Did Food Poison You?
Our South Carolina Injury Attorneys Can Take Action
Imagine it is your birthday, so you go to your favorite restaurant. You have your favorite food and enjoy it with your friends and family. After you get home, however, you realize you feel queasy. Moments later, you are violently ill. What happened? Chances are, you have food poisoning. While food poisoning might seem to some like a temporary nuisance, food poisoning can make its victims very sick; it can even potentially cause wrongful death. The South Carolina injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC have represented many people who have suffered food poisoning as a result of restaurants’ and food distributors’ poor sanitation practices, and if you have gotten sick because of someone else’s negligence, we can help you.
What is Food Poisoning?
When a bacterium or a virus contaminates food and a person eats the food, the person can become seriously ill with food poisoning. The most common types of food poisoning bacteria and viruses are:
- Campylobacter
- Salmonella
- E Coli 0157:H7
- Hepatitis A
- Listeria
- Norovirus
- Shigella
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Food poisoning has multiple symptoms, including:
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Vomiting
- Arthritis
Sources of Food Poisoning
Poultry is one of the most common foods traced as the source of food poisoning. Other foods include unpasteurized milk, undercooked meats, mushrooms, cheese, shellfish and eggs.
Some animals that have the types of bacteria that can be traced to contaminated food products in their intestinal tract include cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, and direct animal exposure can lead to infection. Pets that may carry infection that can lead to food poisoning include birds, cats, dogs, hamsters and turtles. Infectious agents can also come from streams, lakes and ponds.
Occasionally food contamination occurs at the distributor level, and grocery store products such as peanut butter, condiments and other canned and jarred foods can incubate dangerous bacteria.
Food Poisoning Prevention
To prevent most types of food poisoning, restaurants and other establishments must cook poultry, ground beef and eggs thoroughly before serving to patrons. To ensure that eggs do not contain viable salmonella, they must be cooked at least until the yolk is solid, and meat and poultry must reach 160ºF or greater throughout. Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, such as homemade eggnog and hollandaise sauce. Avoid drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk or products made from raw milk.
We are Here to Help
The South Carolina injury lawyers at McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC have represented hundreds of people in different states in litigation against restaurants and food companies whose food has caused consumers to become ill.
At McGowan, Hood & Felder, LLC, we aim to obtain maximum compensation for our clients’ injuries. We fight to obtain compensation for our clients for their physical damages, emotional injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, permanent injuries and in some cases, wrongful death. We represent people who may require medical monitoring and surgical procedures throughout their lives, and we work to secure settlements or verdicts that will provide for their long-term medical needs.
We are prepared to help you protect what is important to you and your family. To schedule a free consultation, contact the South Carolina injury attorneys at McGowan, Hood & Felder LLC today and let us make your life our mission.