California Foodborne Illness Attorneys
Food Poisoning Illness Lawyers in California
Each year, millions of Americans are sickened from contaminated foods and beverages. According to the FDA, several hundred thousand cases of food poisoning or foodborne illnesses are serious enough to require hospitalization. Complications from foodborne illnesses can cause serious other health problems or even death. While everyone is at risk of contracting a foodborne illness, people with weakened immune systems, children with not fully developed immune systems, elderly adults and pregnant women are most vulnerable to complications. Serious complications may include Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which can affect the body’s ability to clot blood, which could lead to kidney failure. Approximately 80% of HUS cases are the result of an E. coli infection.
September 2011 Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak
On September 27, 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that as many as 16 people had died and dozens had become seriously ill from consuming cantaloupes tainted with listeria. Because the symptoms of listeria do not always show up immediately, the CDC estimates that the number of illnesses and deaths will likely increase in the coming weeks. Cases of listeria were reported in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The most cases were reported in Colorado, where the tainted cantaloupes was grown at Jensen Farms in Holly, Colorado. Strains of listeria were found in cantaloupes taken from grocery stores and on equipment and cantaloupe samples and Jensen Farms packing facility. An investigation is ongoing as to how the contamination may have occurred.
Causes of Foodborne Illnesses
The FDA has reported foodborne illness outbreaks are on the rise. The foodborne illness lawyers at Estey Bomberger represent victims of foodborne illnesses from bacteria, viruses, toxins and even parasites resulting from:
- Unpasteurized milk / fruit juice
- Oysters concentrated with Vibrio bacteria
- Food preparer’s failure to wash hands after going to the bathroom
- Meats not cooked to the proper temperature
- Sprouts cultivated in conditions that breed Salmonella
- Fruit or vegetables irrigated with bacteria-laced water
- Food prepared with unsanitary food utensils.
While the vast majority of foodborne illnesses are relatively mild, with a day or two of unpleasant side effects, some foodborne illnesses are serious enough to make you seriously ill. Foodborne illnesses may result in hospitalization and astronomical medical bills, and time away from work. If you have become ill due to negligently grown or prepared food, speak to an attorney about your legal rights to recover compensation for your foodborne illness and related expenses.
Recovering Compensation For a Foodborne Illness
 If you have become seriously ill from contracting a foodborne illness, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical care, time away from work, and other damages. If a loved one died due to a listeria outbreak or other foodborne illness, you may be eligible to recover damages in a wrongful death claim. To learn more, contact the California food poisoning lawyers at Estey Bomberger at (800)890-6722.  Our attorneys are here to help in any way we can. We will advise you how to best preserve evidence necessary for your potential claim and answer any questions you may have. All inquiries are free and confidential, so contact us today. We do not charge any fees unless we recover compensation for you.