Can I File a Lawsuit if I get Sick from Eating a Food Product?

When you purchase food at a restaurant or grocery store, you should be able to expect that the product is safe to eat. Even though there are stringent inspection processes for food in the United States, sometimes there is still food on the market that can pose a health threat to those who consume it. There are hundreds of different types of foodborne diseases that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, most of which can be prevented through proper storage, handling and cooking. If you get sick from consuming food from a restaurant or grocery store, you may be able to hold the manufacturer or supplier responsible.

Recent Listeria Outbreak Prompts Recall

Last week, Almark Foods issued a recall on all of its hard-boiled egg products over concerns of listeria contamination. The Food and Drug Administration linked the hard-boiled egg products that were produced from the company’s Gainesville, Georgia, plant with a listeria outbreak that affected people from five different states and killed one person in Texas. The egg products were sold under various brand names and at various retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle, Kroger, and Walmart.

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a foodborne illness that can affect anyone but can be particularly severe in newborns, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The symptoms of listeria vary depending on the person and the part of the body that is affected. In adults who are over the age of 65, listeria can cause infections in the bloodstream and brain. Women who are pregnant with a listeria infection often experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscle ache, but their babies can get extremely sick and even miscarry or die at birth.

Product Liability Laws

Illinois follows strict product liability, meaning the manufacturer of the defective product is liable for their product, whether or not they acted in a negligent manner. Proving that a product is defective can fall under one or more of three different categories that are related to the manufacture, design or marketing of the product.

Contact a Joliet, IL, Defective Product Attorney Today

Getting sick from something you eat may seem trivial, but it can become very serious rather quickly. At the Fotopoulos Law Office, we believe that consumers should not have to worry about the safety of the food they purchase. If you or a loved one has experienced sickness because of the carelessness of a food manufacturer or supplier, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills or other damages. Call our skilled Will County defective product lawyer today at 708-942-8400 to schedule a free consultation.

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Questions and Answers

Check Your Fridge: 88 Egg Products Under Recall After Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Almark Foods Expanded Recall to all Products from its Georgia Facility due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination