Food safety recalls are a common segment on the news, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration posts a new recall every few days. They occur for a variety of reasons, including bacterial contamination, foreign object contamination, improper labeling, and undeclared allergens. Some recalls include a small portion of the items sold, but others include hundreds of thousands of products that need to be pulled from store shelves and thrown away at home. A few recalls include a low risk of illness or injury to consumers, but others need to be taken very seriously.
If you or a loved one became sick due to contaminated food, you may be able to recover for your injuries. Contact an experienced product liability lawyer at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500.
Frozen Food Recalls for Listeria
U.S. authorities and consumers have been dealing with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in frozen foods since March of this year. The major contributor to the outbreak has been frozen fruit and vegetables by CRF Frozen Foods. However other brands and stores have been involved in recalling contaminated products, including Watts Brothers, Harris Teeter, Twin City Foods, NORPAC Foods, Pita Pal Foods, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, Hy-Vee, Kroger, The Pictsweet Company, and Ajinomoto Windsor.
As of June, CRF Frozen Foods was still expanding its voluntary recall of all of its frozen fruit and vegetable products because of Listeria. This includes 358 products sold under 42 brands with the best by or sell by dates between April 26, 2016 and April 26, 2018.
Listeria causes a serious infection, which can be deadly in young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone with a previously compromised immune system.
Spice Recalls for Lead
Many people don’t consider the possibility of recalls for spices, but these ingredients can be contaminated as well as any other food products. In July and August, two companies recalled ground turmeric and another recalled curry powder for increased levels of lead. Gel Spice, Inc. recalled brand’s Fresh Finds, Select Spice, Market Pantry, Clear Value, Spice Supreme, Gel, and Lieber’s ground turmeric powders. JM Exotic Foods, Inc. recalled similar ground turmeric products. Oriental Packing Co. recalled products under 5 different brands of curry powders and curry mixes.
While the higher lead amount won’t immediately harm someone, this substance becomes dangerous as it builds up in the body.
Flour Recalls for E. coli
General Mills upset many people when it published a reminder that people should not consume uncooked cookie dough or batter – but not for the reason you think. General Mills was not concerned about the eggs in the product, but instead the raw flour may be contaminated with E. coli. General Mills began a flour recall in May and has continued to extend it through July. The company recalled flour sold under the brands Gold Medal, Gold Medal Wondra, Signature Kitchens as well as Better Crocker Delights rainbow chip cake mix and carrot cake mix. The products have dates from November 4, 2015 through February 10, 2016.
E. coli is a type of naturally occurring bacteria. However, some sub-types of E. coli can be dangerous. Once a person is exposed, it can take up to 10 days for that person to see symptoms, which include diarrhea that may worsen over a few days or a week. Staying hydrated is one of the most important treatments.
Contact the Alabama Product Liability Lawyers
When you are hurt by a business’s product, you may be able to recover from that company for your injuries, including the cost of your medical expenses. Under Alabama law, a product liability action can be brought in court when a person’s injury, death, or property damage was caused by the design, formula, creation, assembly, packaging, or labeling of a product. Claims can be based on the business’s negligence, misrepresentation, the Alabama extended manufacturer’s liability doctrine, or a breach of an implied or express warranty. If there are a number of people hurt by the same product, there may be the option to form a class action suit against the company responsible.
If you became ill because of a contaminated or mislabeled product, call the Alabama injury attorneys at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. at (205) 933-1500 right away for a free consultation. They have successfully negotiated multi-million dollar settlements and won large verdicts in various product liability cases.
