Food-borne Illnesses

In recent years, stories about Salmonella or e-Coli outbreaks, or about other illnesses spread through foods, have swept through the mass media. Most of us treat such stories as warnings that we should wash our fruits better or not eat undercooked meat. However, some of the recent outbreaks came from foods such as salsa or guacamole prepared and served at restaurants. In such cases, there is not much that a consumer or patron can do to keep from getting a food-borne illness. Foreign objects in food present a similar danger to consumers.

Common symptoms of food-borne illnesses include vomiting, diarrhea, and severe stomach cramps. In some cases, people become gravely ill and may even die from food-borne diseases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that many people fail to seek medical attention for such diseases: for example, the CDC estimates that for every case of salmonella-induced illness diagnosed and reported in the U.S., 38 similar cases go unreported. Approximately 5,000 people die in the U.S. each year as a result of food-borne illnesses.

In Tennessee as elsewhere in the U.S., people who were sickened by a food-borne disease can seek compensation for their resulting medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. They may claim compensation under a theory of negligence, or under products liability. The Hartsoe Law Firm is known for its prompt response and proven results in such cases.

If several people fall ill after sharing a meal, or after eating at the same restaurant, it is quite likely that they were sickened by a food-borne agent, and they should report the incident to the appropriate public health authorities. The Tennessee Department of Health can be contacted through its website, which provides information about Tennessee food-borne illnesses and related health alerts and recalls.

In some cases, it may be difficult to identify the contaminated food that caused a food-borne illness, or to trace the source of that food. Therefore, if you or someone you love was sickened by a food-borne illness and you are considering seeking compensation for the resulting harm, you would benefit from having the knowledge and resources of an experienced Tennessee personal injury attorney on your side.

Knoxville attorney Mark C. Hartsoe draws on decades of experience in representing Tennessee residents injured by other people’s negligence. He has also successfully represented numerous families seeking compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one.

The Hartsoe Law Firm offers a free initial consultation and represents clients on a contingency basis. The Hartsoe Law Firm is selective in choosing the cases in which it undertakes representation. If you have sustained a serious injury and deserve serious compensation, the Hartsoe Law Firm is ready to help.

To schedule a free consultation regarding a Tennessee personal injury or wrongful death claim related to a food-borne illness, please call 865-804-1011, email hartsoelaw@gmail.com, or fill out and submit our online “Contact Us” form.