When food and beverages are purchased at restaurants, fast food chains, grocers, etc., consumers should be able to trust that it is safe for them to eat. However, that is not always the case. One example from this past year is the multistate E. Coli outbreak that was caused by contaminated romaine lettuce. This outbreak alone affected 210 Americans of which 96 were hospitalized, 27 developed a type of kidney failure, and 5 died. According the CDC, this outbreak seems to be resolved as of June 28, 2018.
How Do You Know if You’ve Contracted a Foodborne Illness?
Unfortunately, many foodborne illnesses go unlinked to anything and the cause remains unknown. Especially, when people don’t realize that they have contracted a foodborne illness. Symptoms of foodborne illnesses can range from mild to severe, even leading to death. The symptoms include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Abdominal distention
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Dehydration
- Rapid weight loss
- Headache
- Irritability
- Drowsiness
- Jaundice
- Death
Common Foodborne Illnesses
- Hepatitis A
- Salmonellosis
- E. Coli
- Shigellosis
- Listeria
Foodborne Illness Laws in Texas
In the State of Texas, it is held that one who sells any foodstuffs for human consumption (i.e. restaurants, food product manufacturers, food distributors) is subject to strict liability for any physical harm to the consumer. Strict liability is defined as follows: absolute legal responsibility that can be imposed on the wrongdoer without proof of carelessness or fault. If you have contracted a foodborne illness from any type of food, you should contact an injury lawyer as you may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer or distributor for the injuries you have sustained. The attorneys at Kuzmich Law Firm can help answer any questions you have regarding your foodborne illness claim.
If you would like more information about foodborne illness outbreaks by year, please visit the CDC.gov.
Steve Kuzmich is a Board Certified – Personal Injury Trial Lawyer by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The Kuzmich Law Firms’ focus practice areas are auto and trucking accidents, wrongful death and other serious injuries, injuries caused by drunk drivers, child injury cases, (slip and fall accidents) premises liability, and dog bite cases.
For further information about personal injury litigation, call as at 972.434.1555 and ask us why board certification matters.