The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is investigating a serious food poisoning outbreak involving contaminated salami. As of February 8, 2010, CDC officials report that there were 217 people across 44 states infected with a matching strain of Salmonella Montevideo including 30 victims in California. The illnesses apparently began around July 4, 2009 and continued until about January 24, 2010.

Meat Products Believed to Have Caused Outbreak

Victims range in age from infants to 93-year olds. Among the 162 patients about whom information is available, 42 were hospitalized as a result of the illness. So far, no deaths have been reported in connection with this salmonella outbreak. The salami believed to have caused these illnesses was manufactured by Daniele International Inc. The company recalled more than 1 million pounds of its ready-to-eat sausage and salami products because they may be contaminated with salmonella.

Salmonella Symptoms and Treatment

The most common symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after the infection. The infection is usually diagnosed by culture of the stool sample. The illness lasts about a week. Although most patients tend to recover without treatment, severe infections may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and other body sites. A severe infection could even lead to death unless the patient is promptly treated with antibiotics.

Those who have these meat products at home are asked to not eat the meat products. Instead, they are asked to return it to the place of purchase. If you have become ill from eating a recalled product, please consult your healthcare provider immediately. Infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

Claim for Compensation

I trust the official investigation reveals the source of the contamination. If negligence on the part of the food manufacturer or failure to comply with federal food safety standards caused this horrible outbreak, then the company could be held liable for the injuries caused. Victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost earnings, cost of hospitalization and other damages. A reputed California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled food-borne illness cases will be able to advise victims about their legal rights and options.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Bookmark and Share