Is Our Food Safe To Eat?

It seems like there is an outbreak of Salmonella every six (6) months. Last year it was tainted lettuce. Before that is was tainted spinach and beef. Now there is a serious outbreak of Salmonella in tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and cilantro. The current epidemic has affected forty-five (45) of the fifty (50) states in America. The centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, and many State agencies are working together to locate the origin of this latest problem. Perhaps what we are seeing is a result of the fact that agriculture is now a corporate business and many of the fruits and vegetables we consume are brought into the United States from countries that may not have strict safety requirements. Another explanation may be less inspections due to under-funded Federal Agencies. Lastly, more Americans take their meals outside their homes and that may contribute to the increased risk in food borne illness. Regardless of the cause, food borne illnesses can be serious and life threatening.

There are several ways that consumers can protect themselves. First, stay alert and observant to news bulletins reporting contaminated foods. If you eat out in restaurants frequently, there is little you can do to ensure that the restaurant is following safety measures. You have to trust that the owners are conscious of food borne illnesses and strictly follow the food safety guidelines. At home you can observe these rules:

• Keep meats refrigerated at the proper temperature
• Keep meat products away from fresh fruits and vegetables
• Refrigerate cooked items with two hours or throw away the produce
• Avoid buying brushed or damaged produce
• Thoroughly wash all produce
• Wash utensils and cutting boards with very hot water and soap when you switch between foods 

Salmonella usually appears within 12-72 hours after the contaminated food has been eaten. It can cause cramps, diarrhea and fever. These conditions can persist for 4-7 days. Most healthy people recover without any other serious problems. Food borne illnesses can be dangerous to young children and senior citizens because the illness can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and cause death.

Lawsuits against corporations that produce and sell foods containing food borne illnesses can be at hard to prove. Salmonella is usually diagnosed by a culture of the stool. Proving where the person became infected can be difficult. When a person eats a product that is subject to a National Recall, locating the source of the Salmonella is not generally difficult. Otherwise, unless there is an outbreak in one locale, pinpointing the source of the Salmonella may be difficult or impossible.

We all have to have food to eat. We can only hope that the Federal Government will step up enforcement against corporations that sell or produce tainted food, and the Government will adequately fund Agencies that are responsible for food inspections. Our lives could depend on it. 

Do I Have a Salmonella Food Poisoning Lawsuit?

If you or somebody you know has become sick with Salmonella food poisoning, you should contact us immediately.  The food poisoning lawyers / attorneys at Coxwell & Associates are currently accepting these types of potential lawsuits throughout the entire state of Mississippi.