Food Poisoning Grounds For Wrongful Death In Florida

Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food. Various bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins commonly contaminate the food during its processing or production. Although food poisoning is common and tends to produce generally mild symptoms, it can be deadly. At least one in six Florida residents experience food poisoning symptoms annually, but an estimated 6,000 Americans suffer wrongful death from it every year.

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Depending on the source of contamination, food poisoning symptoms vary.

Mild Symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Low-grade fever
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal cramping

Severe Symptoms:

• Dehydration
• Double vision
• Respiratory arrest
• Kidney disorders
• Bleeding disorders
• Continuous vomiting
• Inability to retain liquids
• Extreme pain or severe cramping

Case Examples of Food Poisoning:

• E-coli/salmonella vegetables, milk, or eggs
• Listeria contaminated food
• Unsanitary food preparation
• Tainted beef from fast food and restaurant chains
• Contaminated frozen foods
• Expired meats
• Hepatitis infected food handlers

What Causes Food Poisoning?

Sometimes, individuals experience food poisoning from restaurants, school cafeterias, or even at family picnics. More often than not, people purchase spoiled or contaminated food from their local grocery store. At any point during the process of production, the food becomes contaminated, or cross-contaminated.

Growing, harvesting, processing, storing, shipping, and preparing food offers equal opportunities for harmful organisms to transfer from one surface to another. Raw foods that are sold ready to eat, such as salads and other produce, cause food poisoning because the harmful organisms aren’t cooked and destroyed before eating. Bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents are common culprits to food poisoning.

Food poisoning may cause major threats to one’s health, including death. Certain individuals are more at risk for severe symptoms and death associated with food poisoning.

Food Poisoning: Who Is at Risk?

1.  Senior Citizens: As people age, their immune systems do not fight infection as well as when they are younger.
2. Babies and Children: Because their immune systems are still immature and not fully developed, young children are likely to be at risk for severe food poisoning.
3. Pregnant Women: A pregnant woman and her unborn baby are at high risk for food poisoning due to the changes in metabolism and circulation.
4. Ill or Diseased: Chronic conditions that have weak immune systems have a harder time fighting food poisoning, such as cancer, diabetes, liver, and AIDS patients.

Wrongful Death and Food Poisoning

Food poisoning and food borne illness may cause life threatening symptoms, and even death. Food poisoning is not a matter of mistake. Food poisoning is a matter of negligence and liability.  If food poisoning has led to you or a loved one being hospitalized, it is vital that you contact a qualified Broward County Wrongful Death Attorney.

Contact the Law Offices of David Benenfeld, a Wrongful Death Attorney, for a free legal consultation to determine if you have a case for an injury involved in food poisoning. Call (954) 677-0155(954) 677-0155