Health officials announce a food poisoning outbreak that has made hundreds sick in recent months and potentially impacted 18 states.
A public health alert was issued for raw chicken packaged at three Foster Farms facilities in California. It has yet to be determined who if anyone is as fault for the outbreak.
Health officials say at least 278 people have fallen ill since strains of Salmonella Heidelberg were first detected in March.
According to food poisoning lawyer Gary A. Newland, a named partner in Newland & Newland LLP from the Chicago area, Salmonella Heidelberg can result in life-long consequences although most people do recover fully in a month or so. Children, senior citizens and those with weak immune systems are at risk of death. People do die from food poisoning regularly and can be crippled.
Attorney Newland also said it is a good thing the cause was pinpointed. People often blame the last restaurant they ate at and often times it is the food in their own refrigerator. Sometimes Salmonella symptoms will not be felt until 48 hours after the food was consumed.
If you are poisoned it is a good idea to report the issue to the health department. The local health department can then determine if it is an isolated case or an outbreak.
State health officials were not planning a recall.
Salmonella is a pathogen that contaminates meat during slaughter and processing and is especially common in undercooked chicken. According to Newland, poor hygiene by food handlers in restaurants can increase the spread the disease.
It is important to demand your doctor or hospital have you tested for food poisoning if you believe you have been poisoned. If you are not tested, proceeding with a claim for injury is more challenging. Many doctors just diagnose food poisoning and that is often times not specific enough to have a claim.
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