FDA Proposed Food Safety Rules Seek to Prevent 3000 Deaths Per Year

This year, millions of Americans will resolve to lose weight and eat healthier. Some of these people will dive into eating more leafy greens to accomplish those goals. Will they also be at risk for injury and infection with E. Coli?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a food contamination outbreak from leafy greens in multiple states every year for the past few years.  A recent outbreak is brewing in Ohio, where the Hamilton County Health Department believes it started in a restaurant serving these infected leafy greens. Consumers ingesting these potentially infected leafy greens are warned they may be at risk for injury. 

Soon, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has its way, these food born illnesses and injuries may be a distant memory.  2 years ago, Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act, which became law.  Over the past 2 years, the FDA has been drafting a revision to food safety and preparation laws which were last updated in the 1930's (prior to industrialized farming and packaging.)  These 1200 pages outline procedures for hygiene, food safety and sanitation procedures. In the next 4 months, the public has a right to respond and weigh in on the proposed rules before they become final.  The FDA is hoping that these updated rules will prevent the estimated 3,000 deaths per year due to food contamination and the 128,000 hospitalizations due to injuries related to food contamination.

The Dangers of Food Contamination 

Human beings are remarkably resilient.  However, despite the daily exposure to millions of germs, we can become sickened and injured when exposed to certain bacterium.  This can include E. Coli, Listeria, and other causes of food born illnesses and injuries. When people are exposed to these bacterium, they can become sick and injured in the following ways:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• skin lesions
• vision problems
• dehydration
• heart problems due to dehydration and violent vomiting
• death

Given these results, it's clear that food born illnesses can be quite serious for people who ingest contaminated food products. Depending upon the strength of your immune system, you could experience increased risk for injury.  The elderly, children, and pregnant women are in high risk for injury categories due to their often compromised immune systems. 

If You've Been Injured 

If you have eaten a food that made you sick and injured you severely, you should seek immediate medical attention.  You may be entitled to compensation depending upon the nature of your injury and the unique circumstances.  You should call a skilled product liability attorney to determine whether or not you have a case. 

FDA Probes Contaminated Farm as Source of Deadly Cantaloupe Salmonella Outbreak

As we enter the new year, people are full of resolutions, the most common of which is to eat healthier.  It appears the federal government has a similar resolution because they have taken multiple steps in the first month of the new year to address food safety concerns aimed at cleaning up facilities which had food contamination.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have jointly investigated one farm linked to the production of tainted cantaloupe.  The farm at the heart of the investigation was linked to the dissemination of cantaloupe that was infected with salmonella.  A resulting outbreak affected 261 people in 24 states, killing 3 people in the state of Kentucky.

The FDA Presses Contaminated Farm for Corrective Action to Prevent Consumer Injury

Following this outbreak of consumer injury, the FDA has become concerned that it has not received information regarding how the farm plans to take corrective actions.  How will the farm prevent further food contamination which may lead to consumer injury? Prior to the holidays, the FDA sent the farm a stern letter in which it sought demonstrations of corrective action to prevent further consumer injury due to food contamination.

The FDA believes that based upon soil samples, food contact surfaces, and other samples taken around the farm, there is a "widespread Salmonella contamination" on the farm. Their testing concluded multiple potential sources of contamination including:

• organic material in the conveyor belt that could encourage bacteria growth
• infected food preparation surfaces
• mud, trash, and dirt beneath the conveyor belt and rinsing areas which contained algae 
• bird feces in the roof rafters above the processing equipment, suggesting this feces had dropped onto the food itself 
• contaminated water containing E-coli and C-coli
• potentially unclean carpeted surfaces in the packing area which could harbor bacteria

If You Have Been Injured by Contaminated Food

If you have been injured by contaminated food, you could be at serious risk of lasting injuries, including death.  Depending upon the contamination, you could experience symptoms as mild as nausea to extreme conditions that could kill you.  You should seek immediate medical attention if you have suffered an injury due to a food contamination.  You should also seek the help of a skilled personal injury attorney to determine whether or not you may be entitled to compensation for these injuries. 

New Food Recall of Chicken and Rice Could Be Deadly to Consumers

It seems that food recalls have been the topic of the day lately.  Another recall has been voluntarily instituted following a Canadian manufacturer, Aliya’s Foods Limited, who found strains of listeria bacteria. 

Nearly 5,000 pounds of chicken and rice were recalled by the Canadian company.  Federal regulators at the U.S. Dept of Agriculture estimate that 240 boxes were shipped to Trader Joe's in multiple states, including:

• Connecticut
• Washington D.C.
• Delaware
• Florida
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Virginia

The affected batches carry the date 2012-10-31 and lot code 30512.  Consumers who discover they are in possession of these packages are encouraged to return the items for a full refund from Trader Joe's. Or consumers can dispose of the product. 

Effects of Listeria Bacteria

Listeria bacteria can be quite harmful to people when ingested.  People can become very ill and exhibit the following symptoms:

• headaches, migraines
• fever
• stiffness of the neck
• muscle aches and pains
• miscarriage
• stillbirths
• deadly infections

Consumers who fall ill as a result of listeria bacteria in their food should immediately seek out medical attention.  Additionally, injured consumers should also contact a skilled product liability attorney to discuss potentially being compensated for these injuries.