July 28, 2020
Recently, the New York Times reported on a recall of bagged salad mixes that are thought to have caused an outbreak of an intestinal illness—cyclosporiasis—caused by a microscopic parasite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned consumers and retailers in eight states to stop buying and selling these mixes while the outbreak is investigated. More than 200 people reported eating the salad mixes before getting sick, and at least 23 have been hospitalized due to the illness. The outbreak seems to have started in mid-May, and has affected people from ages 16 to 92 years old. The story is an illustration of harms New Hampshire residents could face from contaminated grocery products.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate both food and water. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include cramping, diarrhea, and fatigue. Fortunately, the illness can be treated with an antibiotic, and some healthy people may recover on their own even without treatment. The first outbreak of the illness that was linked with food was reported in the 1990s, and scientists are still are not sure what caused it. However, 2020 is the third year in a row that has seen an outbreak during the warmer months. One food microbiologist who spoke to the New York Times stated that the outbreaks are likely due to the quality of water used to irrigate the produce, but that there are a lot of unknown variables.
Sometimes, when a New Hampshire resident gets sick, it is not clear what caused the sickness. It may be hard or even impossible for some to connect their illness to something specific they ate. That’s why New Hampshire residents who get unexpectedly sick should be on the lookout for both voluntarily and forced recalls of food products, and see if others in their house who did or did not eat certain products also get sick or not.
If someone suspects that they got sick from contaminated food, New Hampshire state law allows individuals to pursue a claim to hold the food producer or retailer accountable. Those who produce and sell food to consumers generally have a duty to do so safely and with proper safety and sanitation protocols. Over the course of a lawsuit, it may become apparent that a manufacturer was somehow acting negligently when it came to ensuring that the food they sold was safe for consumption, or that the manufacturer knew the food was contaminated but failed to remove it from the chain of distribution. If successful, someone injured due to a recalled or otherwise dangerous food product may be entitled to monetary damages to cover medical bills, lost wages, and future complications.
Contact a New Hampshire Products Liability Attorney to Learn MoreIf you suspect that you may have a New Hampshire product liability case, contact Peter Thompson & Associates. Our personal injury law firm is happy to schedule a free, no-risk, and no-obligation consultation with you to discuss your case and how we may be able to assist you in filing a products liability suit and obtaining financial compensation. We also handle New Hampshire car accidents, premises liability cases, and more. To learn more, call us today at 800-804-2004 or fill out our online form.