Famous Food Poisoning Cases

Food poisoning outbreaks happen more often than most people think. The government takes these outbreaks very seriously, and consumers can hold companies accountable for their illness or death.

It's one thing if a few individuals get sick after eating tainted or contaminated food. But there have been instances where hundreds or thousands of people have become seriously ill from food poisoning. When this happens, it usually makes the news.

This section will highlight some of the latest news stories about food poisoning stories of the past two decades. If you contract a foodborne illness after eating contaminated food, you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately.

The PCA Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak

In 2008 and 2009, the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) had to recall its peanut butter in 43 states, Canada, and other countries due to a salmonella outbreak. More than 700 people got sick. At least nine died from eating products tainted with the PCA peanut butter.

The recall had a significant impact on PCA's bottom line. The company had to file for bankruptcy because of the revenue lost and the civil lawsuits. This meant plaintiffs who sued PCA for salmonella poisoning had to settle with the bankruptcy courts. The contamination was so blatant the judge sentenced the CEO to more than 30 years in prison. Two other executives served jail time as well.

The Blue Bell Ice Cream Listeria Contamination

In April 2015, Blue Bell Creameries recalled more than 8 million gallons of ice cream due to a listeria outbreak. The contamination was due to a problem in the drainage system in the company's Oklahoma processing plant.

Over ten people were in the hospital when Blue Bell issued the voluntary recall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the public not to buy Blue Bell ice cream due to the outbreak.

Blue Bell CEO Paul Kruse was criminally charged for hiding information about the contamination. As part of a plea deal, the courts fined Kruse $100,000. He stepped down from his position as CEO and left the company soon after. The government also fined Blue Bell Creameries $19.3 million.

The Chipotle E. Coli and Norovirus Outbreaks

Chipotle has a history of E. coli and norovirus outbreaks dating back to 2008. More recently, the restaurant chain was responsible for at least three separate foodborne illness outbreaks.

In December 2015, more than 80 Boston College students fell ill after eating at a local Chipotle. That same year, more than 200 people became sick after eating at a Chipotle in Simi Valley, California.

The company had to close 43 locations while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an outbreak investigation. It was unable to confirm what caused the outbreak. But it confirmed that it was E. coli and norovirus that made everybody sick. Usually, these foodborne illnesses result from sick food workers and poor hygiene.

Even though Chipotle had prior food poisoning outbreaks, that doesn't mean it's automatically liable for later outbreaks. If you were to sue a restaurant, your attorney would have to prove that the restaurant was directly responsible for your illness.

Common Causes of Food Poisoning Outbreaks

Most food poisoning outbreaks in the United States involve listeria, hepatitis A, E. coli, and Salmonella. It's challenging for public health officials to determine the cause of these outbreaks.

Typically, local health departments demand that a restaurant close while conducting their investigations. They will also notify the FDA and the CDC to ensure they know about the outbreak.

Some of the more common causes of these outbreaks include the following:

• Sick workers
• Lack of food safety standards
• Hygiene issues
• Sanitation issues
• Contaminated ground beef and other meats and poultry

Once an outbreak makes the news, people avoid shopping or eating at the locations in the story. It also helps that many people share this information on social media. This way, you can learn about the problem before you fall ill.

Are You Sick from a Food Poisoning Outbreak?

You may have a legal claim if you become sick after eating at a restaurant or buying groceries from your local market. Once you receive medical attention, contact a seasoned personal injury lawyer. A food poisoning lawyer can review your claim and let you know how best to proceed.