Is Cheese Contaminated With Listeria a Defective Product?

 Posted on November 14, 2024 in Product Liability

Various cheeses produced in Lena, Illinois, were recently recalled due to potential contamination with listeria, a dangerous bacterium that can cause illness and death. Please review the list of affected cheeses to ensure that this has not affected you, as some were sold in Illinois.

Is contaminated food considered a defective product if it makes you ill? Can you get compensation for food poisoning? A knowledgeable Aurora, IL personal injury lawyer from Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. can answer your questions during your free consultation.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria are germs that can contaminate various foods, such as certain dairy products, prepared meats, melons, and deli. Soft cheeses and raw milk are at a higher risk for contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infection caused by listeria is the third-leading cause of foodborne illness deaths, killing approximately 260 people in the U.S. every year.

Food processing facilities, equipment, and surfaces can be breeding grounds for this hardy germ. Eating food contaminated with listeria is more dangerous for pregnant women, mature adults, infants, and those with compromised immune systems.

Listeria can cause various symptoms, including:

• Fever

• Muscle aches and headaches

• Mental confusion

• Convulsions

Expectant mothers can have miscarriages, premature delivery, or pass the listeria to their unborn child. Although some cases take 70 days after eating contaminated food for symptoms to appear, most people see them within one to four weeks.

Is Contaminated Cheese a Defective Product?

Food processors and manufacturers must follow strict safe food handling guidelines. The presence of listeria or other contaminants in products indicates that these guidelines were not followed. Product liability in Illinois makes manufacturers responsible for harm caused by their defective products. You could qualify for compensation if you become ill from eating contaminated cheese.

What Compensation May Be Available for Food Poisoning?

If you ate contaminated food and contracted some type of food poisoning, the compensation you could receive includes:

• Medical treatment expenses

• Lost income if you are unable to work while ill

• Costs associated with caregivers

• Pain and suffering

If harm comes to an unborn child, you may qualify for additional damages. Eligible survivors of fatal food poisoning victims could qualify to file a wrongful death claim.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Food Poisoning?

Although you can handle your claim alone, working with an experienced attorney from Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. can give you a much better chance of receiving optimal compensation. We know how to gather the evidence needed to support your claim and how to hold manufacturers, restaurants, and other entities accountable for the harm you suffered.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Aurora, IL Product Liability Lawyers

If you suffer harm due to a defective product, you deserve compensation. Call Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. at 630-907-0909 to discuss your case with our experienced Kane County, IL personal injury attorneys.