Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog

Earlier this month, our Chicago personal injury lawyers expressed concern about a growing outbreak of salmonella poisoning that appears to be linked to sushi. At the time our attorneys first considered the epidemic, a few cases had been reported; however, according to a recent report by MSNBC, the tally now extends to more than 140 people across 20 states.

Following this pandemic of contaminated seafood, the first lawsuit has been filed against Moon Marine U.S.A. Corporation, the seafood importer charged with distributing infected fish meat to seafood retailers across the nation.

The lawsuit alleges that two women contracted salmonella poisoning when they each dined separately at a local restaurant that served sushi containing tuna distributed by Moon Marine. After eating the infected fish, each had to be hospitalized and spent almost nine weeks recovering from the contamination during which time the women experienced extreme pain, colon ulcers, bloody diarrhea, and other symptoms as a result of the contamination, as well as having to miss significant amounts of work.

Salmonella is a form of bacteria generally found in cold- and warm-blooded animals. Infections usually arise following consumption of foods contaminated with the bacteria. Although all persons are at risk for developing salmonella poisoning, infants, the elderly, and adults with compromised or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection.

Salmonella contamination can arise from a number of sources, but commonly comes from such sources as infected food, poor kitchen hygiene, bodily fluids from sick individuals, and polluted water. Here, the contagion infected frozen ‘backmeat’ that was shaved from fish bones and sold by Moon Marine to restaurants and stores across the country. It is estimated that the salmonella bacteria wound up in nearly 60,000 pounds of raw yellowfin tuna meat; to date, hundreds of salmonella infections linked to Moon Marine fish have arisen during the past two months.

According to MSNBC, more than 2,500 forms of salmonella are known to exist, but in this particular epidemic, all 141 victims were infected with an extremely rare form called salmonella bareilly, which was an enormous factor in linking the disease back to the Moon Marine fish. Health officials interviewed most of the infected persons to ask what they ate the week before getting sick. Of those, more than 80 percent recalled eating sushi at restaurants that served fish obtained from Moon Marine.

Corporations that produce and distribute food owe a duty of care to their customers; manufacturers of all types of consumer goods are responsible for ensuring that the products they distribute to the public are safe for human use, but this is especially true when companies disseminate food. When an individual falls ill because of a contaminated food product, the company responsible for causing that illness may be made to pay to compensate the consumer. Damages in an Illinois personal injury lawsuit, such as one that may arise in this case, might include such things as hospital and medical bills, as well as money lost from an inability to work.

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report estimating that each year roughly 48 million people are sickened by a foodborne illness. Of those, 125,000 require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated foods purchased from retail stores or restaurants. In this particular situation, even though the responsible party has been identified, the danger may not yet have passed: “The problem is this [Moon Marine] product got repackaged and resold. There are sushi restaurants that may not even know they’re serving this tuna; they may not even know it’s been recalled. Also, it comes as a frozen product so it sits on the shelves for as long as six months,” reports MSNBC.

Victims of foodborne illnesses who suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or death may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, if a manufacturer or distributer is responsible for the failure to contain the infection. Our Illinois personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling Illinois food poisoning cases, including a $4 million settlement for three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered from a foodborne illness, seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will be able to diagnose if you have been infected with salmonella poisoning. Additionally, an attorney may be able to apprise you of your rights under the law.

Restaurants owe a duty of care to their patrons; when a customer is sickened because of a contaminated food product, the company responsible for causing that illness may be made to pay to compensate the consumer. Damages in an Illinois personal injury lawsuit, such as one that may arise in this case, might include such things as hospital and medical bills, as well as money lost from an inability to work.

According to a recent report by MSNBC, government officials government health officials are investigating a growing outbreak of salmonella food poisoning possibly tied to restaurant sushi that may have sickened people across 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Salmonella is a form of bacteria generally found in cold- and warm-blooded animals. Infections usually arise following consumption of foods contaminated with the bacteria. Although all persons are at risk for developing salmonella poisoning, infants, the elderly, and adults with compromised or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection.

Salmonella contamination can arise from a number of sources, but commonly comes from such sources as infected food, poor kitchen hygiene, bodily fluids from sick individuals, and polluted water. Typical symptoms of Salmonella poisoning generally present in the form of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within six to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. In more serious cases, victims may develop symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting that can last up to a week.

To date, no deaths have yet been reported from this particular outbreak, but officials from the FDA have confirmed that the Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working jointly to determine the cause and the span of the outbreak. Although the FDA has not released the names of the restaurant or restaurants that distributed the infected food, reports suggest that the source of the disease was a ‘spicy tuna’ sushi roll.

Manufacturers of all types of consumer goods are responsible for ensuring that the products they distribute to the public are safe for human use. This is especially true when companies disseminate food. When injuries – or, as in this case, illnesses – arise from dangerous or infected products, the corporations or restaurants who manufacture or distribute the products may be held legally responsible for the injuries that result. Here, the restaurants serving the contaminated food would be liable.

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report estimating that each year roughly 48 million people are sickened by a foodborne illness. Of those, 125,000 require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated foods purchased from retail stores or restaurants.

Victims of foodborne illnesses who suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or death may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages, if a manufacturer or distributer is responsible for the failure to contain the infection. Our Illinois personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling Illinois food poisoning cases, including a $4 million settlement for three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered from a foodborne illness, seek immediate medical attention. Additionally, an attorney may be able to apprise you of your rights under the law.

Last week, our Chicago personal injury lawyers contemplated the practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after reports showed that the agency kept the public in the dark about food producers and restaurants that been linked to outbreaks of illnesses.

During the entirety of a three-month investigation into a salmonella outbreak that sickened 68 people in 10 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refused to identify the manufacturer of tainted food, instead calling the food distributer “Restaurant Chain A.” Ultimately the outbreak was linked to Taco Bell fast-food chain restaurants.

Though the question arose as to whether or not the CDC acted appropriately in refusing to warn consumers when the government agency knew the source of the infection, the other issue at hand is Taco Bell’s liability after having disseminated diseased food products.

Illinois product liability law requires that when corporations put a product on the market, they are responsible for ensuring that the product is safe for consumer use. This is especially true for food manufacturers whose merchandise has to be thoroughly inspected before it is allowed to be distributed to the public. When dangerous or contaminated foods harm consumers, the corporations may be liable for the injuries caused and may be legally responsible for damages caused by those injuries. This may give rise to an Illinois personal injury lawsuit.

According to reports by MSNBC, officials have confirmed more than fifty cases of serious injury to customers as a result of this instance of foodborne illness.

Salmonella is a form of bacteria generally found in cold- and warm-blooded animals. Infections usually arise following consumption of foods contaminated with the bacteria. Although all persons are at risk for developing salmonella poisoning, infants, the elderly, and adults with compromised or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection.

Salmonella contamination can arise from a number of sources, but commonly comes from such sources as infected food, poor kitchen hygiene, bodily fluids from sick individuals, and polluted water. Typical symptoms of Salmonella poisoning generally present in the form of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within six to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. In more serious cases, victims may develop symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting that can last up to a week.

More literally than proverbially, in adding insult to injury, Taco Bell also failed to alert consumers to the potential of serious illness. Though the CDC defends the practice stating, "if there's not an important public health reason to use the name publicly, CDC doesn't use the name publicly," if consumers had been aware of the potential for harm, they may have avoided consuming the infected foods and consequently evaded injury.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling cases involving foodborne illnesses. In fact, our attorneys won a $4 million settlement awarded to three attendees at a national convention who contracted salmonella poisoning, leading to crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered injury as a result of a foodborne illness, see a doctor immediately. Once a doctor has diagnosed your illness and provided appropriate treatment, you may consider the fact that if the food poisoning was one caused by either food from a restaurant or sold at a grocery store, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries under the law.

If we’re not told the source of contamination, how are we supposed to avoid becoming infected?

That’s exactly what our Chicago personal injury lawyers are wondering, having read a recent report by MSNBC that stated that, whenever possible, government officials use tactics to keep the public in the dark about which food producers and restaurants have been linked to illnesses.

This report came on the heels of a three-month investigation into a salmonella outbreak that sickened 68 people in 10 states. Instead of warning consumers when they knew the source of the infection, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refused to identify the manufacturer of the tainted food, instead calling it “Restaurant Chain A.”

In fact, reported MSNBC, that’s the second time in a little over a year that the government agency has masked the source of a foodborne illness; in the fall of 2010, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that 155 people in 21 states were sickened by two rare strains of salmonella traced to an anonymous Mexican-style fast-food chain eventually identified as Taco Bell.

Under Illinois law, companies that manufacture and market food have a responsibility to ensure that foods they produce are safe for human consumption. When a food manufacturer, distributer, or restaurant disseminates an infected food product to the public and a consumer is sickened or injured as a result, that company may be held legally responsible and may be made to pay for damages that result from the injury.

According to 2010 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 48 million people are sickened each year by a foodborne illness; of those, more than 125,000 people require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts and processed foods in their homes or in restaurants. Nevertheless, these are the same government officials keeping secret the names of the responsible companies, which prevent consumers from being able to make choices to protect themselves.

Reported MSNBC, Dr. Robert Tauxe, a top CDC official, defended the agency’s practice of withholding company identities, which he said aims to protect not only public health, but also the bottom line of businesses that could be hurt by bad publicity. Still, our Chicago personal injury lawyers know that preventing illness before it has a chance to harm consumers is the best possible solution.

People who suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or death due to illness from contaminated foods may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages from those responsible for providing or distributing the food. Damages include such things as lost wages, compensation for pain and suffering, and loss of the companionship of a loved one who has died from the illness. Our Illinois food poisoning attorneys have extensive experience handling these types of cases, and understand what it takes to be successful in even the most complicated Illinois food poisoning cases. In fact, our attorneys obtained a $4 million settlement against a hotel chain, on behalf of three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered illness due to a foodborne illness – either from a restaurant or purchased from a grocery store – contact an attorney to better understand your rights under the law.

Injuries that arise from foodborne illnesses can have devastating effects. Resultantly, when people suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or even death due to food poisoning, an Illinois personal injury lawsuit may arise. The restaurant or retail store responsible for distributing the contaminated food may be made to pay compensation to victims.

That might just be the next step here.

According to the Chicago Daily Herald, the Cook County Department of Public Health has determined that norovirus, a highly contagious form of food poisoning, is the culprit behind gastrointestinal illnesses of 146 people who were sickened after eating at Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, Illinois.

Norovirus is an RNA virus that has been cited as the cause of almost 90% of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention speculate that it may be responsible for nearly half of all foodborne pandemics of gastroenteritis in the United States. The virus may be transmitted by food or water that has been infected by human fecal matter, by person-to-person contact, contact with contaminated surfaces, or by aerosolization of the virus, such as when a toilet is flushed. A spokeswoman for the Cook County Department of Public Health, Amy Poore, stated that the conclusion was based on stool samples taken from victims who had eaten at the Bob Chinn’s restaurant.

Because the virus is highly contagious, it’s spreading quickly. “There’s norovirus circulating everywhere in suburban Cook County,” said Poore. Cases of norovirus – likely traceable back to the Bob Chinn’s outbreak – have been reported in a number of Chicago suburbs.

According to the Chicago Daily Herald, Chinn’s voluntarily complied with the Cook County Health Department’s requirements before reopening after having been closed for a full day. Said Poore on behalf of the Health Department, “whenever you have this kind of an outbreak, anything that had been prepared is discarded...Everything is thoroughly sanitized and then it’s basically like starting fresh.”

Symptoms of illness caused by norovirus often resemble the common stomach flu, and may include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include a low-grade fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and chills. Although the majority of these symptoms aren’t life-threatening, diarrhea and vomiting can potentially expose a person to dehydration and malnutrition, which could require hospitalization, especially for young children and the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend carefully washing hands as a way to avoid spread of norovirus, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food.

Restaurants owe a duty of care to their patrons; when a customer is sickened because of a contaminated food product, the company responsible for causing that illness may be made to pay to compensate the consumer. Damages in an Illinois personal injury lawsuit, such as one that may arise in this case, might include such things as hospital and medical bills, as well as money lost from an inability to work.

If you or a loved one have recently eaten at this restaurant and are experiencing symptoms of norovirus, seek medical attention immediately. A doctor will be able to diagnose if you have been infected by the disease. Additionally, contact an attorney to be advised of your rights under the law. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has not recalled orange juice from the market despite the fact that testing for low levels of fungicide demonstrated that the juice was contaminated. Nevertheless, our Illinois personal injury attorneys are urging consumers to be cautious.

According to reports by the Associated Press, the Coca-Cola Company, a large-scale bottled-juice and soda conglomerate, was the corporation that alerted federal regulators about the low levels of fungicide in its own orange juice and in competitors' juices, prompting juice prices to rise and increasing government testing for the residue.

Coca-Cola, an American-based company, makes the Minute Maid brand and Simply Orange brand of orange juice; this past Thursday, Coca-Cola notified the FDA of elements of the fungicide carbendazim in both the company's orange juice and in competitors' juices.

Carbendazim is a chemical intended to control plant diseases in human foodstuffs, such as cereals and fruits. Recent studies have shown that high doses of carbendazim have caused infertility and destroyed the genitals of laboratory animals. According to the Associated Press, the FDA said Coca-Cola found levels up to 35 parts per billion of the fungicide, which is far below the European Union's maximum residue level of 200 parts per billion. Despite Europe’s set parameters, the American government has not yet established a maximum residue level for carbendazim in orange juice, though the Environmental Protection Agency has suggested that a concentration of less than 80 parts per billion raises no concern. Carbendazim is not currently approved for use on citrus in the United States, but it is used to combat mold on orange trees in Brazil, which exports orange juice to the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have said that, after testing, orange juice is safe to drink and the levels found are below levels of concern. The FDA is not releasing the names of the brands of juices that tested positive for carbendazim.

At this point, the FDA has declared that it does not plan to remove any juice products that are currently on store shelves. Still, because carbendazim is not approved for use in the United States, any food that contains even trace amounts is considered illegal. As it currently stands, the FDA is now testing shipments of orange juice at the border and will detain any that contain more than 10 parts per billion of the chemical; said the Associated Press, any amount below 10 parts per billion isn't measurable. Additionally, FDA official Nega Beru asked the industry to ensure that suppliers in Brazil, the world's largest orange producer, and other countries stop using the fungicide.

Our Chicago food poisoning attorneys know that, according to 2010 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), each year roughly 48 million people are sickened by a foodborne illness. Even worse, over 125,000 people require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated foods in their homes or in restaurants.

When a food manufacturer or distributer disseminates an infected or poisonous food product to the public and a consumer is sickened or injured as a result, that company may be held legally responsible and may be made to pay for damages that result from the injury.

People who suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or even death due to food poisoning may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Our Illinois food poisoning lawyers have experience representing clients in similar cases, including having won a $4 million settlement for three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys know that injuries caused by infected food can have a devastating effect. The indications and types of foodborne illnesses vary based on the source of infection, but victims of these diseases may suffer from nausea, cramping, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In more serious cases, the pathogens can lead to dehydration, weakness, or even death.

Corporations who manufacture and market food have a responsibility to ensure that foods they produce are safe for human consumption. When companies fail to do this and customers are sickened by disease-ridden food, those companies may be held legally responsible for medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering, and other types of damages caused by the injuries. These situations may give rise to Illinois food poisoning lawsuits.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year roughly 48 million people are sickened by a foodborne illness. Even worse, over 125,000 people require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated foods either from restaurants, or purchased from retail stores. Groups at highest risk for serious injuries associated with food poisoning include older people, infants, and people suffering from chronic illnessed.

One of the FDA’s latest recalls includes cilantro, an herb cultivated from the leaves of the coriander plant. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Pacific International Marketing is recalling 6,141 cartons of cilantro after a sample of the herb tested positive or Salmonella.

Salmonella is a form of bacteria generally found in cold- and warm-blooded animals; infections usually arise following consumption of foods contaminated with the bacteria. Salmonella contamination can arise from a number of sources, but commonly comes from infected food, poor kitchen hygiene, bodily fluids from sick individuals, and polluted water.

It is particularly fascinating that cilantro is the latest food to be affected by a Salmonella outbreak, as a 2004 article in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemicals stated that products derived from coriander leaves were found to have antibacterial properties against Salmonella.

A doctor would be able to determine if individual has been sickened by Salmonella, but typical signs of Salmonella poisoning otherwise generally present in the form of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within six to 72 hours of eating the contaminated food. In more serious cases, victims may develop symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting that can last up to a week.

To date, no illnesses have yet been reported from the contaminated cilantro, but the cilantro was distributed to a number of states across the country. If customers do fall ill from having eaten the herb, Pacific International Marketing could potentially be subject to a Chicago personal injury lawsuit.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling cases involving foodborne illnesses. In fact, our attorneys won a $4 million settlement awarded to three attendees at a national convention who contracted salmonella poisoning, leading to crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of having eaten contaminated food, seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, a personal injury attorney may be able to advise you of your rights under the law; you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

In September, our Chicago food poisoning attorneys expressed concern about the recall issued for cantaloupe melons infected with Listeria Monocytogenes. According to MSNBC, government officials recently released a final count of the damage caused by the infected fruits: 146 sick, 30 dead, and a miscarriage.

Listeria Monocytogenes is a potentially fatal food poisoning bacterium that causes a condition called Listerosis; according to a report published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Biology, though Lysteria Monocytogenes is a fairly uncommon disease, when a severe form of the infection takes hold, the case fatality rate may approach as much as 25% (Salmonella poisoning, in comparison, has a mortality rate estimated at less than 1%).

Listeriosis affects mainly pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with lowered immune system, and when pregnant women are infected with Listeria Monocytogenes the infection can result in premature delivery, miscarriages, or stillbirth, as happened in this case.

The Listeria bacteria are generally found in uncooked meats, processed foods, and other foods derived from animal products. Although the bacteria does not generally affect fresh produce, because the skin of cantaloupes is rough and porous, they became contaminated during handling, and from being grown in and on contaminated soil, where the bacteria became lodged in the melon’s rind.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the injuries from infections spanned 28 states – all stemming from Jensen Farms, an American fruit producer and distributer. 310,000 cases of potentially tainted cantaloupes were shipped across the country, so it is fortunate that more persons were not harmed as a result of the contaminated fruit.

When food manufacturers put products on the market that are intended for human consumption, those companies are responsible for ensuring that those products are safe. A Chicago personal injury attorney knows that when dangerous or infected products cause injuries to consumers, the companies who produced them may be held legally responsible for the injuries they cause, including hospital and related expenses, loss of a normal life, and, in cases of deaths caused by the diseased food, the loss of companionship of a loved one.

According to 2010 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 48 million people are sickened each year by a foodborne illness; of those, more than 125,000 people require hospitalization and 3,000 die after consuming contaminated fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts and processed foods in their homes or in restaurants.

Because of this particular outbreak, Jensen Farms will likely be held responsible for all the damaged caused to consumers.

Food poisoning illnesses can be devastating. Our Illinois personal injury lawyers have experience representing clients in similar cases, including a $4 million settlement for three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

A doctor will be able to determine if you have been infected by a foodborne illness. If you or a loved one have suffered as a result of contaminated food, either from a restaurant or a retail store, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

It’s a terrifying thought: a food company taking moldy food, reprocessing the rotten fare, and putting it back on the shelves for human consumption.

But that is exactly what has been happening. Our Illinois personal injury attorneys were concerned to read that the FDA released a statement saying that in at least eight instances last year, the food products manufacturer Snokist had reprocessed moldy applesauce and repackaged it for sale.

Snokist is an American fruit-processing corporation out of Washington state. Snokist products include processed baby foods, and processed fruit products that are distributed to schools across the nation for school lunches. In 2010, Snokist sold more than 3.3 million cases of processed fruit, representing sales of more than $53 million.

Last year, the FDA recalled Snokist applesauce from the nation’s schools after the products were cited as the cause of illnesses in school children who had consumed the applesauce at school. However this latest bad act is an entirely separate issue.

According to MSNBC, this latest violation was brought to the FDA’s attention during an inspection of Snokist’s packaging plant when officials noticed that “large, laminated bags of fruit products that were supposed to be sealed and sterile, instead were broken open and tainted with white, brown, blue, blue-green and black mold.” As per the FDA’s report, the investigation was instituted after a baby-food manufacturer returned dozens of bags of Snokist fruit because the fruit was infected with “a large amount of mold.”

In response to the recent reports, Snokist officials have admitted to “reworking” some of the moldy fruit for remarketing. Nevertheless, company officials also claimed that when moldy food is used, the ‘compromised’ part of the fruit is generally separated and destroyed, and the rest of the foodstuffs are heated to kill potential contaminants.

However, the FDA has stated that the tests Snokist uses to ensure the safety of the food during this process is not adequate. The FDA’s statement read: “Most mycotoxins are stable compounds that are not destroyed by heat treatment.”

FDA officials posted a warning letter to Snokist, regarding the fact that the company cannot ensure the safety of moldy applesauce and fruit puree that has been reconditioned for human consumption, and therefore is not allowed to disseminate it for public consumption.

Although there are some FDA regulations that allow food-processing companies to “recondition” food, the final product that is put on the market must be free from contamination. Additionally, contaminated product cannot be mixed into safe product to create more substance with passable levels of contamination.

Illinois product liability law requires that when corporations put a product on the market, they are responsible for ensuring that the product is safe for consumer use. This is especially true for food manufacturers whose merchandise has to be thoroughly inspected before it is allowed to be distributed to the public. When dangerous or contaminated foods harm consumers, the corporations may be liable for the injuries caused and may be legally responsible for damages caused by those injuries. This may give rise to an Illinois personal injury lawsuit.

The types of molds found in the Snokist fruit included Alternaria, Fusarium and two types of Pennicillium, all of which can cause illness in people. If you or a loved one have been sickened by a food product, seek immediate medical attention. Special laws are in place to protect consumers, and you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys are concerned about the vast number of cases of food poisoning that continue to arise this year. Following this dangerous trend, the most recent reports indicate that nearly 170 people have fallen ill due to salmonella food poisoning from broiled chicken liver products.

According to a report by MSNBC, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota recorded 169 reports of foodborne illness caused by chicken livers produced by Schreiber Processing Corporation. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service released a statement to the public, stating that the products appeared to be ready to eat, but were actually only partially cooked. The recalled chicken livers include 10-pound boxes of Meal Mart Broiled Chicken liver and 10-pound boxes of loose packed broiled chicken liver, as well as chopped liver made from the products. The packaging on the contaminated products is labeled with the number P-787 inside the USDA’s mark of inspection.

If you have purchased these infected chicken livers, do not eat them. Whether the package is opened or unopened, return the chicken to your local food retailer for a refund. If consumed, poisoning could potentially be deadly.

To date, 56 cases have been reported in New York, and 64 cases in New Jersey, in addition to 9 cases in Pennsylvania and 7 in Maryland. More cases are spread equally across a number of other states, and the contaminated chicken seems to have been dispersed across the country. As a result, consumers all over the United States are at risk for becoming infected if they eat these products.

Salmonella is a form of bacteria generally found in cold- and warm-blooded animals. Infections usually arise following consumption of foods contaminated with the bacteria. Although all persons are at risk for developing salmonella poisoning, infants, the elderly, and adults with compromised or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to infection.

Salmonella contamination can arise from a number of sources, but commonly comes from such sources as infected food, poor kitchen hygiene, bodily fluids from sick individuals, and polluted water. Typical symptoms of Salmonella poisoning generally present in the form of diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within six to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. In more serious cases, victims may develop symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting that can last up to a week.

Our Illinois personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling cases involving foodborne illnesses. In fact, our attorneys won a $4 million settlement awarded to three attendees at a national convention who contracted salmonella poisoning, leading to crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered injury as a result of a foodborne illness, see a doctor immediately. Once a doctor has diagnosed your illness and provided appropriate treatment, you may consider the fact that if the food poisoning was one caused by either food from a restaurant or sold at a grocery store, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries under the law.

The FDA’s latest recall is aimed at retracting Smucker’s peanut butter as a result of possible salmonella contamination.

According to a recent report by MSNBC and the Associated Press, thousands of jars of Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky are affected by this recall; representatives on behalf of the company say that the infected jars would have been on grocery store shelved in the last week or so.

J.M. Smucker Co. is an American manufacturer of fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, beverages, shortening, natural peanut butter and other products. The corporation is based out of the Midwest, and the product was distributed across the country, including to retail stores across Illinois.

The contaminated jars have "Best if Used By" dates of Aug. 3, 2012 and Aug. 4, 2012, and are labeled with the production codes 1307004 and 1308004. Consumers are warned not to eat the product, and instead are urged to either throw the product away, or return it to a local retailer for a full refund.

Salmonella is a bacterium found in the intestines of both warm- and cold-blooded animals. The most common method of infection is by ingestion of foods that are contaminated with the bacteria. Although symptoms are generally mild, infants, the elderly, and adults with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to infection and salmonella infections can become very serious with potentially deadly complications.

The most common effects of salmonella poisoning include fever, cramps, and intestinal inflammation with diarrhea. In severe cases, individuals may require hospitalization for dehydration from diarrhea, and in infants, dehydration can cause a state of severe toxicosis and salmonella meningitis. A doctor can provide a diagnosis with regard to whether an individual has been contaminated by salmonella.

Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of food poisoning by salmonella are reported in the United States. Food poisoning by salmonella may lead to serious injury, hospitalizations, pain and suffering, or even death, if the infection is allowed to progress.

An important concept in Illinois product liability law is the idea that corporations are responsible for ensuring the safety of products they put on the market. When food manufacturers distribute merchandise to the public that either contains foreign objects or contagions, the companies may be held legally responsible for the injuries they cause and the damages and expenses arising from those injuries

Victims may be able to seek compensation by way of an Illinois personal injury lawsuit against the company disseminating the product. In cases where food poisoning leads to death, the family of the victim may also be able to bring an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit for loss of companionship of the deceased family member, and the loss of wages that the victim would have otherwise contributed to his or her family’s well-being.

In fact, our attorneys obtained a $4 million settlement against a hotel chain, on behalf of three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries. The money damages went to pay for the past and future medical expenses suffered by the victims, and for the loss of a normal life. Additionally, the Chicago personal injury lawsuit served to send a message to the responsible party to warn them to be more careful in the future.

Our Chicago personal injury attorneys were concerned to hear that the number of victims suffering from E. Coli obtained from Shnucks grocery stores’ salad bars has now risen to 26, according to MSNBC and the Associated Press.

The latest news report conveyed the fact that health officials are taking a closer look at items found on the grocery chain’s salad bars in a number of cities, including stores located in St. Clair County, Illinois. Although no deaths or potentially deadly cases have yet been reported, health officials have confirmed 26 cases of E. Coli food poisoning originating from the Shnucks stores. In response to the outbreak, state officials are testing samples from five different Schnucks grocery stores; foods being examined include broccoli, deviled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, pineapple, carrots, radishes, zucchini, red onions, and salad dressings.

Escherichia Coli, or E. Coli as it is commonly abbreviated, is a type of bacteria known to cause food poisoning illnesses. The E. Coli bacterium originates from the lower intestines of warm-blooded animals where it serves to produce vitamin K; it is transferred to food products by fecal contamination. While most strains are harmless, some forms have been known to cause serious illness in humans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year, approximately 48 million people fall ill from foodborne illnesses, including sicknesses caused by E. Coli. Of those, over 125,000 people require hospitalization, and another 3,000 die from complications resulting from having consumed the contaminated foods.

Although the indications of food poisoning vary based on the source of the contamination and the health of the infected victim, more dangerous strains of E. Coli can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and neonatal meningitis. In rare, more virulent strains, the disease may present in the form of more serious illnesses such as septicemia, peritonitis, and even pneumonia. Persons at the highest risk for serious injuries associated with food poisoning are the elderly, infants, and adults with weakened immune systems. In some instances, such as the June 2011 E. Coli outbreak, women were more prone to show symptoms.

People who suffer serious personal injury, hospitalization, or death due to illness from contaminated foods may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages from those responsible for providing or distributing the food. Damages include such things as lost wages, compensation for pain and suffering, and loss of the companionship of a loved one who has died from the illness. Our Illinois food poisoning attorneys have extensive experience handling these types of cases, and understand what it takes to be successful in even the most complicated Illinois food poisoning cases. In fact, our attorneys obtained a $4 million settlement against a hotel chain, on behalf of three convention attendees who contracted salmonella poisoning that caused them to suffer crippling arthritic injuries.

If you or a loved one has suffered illness due to a foodborne illness – either from a restaurant or purchased from a grocery store – contact an attorney to better understand your rights under the law.

Pop star Katy Perry’s Chicago concert at the Illinois Allstate Arena has been postponed due to an attack of food poisoning leading to severe dehydration. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago show has been rescheduled to late next month and all tickets purchased will be honored. Perry stated that she apologizes to all of her Chicago fans for not being able to perform this weekend, but she promised to give the very best show when she returns to Chicago.

According to 2010 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), 48 million people are sickened yearly by a foodborne illness. Even worse, over 125,000 people require hospitalization and 3,000 die yearly after consuming contaminated fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, and processed foods in restaurants or in their homes. While many items may cause foodborne illnesses, the leading pathogenic causes of serious illness or death due to foodborne illness include E. coli, salmonella, norovirus, listeria, clostridium perfringens, and hepatitis A. The indications of a foodborne illness vary based on the source, but victims can suffer nausea, cramping, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These food poisoning symptoms can lead to severe dehydration, which affected the pop star Katy Perry causing her to miss her Chicago concert. Older people, infants, and chronically sick people are more often affected by the food poisoning. In some cases, women have been shown to be more prone to show symptoms of food poisoning.

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Concern for Illinois food poisoning has particularly increased after the recent recall of 3,200 pounds of Chicago Boxed Beef Distributor’s of raw and ready-to-eat sausage products. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the products were not handled in a manner to prevent cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat products. Furthermore, our Chicago personal injury lawyers were surprised to learn that the products’ label was not approved by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The product was classified as a class I level risk – the highest health hazard situation. Consumption of the product may cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

The food service industry reaches much of the Illinois population with around 8257 Chicago restaurants listed on the popular restaurant review website yelp.com. When workers don’t take precautions to wash their hands or restaurants don’t use safe food handling practices such as properly storing raw meat, they put many lives into danger. According to the University of Chicago Medical Center, some common bacteria are:

• Salmonella and Campylobacter - usually found in cattle, poultry, and swine. It can also be found in raw meat, eggs, and unpasteurized dairy products.
• Clostridium perfringens – can be found in raw meat, poultry, eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, and produce. Infection can occur when soups, stew, and gravies made with meat (including fish and poultry) are improperly stored or left unrefrigerated for hours.
• Listeria – usually found in raw meats.
• Staphylococci – can be transferred to food when a person with the bacteria on his or her skin, nose, or throat handles the food.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) – may be present in intestines of even healthy cattle. Infection can occur when the beef (especially ground beef) is undercooked or when unpasteurized milk is consumed.

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys receive many calls from people who have become ill after eating at Chicago restaurants. The Illinois Department of Public Health estimates that there are as many as 250,000 cases of foodborne illness that occur just in Illinois each year. A majority of these illnesses go unreported. Reporting cases of food poisoning is an important civil service. By reporting incidents of food poisoning, the government and public is put on alert of the health hazard. Chicago food poisoning lawyers ask that you help prevent foodbourne illness by reporting incidents of food poisoning caused by restaurants in Cook County by calling 708-974-7118 or filling out an online form here: http://www.cookcountypublichealth.org/complaint-forms/foodborne-illness If you are not located in Cook County, please call your local county health department.

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Our Chicago food poisoning lawyers worry whether the U.S.A. is adequately protected to avoid an E. coli outbreak on the scale of the outbreak Germany and Europe is suffering now. The deadly outbreak of food-borne illnesses may seem a distant threat, but one recent editorial in the New York Times urges readers not to become too complacent.

As we all know, germs have a way of traveling and though our country's food safety systems are much improved, they are still not built to detect and prevent the spread of rare, dangerous forms of infectious agents. The deadly E.coli outbreak has been all over the news, but in case you have not heard, it has caused 2900 cases of illness, including more than 750 cases of serious kidney failure and 27 wrongful deaths. First, officials were blaming imported produce from Spain, then they blamed the food poisoning on beat sprouts from an organic farm in Germany. They have yet to pin down the cause. As time passes, it becomes more difficult to do so; people forget what they ate, contaminated food is thrown away, and farm equipment is disinfected.

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A Midwestern woman with personal experience dealing with E.coli bacteria recognizes how much the bacteria can change a person’s life. She is calling the E.coli outbreak in Europe horrible. The 24 year-old woman states: “It kind of makes me sick. You think they would learn by now.” Four years ago, the woman became ill with E.coli after eating a hamburger. Her life dramatically changed from the illness – after nearly a year in the hospital with brain and kidney damage along with paralysis from the waste down that ended her career as a dance teacher, the woman settled her product liability lawsuit against Cargill in 2009.

Now, the recent news of the European E.coli outbreak is leaving the food poisoning victim shocked. She stated that officials have an obligation to ensure that contaminated food products do not make it onto the market. She expressed that officials need to think about it and take their time.

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Chicago personal injury lawyers are keenly aware of the outbreak of E.coli 0104 in Europe. According to the New York Times and Washington Post, the E.coli strain that killed 18 people, threatens over 2000 others, and caused 500 to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening kidney complication for which there is no cure or treatment, is currently legal in the United States. At present, the FDA has never required testing produce for the bacteria and meat inspectors do not test for them. Furthermore, only one percent of imported food is inspected. As for the United States, two cases of the virulent strain have been reported. Both victims are in the hospital and remain seriously ill.

The United States recently recovered from two E. coli scares. In 1993 when E. coli 0157:H7 was found in Jack in the Box hamburgers. E. coli 0157:H7 killed four children and 750 others became very ill as a result of consumption. Last year, E.coli 026 was found in Cargill Meat Solutions hamburgers. Cargill Meat Solutions subsequently recalled 8,500 pounds of hamburger. The virulent strain currently causing devastation in Europe is E.coli 0104. Food poisoning lawsuits have become more common in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture is currently considering proposals to ban emerging strains of E.coli in meat, but the meat industry is opposed to the regulation. The USDA has sent a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget, but nothing has been decided and the proposal has not been made public.

Illness and death caused by E.coli poisoning and foodborne disease is expensive. A 2011 Government Accountability Office report found that each year foodborne disease causes about 76 million illnesses and 325,000 hospitalizations. Annually, foodborne disease causes 5,000 deaths. Costs that stem from just the five major foodborne diseases result in $6.9 billion spent every year on medical treatment, productivity losses, and premature deaths from those five foodborne diseases. The high cost of foodborne disease is a grave burden on any family, and many are seeking the help. Illinois food poisoning attorneys can help families cope with this hardship.

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