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Your Food Poisoning Lawyer

In Massachusetts Foodborne Illnesses Cases

Skilled in food poisoning litigation, Robert E. Mazow and Kevin J. McCullough are accomplished Massachusetts personal injury and products liability attorneys. Some personal injuries come as a result of eating tainted food products. Mazow|McCullough has significant experience litigating food borne illnesses. According to the CDC, there are roughly 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses in the United States each year, and in 300,000 of those cases hospitalization is necessary. Every year, more than 5,000 people die as a result of infections caused by pathogens spread via contaminated food. Though foodborne illnesses are most common in the very young and very old, pregnant women, and anyone whose health or immune system is otherwise compromised, all people are potentially at risk.

What Is a FoodBorne Illness?

Finding a simple answer to the question what is a foodborne illness isn't easy because there are numerous different types of pathogens that cause what is commonly known as food poisoning. CDC data shows that the most common food borne illnesses are caused by the bacteria E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. Many other cases of food poisoning are caused by a group of viruses called noroviruses (calcivirus). Foodborne illnesses can also be the result of contamination by parasites such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidia or by toxins produced by microbes. A foodborne illness outbreak is typically defined as two or more occurrences of the same illness resulting from the ingestion of contaminated food. Because the food distribution system in the United States is widespread, outbreaks may be local or nationwide. For example, a group of people in one region may fall ill after purchasing food from a single grocery store or dining at a restaurant where food was handled improperly. Alternately, a group of people spread out around the nation can become ill after consuming food that was grown at one farm or processed at one plant and then shipped across the country.

The Types of Food Poisoning

Our areas of expertise include but are not limited to the following types of food poisoning:

What are Some Common Food Poisoning Symptoms

Each of the different types of food poisoning presents with unique food poisoning symptoms, but certain effects are common to most foodborne illnesses. These include:

  • Upset stomach
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Dehydration
  • Fever
  • Weakness
  • Headache

Food poisoning symptoms can appear several hours after ingesting contaminated food, but some types of food poisoning have a much longer incubation period. There are some food borne illnesses that only become symptomatic days, weeks, or even months after contaminated food has been eaten. As a result, diagnosing a foodborne illness is usually accomplished with diagnostic testing as opposed to simply analyzing a patient's symptoms.

Contact a Food Poisoning Lawyer in MA

If you believe you are suffering or have suffered from a food borne illness, it is imperative that you visit your doctor so he or she can test you for pathogens commonly present in contaminated food. When a food borne illness such as E. coli, Listeria, or Salmonella has a negative affect on your life and your family's wellbeing, you must ensure that you have the proper representation. Trust your case to Mazow|McCullough, experienced food poisoning lawyers who understand the various types of food poisoning, how foodborne illness outbreaks spread, and the complexities of this specialized brand of litigation.

Call our Essex County, MA office today for a free consultation.

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