Author: McKenna Madison Coveny
Food Poisoning: What is needed to bring a claim? According to the FDA, “Foodborne illness (commonly known as food poisoning) is often caused by consuming food contaminated by bacteria and/or their toxins, parasites, viruses, chemicals, or other agents.” In addition to multiple pathogens, there are many different ways you can fall ill with food poisoning. You may consume food that has ben contaminated during harvest, growing, shipping or manufacturing. There is the risk of cross-contamination (when the bacteria is transferred from one surface to another) that often spreads a dangerous pathogen in a food wharehouse, a restaurant, or even a…
People love baking treats, especially little kids. They get to roll out the dough, cut the cookies into little shapes, and maybe even try a little bite! Many may not realize this, but this “little bite” can be dangerous. Raw cookie dough and cake batter contain raw flour and eggs, which can harbor harmful bacteria, like E.coli or Salmonella. Raw cookie dough and cake batters have long histories of food poisoning outbreaks. For example, in 2016, several dozen people in over 15 states were infected “by a strain of bacteria called Shiga toxin-producing E.coli”, due to consuming raw cookie dough.…
A seven-year-old’s life was flipped upside down after he contracted E.coli, which subsequently developed into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is rare complication of E.coli poisoning that can shut down or severely damage the kidneys. HUS, according to the Health Department, “affects the kidneys and blood clotting functions of infected people” and “causes destruction of red blood cells, which can then cause kidney failure.” Because of this, little seven-year-old John Sexton’s kidney was failing, and the only thing supporting his compromised organ was the dialysis treatment. Once a happy five-year-old with a full life ahead of him, John’s life was…
Food poisoning is a nuisance most people would be glad to be rid of. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other unpleasant side effects. While this definitely isn’t fun for anyone, for some food poisoning can be deadly or lead to long-term debilitating illness. Young children, the elderly, the immunocompromised, and those who are pregnant or who suffer from chronic health issues are at a high risk. No matter how much you wash and clean your produce, some foods are naturally more likely to be carriers of Salmonella, E.coli, cyclospora, and more. Uncooked meats, dairy,…
Alfalfa Sprouts have a long history of being the source of food poisoning outbreaks. This is mostly because they are often consumed raw (not cooked), are harvested in warm and humid conditions (the perfect playground for bacteria), are grown close to the ground, and most importantly, they are difficult to clean before consumption. Now, once again, Alfalfa Sprouts are being recalled to prevent another wide-spread outbreak. The Sun Sprout Alfalfa Sprouts, packaged in a factory in Fremont, Nebraska, have been voluntarily recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination. Customers in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa have been affected, as at least 15…