Food product manufacturers have an obligation to make sure that the items they sell are reasonably safe for public consumption. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an unsafe or contaminated food product, you need to reach out to a diligent and reputable Massachusetts products liability attorney who can help. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates P.C. , we are dedicated to holding negligent food manufacturers accountable for the harm that they cause.
Last month, a popular cereal was recalled after people got sick by salmonella. Kelloggs issued a recall for Honey Smacks cereal in 31 states because the popular breakfast food was linked to a salmonella outbreak that caused more than 70 people to get sick, including five in Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of the 73 people infected with the outbreak strain, 24 were hospitalized. Even if some of the cereal was eaten and no sickness developed, the CDC warns that the rest of the cereal should be thrown away or returned for a refund. In addition, if you store cereal in unmarked containers, any Honey Smacks cereal it should be discarded immediately.
Salmonella is a dangerous type of bacteria present in food items that are not properly handled. Consuming products contaminated with salmonella can result in serious illness. In fact, salmonella can sometimes produce fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella can suffer fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chills and abdominal pain.
If you have gotten sick after eating a food that was contaminated, you can may be able to file a products liability claim against the food manufacturer. Products liability claims are intended to hold manufacturers and retailers accountable for putting dangerous products into the stream of commerce and, ultimately, into the hands of consumers. In order to succeed on such a claim in Massachusetts, the injured party must prove the following:
- The plaintiff consumed food that was contaminated; and
- The contamination was a direct and proximate cause of the illness.
The severity of an individual’s illness will dictate the amount of damages he or she is able to recover in a products liability claim. For example, if the sickness was relatively mild, resulting in lost wages for a few days and a trip to the emergency room, an attorney will likely try to recoup those costs for you through a settlement. However, if you suffered a long-term illness, which disrupted your day-to-day life, led to you missing a significant amount of work and caused you to seek ongoing medical treatment, then legal counsel will likely pursue higher damages.
If you or someone close to you has gotten Salmonella after eating a food item, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates P.C. , our seasoned Massachusetts defective products attorneys will examine the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. With extensive experience in this area of law, we understand how to navigate these complicated cases. To discuss your case in more detail, please call us today at 1-800-262-9200 or reach us through our website.
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