Eating food purchased from a restaurant or grocery store should not be a risky proposition, but in recent weeks, a number of Illinois residents and people in nearby states have become seriously ill after doing so. Dozens of cases of food poisoning have been reported and linked to salads sold at McDonald’s restaurants, and the problem is becoming more widespread, affecting people in several states throughout the Midwest. If you have experienced food poisoning because of contaminated salads or other foods, you should be sure to understand your options for recovering compensation for your damages.The Dangers of Contaminated Salads and Produce
The current food poisoning case involves the Cyclospora parasite, which can cause intestinal illnesses to those who consume it. Infections from this type of organism are known as cyclosporiasis, and symptoms include explosive diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or cramps, gas, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, headaches, and fever.
Cyclospora can be transmitted in fresh produce because these foods do not go through a cooking process that would kill the parasites. Washing or rinsing produce is not sufficient to remove these organisms.
After more than 100 reported cases of cyclosporiasis, McDonald’s has opted to remove salads from any restaurants that may have been affected by the outbreak. More than 3,000 restaurants are involved, and in addition to Illinois, people in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri may have been in danger of contamination.
This is not the only case of food poisoning from Cyclospora which occurred recently. In June, vegetable trays produced by Del Monte were found to be the source of an outbreak that affected more than 200 people in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. The company recalled several products from grocery stores in states throughout the Midwest. This outbreak appears to be unrelated to the contaminated salads from McDonald’s.
Contact an Inverness Personal Injury Attorney
Food poisoning can not only cause a great deal of pain and discomfort, but it can have serious, long-lasting effects on one’s health. If you have contracted cyclosporiasis or any other type of infection after eating food purchased from a restaurant or grocery store, you may be able to pursue compensation for the damages which you have suffered. The Rolling Meadows personal injury lawyers at Drost, Gilbert, Andrew & Apicella, LLC can help you understand your options and advocate for your interests throughout the legal process. Contact us at 847-934-6000 to arrange a personalized consultation.
About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Sources:
https://wqad.com/2018/07/17/illinois-officials-warn-of-food-poisoning-possibly-linked-to-mcdonalds/
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/07/parasites-linked-to-mcdonalds-likely-not-part-of-del-monte-outbreak/#.W09ld9hKiV4
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/us/del-monte-vegetable-trays-parasite-nyt.html
When you purchase food at a grocery store or restaurant, you expect it to be safe to eat. Unfortunately, cases occur all too often in which foods containing pathogens are provided to consumers, resulting in serious diseases and even death. A currently-ongoing case involving romaine lettuce illustrates the dangers of contaminated foods, and people injured by food poisoning should be sure to understand their options for recovering compensation under