Food poisoning which includes illness due to E. Coli, Botulism, Shigella, Listeria, Hepatitis A and Mercury Poisoning can result in severe medical issues, sometimes leading to death. With the recent publicity about tainted produce, salads, dairy products, meat, fish and more, it is no wonder people are more aware of the risks of ingesting contaminated foods.

Most food poisoning is caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria due to improper processing or storage. Common foods considered potentially hazardous include: Produce; Chicken; Eggs that are undercooked or raw; Raw seafood; Tuna; Scallops; Oysters; Mussels; Clams; Potato salad; Macaroni salad and others.

Restaurants must abide by a strict code of sanitation, but it is not uncommon to learn of the presence of rodents and cockroaches; in addition to employee failure to maintain proper hygiene during contact with food; and a slovenly attitude about proper food storage, refrigeration and sanitation.

While customers may not witness these deficiencies, their consequences are evident in the form of food poisoning. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an approximate 76 million people in the United States will be affected by food-borne illness each year, with approximately 300,000 people requiring medical treatment or hospitalization.

If you have experienced physical distress due to food-borne illness or have suspicions about whether a restaurant is meeting code, you should report the incident to the health department. If you have suffered more serious symptoms of food poisoning and have required medical treatment, you should consult with a food poisoning attorney at Basso and Associates, PC to discuss whether you have a case.

What are the symptoms to watch for? Food-borne illness usually affects people from two to eight days after exposure, with the average being three to four days. Several of the most frequent symptoms include headache, fever, abdominal cramping, vomiting, diarrhea and exhaustion. However, there are much more serious symptoms which can be attributed to more deadly forms of food poisoning. These include the following:

E. Coli infection can result in bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramping, kidney failure and even death. In some cases, however, the infection causes no obvious symptoms at all. Sometimes, a slight fever can last from five to ten days. In more severe cases, the E. Coli infection can cause a serious complication know as Hemolytic Ureic Syndrome (HUS), that affects very young or elderly victims. About 8% of patients experience this complication. HUS is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in children within the United States, and E. Coli is the leading cause of HUS. E. Coli is often caused by contamination within leafy vegetables, undercooked beef, bean sprouts and raw milk. E. Coli can also be contracted by swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water. Transmission of disease is also caused by infected hand to hand contact within families and child care centers.

Mercury poisoning especially affects young people and the unborn. High levels of mercury can cause symptoms that include sweating, skin sensitivity, pain, heart-related problems as well as the inability to move or walk normally. The presence of mercury can affect fetal development and cause severe birth defects that could remain with the child for the rest of its life. It can even lead to death.

Mercury is found in certain types of edible fish. Pregnant women, women likely to get pregnant, nursing mothers or young children should avoid eating foods that contain high levels of mercury, which may include shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.

At the law firm of Basso and Associates, PC, you are entitled to free advice if you have been a victim of food poisoning. Call 1-877-227-7652 promptly for best results.