Learning More About Food Poisoning
A Ramos Law food Poisoning attorney may be able to help if you experience food poisoning. Food poisoning can occur as the result of viruses, bacteria or parasites. At any point during the food handling or preparation process, contamination is possible, including cross-contamination. Depending on the organism responsible for your food poisoning, it might take as long as eight days to experience symptoms with organisms, such as E. coli. Hepatitis A might take as long as a month. However, others can cause symptoms quite quickly, such as Staphylococcus aureus causing symptoms within one to six hours.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
The symptoms will depend on the organism that is responsible for the poisoning. However, there are some common symptoms that people experience with most of the organisms:
- Nausea
- Watery diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
Dehydration might occur as a result of the symptoms, specifically diarrhea, and vomiting. It is important to replace fluids to prevent this complication.
| Foodborne Illness | Symptoms | Onset | Common Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus (Staph food poisoning) | Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea | 30 minutes to 8 hours | Foods that are not cooked after handling (e.g., sliced meats, puddings, pastries, sandwiches) |
| Vibrio | Watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, chills | Within 24 hours | Raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters |
| Clostridium perfringens | Diarrhea, stomach cramps lasting less than 24 hours. Vomiting and fever are uncommon. | 6 to 24 hours | Meat, poultry, gravies, and foods cooked in large batches and held at unsafe temperatures |
| Salmonella | Diarrhea (can be bloody), fever, stomach cramps, vomiting | 6 hours to 6 days | Raw or undercooked chicken, turkey, and other meats; eggs; unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice; raw fruits and vegetables; animals like backyard poultry, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals |
| Norovirus | Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, possible fever, headache, and body aches | 12 to 48 hours | Leafy greens, fresh fruits, shellfish (raw oysters), contaminated water, infected people, surfaces with the virus |
| Clostridium botulinum (Botulism) | Difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double/blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty moving eyes. Symptoms progress from the head down. | 18 to 36 hours | Improperly canned or fermented foods, homemade alcohol (pruno) |
| Campylobacter | Diarrhea (often bloody), fever, stomach cramps | 2 to 5 days | Raw or undercooked poultry, raw (unpasteurized) milk, contaminated water, pets (including cats and dogs) |
| E. coli (Escherichia coli) | Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting. Long-term effects: 5–10% of people develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (life-threatening kidney failure). | 3 to 4 days | Raw or undercooked ground beef, raw (unpasteurized) milk and juice, raw vegetables (lettuce), raw sprouts, contaminated water |
| Cyclospora | Watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue | 1 week | Raw fruits, vegetables, and herbs |
| Listeria (invasive illness) | Fever, flu-like symptoms (muscle aches, fatigue), headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, seizures. Pregnant women: risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. | Around 2 weeks | Queso fresco and other soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melons, hot dogs, pâtés, deli meats, smoked fish, raw (unpasteurized) milk |
Were You or Someone You Know Seriously Affected?
Food Safety: What You Should Do If Experiencing Symptoms
Doctors will begin by determining the organism causing the food poisoning so they can target the treatment. Doctors usually do this with a stool sample and blood work. It is also important to tell the doctor about all food and traveling in the last 30 days.
If your food poisoning is due to a bacteria, it is common for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics. This is especially true if your symptoms are severe. Replacing fluids is also a critical part of the treatment process. If your case is severe, hospitalization might be necessary. If not, your doctor will recommend home treatment that focuses on your symptoms. These medications could be used to reduce your fever, nausea, nd diarrhea. Depending on the organism causing your food poisoning, it could take several weeks to recover fully.
- Seek immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor or urgent care, describe your symptoms, and mention possible food contamination.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids like water and clear broths to avoid dehydration.
- Monitor your symptoms and seek further medical help if they worsen.
- Keep detailed records of your symptoms, food consumption, and medical treatment.
- Contact a foodborne illness attorney like Ramos Law to understand your legal rights.
Were You or Someone You Know Affected
Contacting a Litigation Attorney for Food Poisoning
You can plainly see that food poisoning can be very unpleasant at the very least. You will usually require at least some rest to recover from it. If you think that the restaurant in which you experienced food poisoning could be liable, you should consider contacting a litigation attorney to determine if you might be able to take legal action against the restaurant
Food Poisoning Lawyers
Medical Doctor & Dedicated Medical Division Talk With Us Today Denver (303) 214-7927 What Makes Us Different, Makes Us Better! Food Poisoning Attorneys: Protecting Your Rights After Foodborne Illness Did you know that an estimated 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses annually, with 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths
October 29, 2024
McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak Climbs to 104 Cases & 1 Death
According to the CDC, the number of E. coli cases has risen to 104, with 34 hospitalized and one death reported across 14 states. The outbreak was linked to raw onions in the McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Updated: 11/13/2024 Multi-State E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders Epidemiological data and
October 24, 2024
E. COLI OUTBREAK UPDATE: Today, CDC added a list of states where McDonald’s has removed slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties from its stores. Illnesses started on dates ranging from Sept 27, 2024, to October 11, 2024. Call your healthcare provider if you have severe E.… pic.twitter.com/pIaG4ZVeth
— CDC (@CDCgov) October 23, 2024
⚠️@US_FDA, @USDAFoodSafety, @CDCgov, & state partners continue to work quickly & collaboratively to investigate & identify source of illnesses linked to E. coli in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, using all available tools to confirm if onions are the source.https://t.co/5rIkpAwI3D pic.twitter.com/PIr6kyOxYL
— U.S. FDA Human Foods Program (@FDAfood) October 25, 2024