Botulism Lawsuits and Food Poisoning Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of Botulism food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. We are ready to help you. If you or a loved one was sickened after consuming a contaminated product and you have a question regarding you legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Let us help you take the first step toward seeking compensation for your food poisoning injuries.
About Botulism and Botulism Food Poisoning
Botulism is a disease caused by bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum. The nerve toxin produced by the bacteria causes the illness. The toxin causes paralysis which may include that of the respiratory system. The paralysis may also spread to the musculoskeletal system. The illness is not common but can lead to severe illness with even a few nanograms of the toxin.
C. botulinum can be found in the soil, water and intestinal tracts of fish and mammals.
Foodborne botulism can be caused when home-preserved foods of low acid content are improperly cooked. This applies to commercially canned foods as well. Other items include cheese sauce, bottled garlic, foods that are warmed for long periods of time, baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, fermented fish and herb-infused oils.
Infant botulism stems from when the toxin accumulates in the intestinal tract after the spores have been ingested. Honey is a food that has been particularly associated with illness in infants. Children under 1 year old should never be fed honey.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are about 145 cases of botulism reported each year.
Diagnosis of Botulism
According to the CDC, testing for botulism includes detecting the toxin in the serum, feces or food that the patient ingested. The test is known as the mouse neutralization test.
Symptoms and Complications of Botulism Food Poisoning
Adults: Symptoms can include double vision, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and muscle weakness. Symptoms can occur anywhere between 4-6 hours and 8-10 days after eating the food although typically the symptoms arise between 18-36 hours.
Infants: Symptoms can include constipation, flat facial expression, poor feeding, weak cry, decreased movement, trouble swallowing with excessive drooling, muscle weakness and breathing problems.
Obtain a Free Food Poisoning Botulism Lawsuit Evaluation
If you have been diagnosed with botulism, or have a question regarding your legal rights, you can request a free Botulism lawsuit evaluation by calling the Weinberg Law Firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
The information contained on this page has been gathered from the websites of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other sources in the public domain.