By Adam W. Pittman on July 22, 2015
Two years ago, after attending a funeral at the Eastern Star Baptist Church in York, Alabama, the mourners sat down to a meal in honor of the deceased. Over the next few days, 67 of the funeral attendees became seriously ill. Those affected became increasingly sick and were hospitalized with symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, and one person died.
The culprit? Salmonella poisoning from tainted chicken.
Salmonella poisoning, though preventable, is all too common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over one million Salmonella infections occur every year in the United States, with 19,000 patients hospitalized and 450 deaths.1
Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms
Symptoms of Salmonella include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Blood in the Stool
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Causes of Salmonella
Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating foods contaminated with feces. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most commonly infected foods are:
- Raw meat, poultry, and seafood. Feces may get onto raw meat and poultry during the butchering process. Seafood may be contaminated if harvested from contaminated water.2
- Raw eggs. While an egg’s shell may seem to be a perfect barrier to contamination, some infected chickens produce eggs that contain salmonella before the shell is even formed. Raw eggs are used in homemade versions of mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce.2
- Fruits and vegetables. Some fresh produce, particularly imported varieties, may be hydrated in the field or washed during processing with water contaminated with salmonella. Contamination also can occur in the kitchen, when juices from raw meat and poultry come into contact with uncooked foods, such as salads.2
The risk of Salmonella poisoning is greatly increased when food is improperly handled, not kept at a safe temperature, or undercooked.
What can I do if I was poisoned by Salmonella at a restaurant or purchased contaminated foods?
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with a Salmonella infection and required hospitalization, you may be eligible for financial compensation for medical bills and other expenses.
The salmonella lawyers at Cory Watson Attorneys are ready to fight for you. Call (877) 562-0000 or fill out our free consultation form to have one of our knowledgeable foodborne illness attorneys review your claim for FREE.
Cory Watson Attorneys is a leading national personal injury law firm serving clients throughout the country as well as locally across Alabama.
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html
2 The Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/basics/causes/con-20029017
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