mattel, who import manufacture approximately 65% of their toys in China.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Poison in Hot Dog Chili Sauce and in Dog Food

Claude Wyle — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:31:14 GMT

Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recaled for Botulism
As if we don't have enough to worry about with E Coli and Salmonella in our meat and spinach and lettuce, the latest tainted food danger comes from a favorite Summer food, the hot dog.

Botulism poison has been found in hot dog chili sauce from Castleberry Foods . The Augusta, Ga. Castleberry plant is where the sauce was canned. So far, at least four people have been hospitalized. All four are expected to live.

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease that, like Botox for the face, comes from an extremely toxic bacterium commonly found in soil, Clostridium botulinum.

The botulism toxin usually comes from canned foods that are under-processed and not heated long enough to kill bacteria. Leaky cans can also be a place where gemrs live and grow. If you find a bulging can, it could well be a host to such bacteria.

The FDA is advising consumers to throw out 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger brands of hot dog chili sauce, with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009. The Castleberry company is a subsidiary owned by Bumble Bee Seafoods LLC., and has recalled the above products, as well as seven others.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle

Our Attorneys Fight For Children With Salmonella Food Poisoning

Claude Wyle — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:01:31 GMT

As Attorneys who fight for those poisoned through tainted foods, we are again sad to advise that a salmonella food poisoning outbreak has slowly grown to almost 300 cases in 39 states since August 2006. This new national salmonella outbreak has been linked to tainted Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter, beginning with product code "2111". Approximately 20 percent of the 288 infected people were hospitalized, though thankfully none has died. CDC officials said that 85 percent of those infected said they ate peanut butter. We are Food Poisoning attorneys who are experts in Salmonella cases, having fought through trials with these same issues. Please see our previous blogs on Salmonella and E. Coli cases.

According to the CDC, Salmonella is known each year to infect about 40,000 people in the United States, . Salmonellosis kills about 600 people annually. We believe that this is the first salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter in U.S. history. They are still investigating how the Salmonella got into the peanut butter. Because of the risk of contamination, the FDA has warned consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter. The tainted jars are produced by ConAgra in one plant in Sylvester, Ga. Although only one particular batch is known to be contaminated, ConAgra is recalling all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter.
Attorneys who represent victims of Salmonella food poisoning need to be experts in the medical issues related to salmonellosis. Medical complications from Salmonella food poisoning are often difficult connect and to prove to a jury. Make sure that if you have suffered food poisoning, your attorney has access to the very best medical experts in infectious disease, so they can prove your case.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Claude Wyle