Food Poisoning

Food poisoning outbreaks are often frightening to consumers as they affect their everyday lives and often occur and affect a large number of people without warning. In the last several years, food poisoning outbreaks have seemingly increased, with more and more stories of serious illnesses and even deaths coming from outbreaks across the country. But what is the cause? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), imported food has become a major cause of outbreaks and serious illnesses.

As reported in The Huffington Post, the CDC has stated that imported foods were related to 38 major food-borne illness outbreaks from 2005 to 2010, with 17 of them occurring in 2009 and 2010 alone. Additionally, fish was the most commonly responsible for the outbreaks, with spices coming in second. Asia was linked to imported food outbreaks the most with 45 percent of the total illnesses related to food coming from the continent.

The CDC reports that the increase in imported food illnesses is tied to the trend of higher levels of food imports seen in recent years, with Asia now importing an especially large amount. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests imported food for illnesses, but it is a very small percentage, allowing dangerous products to often slip past inspection.

Food poisoning is a common but serious problem throughout the U.S. From massive outbreaks to single incidents, these illnesses can severely affect a victim, causing pain and suffering, large medical bills, and even long-lasting complications if serious enough. The Santa Cruz food poisoning attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can aid you in finding proper compensation for your losses and holding the at-fault parties responsible. For more information, call our offices at (877) 862-6288.

Cities across California, including San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco, are beginning to ban the use of plastic bags in stores in order to become more environmentally friendly; however, the movement towards reusable shopping bags may greatly increase the risk of food poisoning in consumers. A recent study by the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University has found that reusable bags can easily become a breeding ground for E. coli and other dangerous food poisoning bacteria.

Consumers who have purchased and regularly use the bags were interviewed and reusable bags from several different cities were sampled to find out how high the rate of bacteria was in these eco-friendly bags. Over half of the bags sampled contained various bacteria and an average of 12% of the bags had E. coli growing in them. However, there were no bacteria found in new bags, demonstrating how bag owner behavior leads to the growth of these bacteria.

Out of all consumers interviewed, 97% said that they never washed their reusable bags, and a large portion said that they also used the bags to carry non-food items like gym clothes and books. The lack of sanitizing measures and the presence of other items can create an atmosphere of cross contamination and bacteria growth. Most reusable bags have no information on how or when to clean them.

Various bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella, can cause severe illness and even death in those exposed to them. When food is contaminated with these pathogens, consumers rarely know it until they are feeling the effects of digesting them. Food poisoning is a serious matter, and when negligent actions cause it to occur, the responsible parties can be held liable.

If you or someone you know has suffered due to food poisoning caused by another’s negligent actions, a San Jose food poisoning attorney with Van Der Walde & Associates can help you win the compensation you deserve. Our law team has years of experience that they can use to your advantage when pursuing your rightful compensation. Call us today for a free and confidential consultation at (408) 474-0005.