A California food company has issued a recall for 6,141 cartons of cilantro in seven states over food poisoning concerns. According to an Associated Press news report, Salinas-based Pacific Cilantro recalled the herbs in seven states after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors found salmonella in a sampling of the products. So far, no illnesses or fatalities have been reported. The recall has been issued in seven states including California, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and Missouri, as a precaution. Those who have these products in their homes are asked to return them. The herbs were grown by Salt River Farming in the Phoenix area.
Statistics Relating to Food Poisoning Cases
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are approximately1.4 million cases of salmonella food poisoning in the United States each year. Only 40,000 of those cases are actually reported. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that there are 5,000 instances of fatal food poisoning cases each year caused by a variety of defective products.
Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning
The symptoms of salmonella poisoning can be extremely painful and traumatic. The most common signs of salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping or pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and bloody stools. In many instances, salmonella infection could lead to several days of hospitalization. Salmonella infection may also, in certain cases, result in serious injuries or death. There are certain strains of salmonella that cannot even be treated with antibiotics. These infections often affect the very young, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems.
Compensation for Food Poisoning Victims
If you have become ill as a result of consuming these defective products, it would be in your best interests to isolate the food item and preserve it, so it can be tested in a lab for the presence of disease-causing germs or contaminants. In such cases where a negligent food producer or retailer may be involved, victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, diagnostic tests, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Victims of food poisoning would be well advised to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer, who will better advise them about their legal rights and options.
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