Food Poisoning Basics

Food poisoning, an illness not typically thought of as a life-threatening condition, can make its victims quite miserable for the few days it affects them. Those who suffer from this condition will experience extreme abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting, and persistent diarrhea. In the worst cases, these symptoms can cause the victim to lose enough fluids to become dangerously dehydrated. Without medical attention, these folks run the risk of death.

Causes

You become infected with food poisoning when you eat food that has been contaminated by an attacking microorganism. Certain strands of bacteria, viruses, and even parasites may cause this illness. These dangerous microbes, often found in animal feces, may come into contact with and infect food during just about any stage of packaging and processing. 

Most of the time, if food is stored, cleaned, packaged, and prepared properly, then consumers do not run the risk of being poisoned. Sometimes, however, workers can be negligent when they handle these products and consumers then fall ill as a result. Some common causes of food poisoning include:

Failure to fully wash produce

Failing to full cook meat, or leaving meat out for too long (so that it spoils)

Drinking milk or juices that have not been pasteurized

Drinking contaminated water

Eating food prepared by workers who do not take proper sanitary measures, such as washing their hands after using the bathroom

Eating foods that are inherently toxic

Eating food that has not been packaged and stored properly

If you have fallen ill because a restaurant worker, food manufacturer, or grocery store handled their food items unsafely, then you have the right to take legal action.

Symptoms

No matter what type of bacteria or virus infects your body, you should expect to experience these common, universal symptoms:

Nausea and vomiting

Watery diarrhea

Severe abdominal cramping

No appetite

Fatigue

If you start to see blood in your stools, if you cannot retain liquids, or if your symptoms persist for several days, then you should seek medical attention right away.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has suffered food poisoning as the result of another party's negligence, then you may have the right to recover compensation. The Tucson personal injury lawyers of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C. have the experience necessary to help you make an effective claim for damages. To learn more, visit http://www.hmpmlaw.com/ today.