South Carolina Food Poisoning Attorneys

Food poisoning is a blanket term for many different sicknesses that can result from eating spoiled or tainted food and beverages. Recent outbreaks have focused our nation's attention on e. coli, which has been found in lettuce, spinach and green onions, but it is only one of several common foodborne illnesses. Others include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Norwalk virus, botulism, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, hepatitis A and Shigella. Symptoms of these illnesses vary, but often include fever, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 76 million Americans get food poisoning each year; 325,000 of those cases are serious enough to require hospitalization, and 5,000 of those victims die. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that our economy loses $3 to $7 billion each year to human illness caused by bacteria in food.

If you or someone you care about has become ill because of someone else's carelessness in handling food, contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 for a free evaluation of your case.

While most people with food poisoning improve within a few days, a few will develop deadly complications that can cause death or serious injuries. These people are most likely to be the very young, the elderly or people with medical conditions that make it harder to fight off infections (such as AIDS or lupus). However, healthy adults exposed to a very high level of bacteria or other poison may also fall gravely ill. Serious and deadly complications from food poisoning include:

• Severe dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to death if the victim is not hospitalized.
• Reiter's syndrome, a complication from salmonella poisoning that causes chronic joint pain, eye irritation and painful urination.
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of e.coli whose victims develop temporary anemia, profuse bleeding and permanent kidney failure.
• Botulism, which paralyzes the muscles, causing blurred or double vision, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, weakness, paralysis of the arms and legs and, eventually, death.

Food poisoning may be spread by insufficient washing of fruit and vegetables; contaminated hands and food preparation equipment; improper handling of food; or vermin infestations. In other words, food poisoning is almost always preventable, although consumers often do not see the conditions that cause their food to become contaminated. Restaurants, grocery stores, farmers and food manufacturers all have a legal duty to make sure their products are safe to eat. When they fail in that duty, innocent people are sickened through no fault of their own. And a few -- often children whose parents gave them fresh produce with the best of intentions -- will die.

If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured or killed by someone else's careless attitude toward food safety, you have the right to hold the careless party responsible in court. With almost 50 years of experience, the Louthian Law Firm can help you evaluate your case and file the best possible lawsuit. To preserve your right to a day in court, contact one of our experienced South Carolina foodborne illness attorneys as soon as possible, at 1-866-410-5656, for a free case evaluation.

Recent Food Recalls

• Castleberry's Food Co. canned meat recall expanded to more than 90 brands after botulism scare
• FDA warns consumers not to eat Veggie Booty Snack Food due to risk of Salmonella contamination

South Carolina Contaminated Food Injury Attorney Disclaimer: The foodborne illness, food poisoning, food illness, food safety, or other legal personal injury information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Further communication with our attorneys through the website and email may not be considered as confidential or privileged. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a Columbia South Carolina personal injury lawyer at the Louthian Law Firm, P.A. for a consultation on your particular personal injury matter. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of South Carolina.