August 3, 2010

Passage of Food Safety bill urged

The Food Safety Bill is currently bogged down in the United States Senate; however, advocates against unsafe food products are urging its quick passage. There is widespread knowledge and understanding that the Food Safety Bill is long overdue and common sense; moreover, it is needed to finally update our country’s horse-and-buggy-era food safety laws. Among several food safety measures, the Food Safety Bill would require annual inspections for high-risk processing facilities, improve oversight of food imported from other countries, and significantly improve “tracebacks,” a method of figuring out contaminated products’ locations, before our country’s consumers digest them.

One prickly point of the Food Safety Bill involves a controversial amendment to ban bisphenol-A (“BPA”). Some advocates are asking senators to reject the amendment because it is jeopardizing the bill’s passage; these advocates suggest that BPA should be dealt with separately. Advocates against unsafe food products, including product liability lawyers, are familiar with BPA. BPA is an organic compound used to make plastics and resins in addition to other applications. It has been known to contain estrogen since the 1930s and concerns about BPA’s use in consumer products have been regularly reported. Reports of the dangers of BPA surfaced frequently in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its product safety and prompting some retailers to remove products containing BPA from their shelves. A 2010 report from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised further product liability concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants, and young children. Some health effects that were raised in reports on BPA included that it may lead to increased obesity, neurological issues, and thyroid function problems. Thus, advocates are torn about the BPA amendment to the Food Safety Bill; on one hand, the bill should be passed ASAP. But, on the other hand, is this the legislature’s best chance to put a halt to the use of BPA?

Follow the link to read more about the Food Safety bill.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Legislation , Products liability

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July 14, 2010

Senate faces pressure to pass food safety bill

It has been roughly a year since House Democrats and Republicans approved legislation aimed to improve food safety. Now, public health advocates concerned about recent food safety recalls are growing frustrated that the United States Senate has yet to take up the bill. The Washington Post reports that a coalition of food safety groups tried to turn up the pressure last week on the leaders in the Senate, running newspaper ads featuring constituents who fell seriously ill from food poisoning and urging the leaders to move the bill to the Senate floor and to pass the bill.

Last week, President Obama addressed in a statement his support for the passage of the food safety bill. President Obama added that the bill provides the government the tools it needs to ensure food safety. The food safety bill would be the first major change to food safety law in 70 years and would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greater regulatory authority regarding food production. Additionally, it places the responsibility where it belongs – on the manufacturers and farmers to produce food free from product contamination.

As the Chicago product liability attorneys at Levin & Perconti are aware, the legislation comes after a series of food-borne illnesses over the past four years. You can remember that the food recalls have included various products, such as spinach and cookie dough, and have generally made Illinois and U.S. consumers weary about food safety. In fact, just yesterday – USA Today reported that close to one in twenty five outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in restaurants and delis can be traced to contaminated, freshly-made salsa or guacamole!

Click the link to read the full food safety law article.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Legislation

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June 30, 2010

Several Illinois personal injuries from salmonella food poisoning at Skokie Country Club

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that two people remain hospitalized and several more are recovering from Illinois personal injuries after a salmonella food poisoning outbreak at the Skokie Country Club in the suburb of Glencoe in Illinois. Cook County health officials are still investigating the nature and cause of the Illinois salmonella outbreak. While the Department acknowledged that finding the source of the outbreak is unlikely, they will continue to investigate.

According to MayoClinic.com, there are more than 2,000 varieties of salmonella bacteria, but only a dozen of them cause personal injuries in people. Most of the illnesses fall under “gastroenteritis,” but some can result in typhoid fever. Salmonella-induced gastroenteritis is most often caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Signs and symptoms may include: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headaches, muscle pains, or blood in the stool. Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe illness.

In the case of the Illinois salmonella infections, the Department of Health has updated the number of those hospitalized due to salmonella to eight; six have been discharged. There have been 37 confirmed cases of salmonella poisoning and the Department has received reports of symptoms in 50 other cases. The kitchen of the country club remains closed since the outbreak began June 12.

For the latest information on the Illinois salmonella poisoning, click the link.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Personal Injury

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May 21, 2010

Does the E. coli outbreak affect your lettuce?

The Illinois product liability attorneys at Levin & Perconti realize that our readers are likely worrying about whether the lettuce they have bought is safe to eat, due to the recent E. coli outbreak and recalls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded the E. coli outbreak to four states – the outbreak involves potentially deadly food-borne illness linked to tainted lettuce. The E. coli outbreak has sickened at least twenty-three people in four states, but luckily, no deaths have been reported. According to a recent CNN.com article, the current product recall involves companies that distribute lettuce supplies to wholsesale and food service outlets. Experts suggest you abstain from eating lettuce at salad bars because of the fact that this current recall involves the lettuce distributed wholesale. Additionally, salad bars generally have the potential for more contact with lots of hands and people.

Grocery store whole lettuce is relatively safe, according to the expert consulted by CNN.com. Freshway Foods and Vaughan Foods have issued a product recall for bagged lettuce products. Production practices, harvesting, packing, processing, and food handling have all been linked to illnesses associated with leafy greens.

The Food and Drug Administration has offered food safety tips to assist in food safety. 1) Clean –make sure you wash your hands and everything else that comes into contact with good, including utensils, countertops, and tableware. 2) Separate – keep uncooked food from contaminating other food with dangerous bacteria. 3) Cook – keep food safety by cooking it thoroughly. 4) Chill – keep foods cold and chill leftovers quickly.

Click this link to read more about the E. coli outbreak and how it affects your lettuce.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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March 17, 2010

Spice safety being reexamined

The Washington Post recently reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking a second look at the safety of spices. Federal regulators recently met with the spice industry to determine methods and practices to make the supply safer. Ideally, the spice industry would take proactive steps to prevent contamination, such as using one of three methods to rid spices of bacteria: irrigation, steam heating, or fumigating with a pesticide. This is a pressing and important food safety issue because the FDA does not have specific guidelines for screening lead in dried products. At the FDA, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is the branch of the FDA responsible for ensuring the safety of and accurate labeling of nearly all food products in the United States.

Spicemakers have been in the news in the past over product safety issues. Last year, a man who claimed to have received salmonella poisoning at a buffet restaurant filed a personal injury lawsuit against a spicemaker. In April of last year, a spice recall was instituted after nearly 50 people in multiple states became ill due to spice linked to salmonella. The strain of salmonella was of particular concern because it was both rare and dangerous.

As described above, salmonella-stricken spices caused severe personal injuries last year and the Chicago product liability attorneys at Levin & Perconti are glad that the FDA is reexamining spice safety. Our Illinois product safety attorneys represent victims in matters against corporations or manufacturers who have sold or manufactured unsafe products to consumers – and “products” in this sense includes unsafe food.

For more information on reexamining potential spice contamination, click here.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Products liability

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January 27, 2010

Company issues recall for 1.2 million pounds of salami

A meat company has issued a product recall for 1.24 million pounds of pepper-coated salami on Saturday. The product recall comes after a lengthy multistate investigation of a salmonella outbreak. Interestingly, the investigation included comparing shopping receipts of those people who got food poisoning. The outbreak has sickened 184 people in 38 states. Eating food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, a potentially life threatening bacterial foodborne illness. The recalling company has set up a hot line for consumers or distributors – (888) 345-4160.

For more information on the salami recall, click here.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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January 8, 2010

$1 million seized from food processing plant

Drawing national media attention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized $1 million in food from a plant this week. The FDA marshals seized bulk food restaurant contaminated products in value of more than $1 million after inspectors discovered signs of rodent infestation. One publication reported that the officials seized all foods that are regulated by the FDA, including rice, fresh produce, and frozen food products. Reports indicated that the company had initially received a warning letter and a follow-up inspection found additional indicators of contamination.

Click here to read more about the food seized from the food processing plant.

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December 28, 2009

New York Times: The 76 Million Food Victims

A recent editorial in the New York Times highlighted an issue that the Levin & Perconti product liability attorneys have frequently blogged about – food safety. It seems as though in recent years, we have had constant reminders of weaknesses in our nation’s food safety system. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), 76 million cases of food-related illnesses are reported every year, with over 300,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 wrongful deaths.

Continue reading "New York Times: The 76 Million Food Victims" »

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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December 10, 2009

Chicken contains harmful bacteria

A consumer reports study recently released reported that the majority of chicken contains harmful bacteria. According to the product liability study, almost two-thirds of raw store-bought chicken contain potentially dangerous pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter. This number of contaminations has actually dropped from two years ago. But, it is an eye-opener for consumers nonetheless.

Continue reading "Chicken contains harmful bacteria" »

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Posted In: Current Issues , Food Poisoning

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November 26, 2009

Avoid food poisoning at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for food, fun, friends and family. The attorneys at Levin & Perconti want to wish all of our readers and their families a Happy Thanksgiving! Although we all want to enjoy our time eating and relaxing with friends and family, we do need to recognize the dangers of food poisoning in the kitchen. Nobody wants a delicious meal to make them or their guests ill. Small mistakes in the kitchen can lead to foodborne illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that 76 million Americans get food poisoning yearly. This food poisoning leads to approximately 5,000 deaths every year.

Continue reading "Avoid food poisoning at Thanksgiving" »

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Posted In: Current Issues , Food Poisoning

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November 9, 2009

Two deaths linked to E.coli poisoning

E. Coli kills two people and sickens many. Ground beef may be responsible for the recent E.coli outbreak linked to illness in more than two dozen people. The suspect beef was produced by Fairbank Farms, which issued a voluntary recall Saturday for 545,699 pounds of ground beef products.

To read more about the deaths linked to E.coli poisoning.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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October 23, 2009

Safe trick-or-treating tips for Halloween

Food poisoning and other product liability risks are constant worries for parents around Halloween. Be sure to inspect all candy before eating any of it. Plus, only give and take packaged or wrapped candy.

To read more Halloween safety tips.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Products liability

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October 21, 2009

Fall eating safety tips

Fall is the season for canned cooking and, unfortunately, also the season for botulism food poisoning. To avoid botulism, be sure to thoroughly cook your food and follow cooking instructions. Avoid swelling containers, those with bulging lids, unusual odors, or odd colors.

To read more fall eating safety tips.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning

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October 17, 2009

Larry King focuses on ground beef safety

Monday night’s “Larry King Live” explored the food poisoning linked to ground beef contaminated with E. coli bacteria. It has sickened, paralyzed, and even killed some people.

To read more about the Larry King ground beef story.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning

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October 7, 2009

Watch what you eat: ground beef

The New York Times recently addressed a food poisoning issue that is cause for concern. The article reported that eating ground beef is a gamble because neither the system meant to make the meat safe nor the meat itself is what consumers have been led to believe. The are no federal requirements for grinders to test ingredients for E. coli.

To read more about the ground beef concern.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning

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September 25, 2009

Federal agencies at fault for lag-time on school lunch food recalls

A recent Government Accountability Office report found that federal agencies that supply food for 31 million schoolchildren do not insure that tainted products are quickly pulled from cafeterias. Delays such as those found raise the risk of children being sickened by contaminated food.

To read more about the GAO report.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Products liability

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September 9, 2009

85 year-old woman suing after E. coli outbreak

An 85 year-old woman is suing the growers, packers, distributors and sellers of spinach involved in a deadly 2006 E. coli outbreak. The personal injury plaintiff states that she almost died after eating spinach in 2006. She suffered renal failure, a stroke, cognitive impairment, a collapsed lung, and a pulmonary embolism.

To read more about the E. coli lawsuit.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Products liability

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August 13, 2009

Health officials confirm illnesses tied to recalled ground beef

Health officials in three states have reported that at least 28 people had reported personal injuries tied to the recalled ground beef that might be tainted with salmonella. The beef was recalled by Beef Packers Inc. of Fresno.

To read more about the recalled beef illnesses.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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August 2, 2009

House set to vote on food safety bill

The House is expected to vote on a multibillion-dollar food safety bill, touching ever facet of the U.S. food supply chain. The bill’s full impact is not known yet, but consumers are supposed to be safer.

To read more about the House food safety vote.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Legislation , Products liability

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July 16, 2009

Instant oatmeal linked to tainted milk products recall

Instant oatmeal has been recalled – the latest product in the latest in a string of nationwide product recalls. The product recalls are linked to salmonella-tainted ingredients distributed by Milk Products Cooperative of Minnesota. Other recalls include hot chocolate mix and some popcorn toppings.

To read more about the instant oatmeal recall.

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Posted In: Food Poisoning , Product Recalls

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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