When Americans aren’t consuming hamburgers and tacos, they’re usually eating chicken. Many people choose to eat chicken because it’s seen as healthier. But sometimes, that chicken can be decidedly unhealthy for us. The more chicken we consume, the more of it has to be handled by processing plants and others, who far too often don’t handle the chicken properly. In recent years, there have been a number of recalls of chicken products as a result of contamination by salmonella bacteria.
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One widespread example is a recall of contaminated “kosher broiled chicken livers” and chopped liver products, after nearly 200 people throughout six states became sick after eating chicken products that were contaminated with salmonella. The illnesses occurred over the course of several months, and the source of those illnesses was traced to a single plant.
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of intestinal illnesses in the United States, and improperly handled chicken products are a significant source of the salmonella bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while only about 40,000 cases of salmonella are reported annually, as many as 1.4 million people are probably infected with a form of salmonella every year. Illnesses caused by salmonella strike people of all ages and backgrounds, although infants, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible.
Contracting a salmonella infection through chicken can lead to anything from basic gastrointestinal discomfort to headaches, vomiting, pain during urination, to severe arthritis and typhoid. While many cases of food poisoning due to salmonella contamination from chicken will result in a few days of discomfort, many suffer much more severe symptoms. In all, 15,000 people become sick enough from exposure to salmonella contamination to be hospitalized each year, and 500 die from the infection annually. Many suffer from symptoms of infection for the rest of their lives.
If you think you or someone you know may have contracted an illness as a result of consuming a salmonella-contaminated chicken product, especially one that was recalled for salmonella contamination, you need a lawyer with experience dealing with food poisoning cases. If a subsequent investigation confirms your suspicions, the victims may be entitled to adequate compensation for all injuries and harm caused by the contaminated chicken.
The San Antonio personal injury lawyers at Hill Law Firm in San Antonio work hard to protect clients from harmful food products. If you or someone you know may have consumed chicken tainted with salmonella bacteria, you may have a legal claim. Contact the Hill Law Firm to get more information about your case.