Portland Food Poisoning Attorney

We Handle Food Poisoning Cases in Portland and Throughout Oregon

Residents of Portland take the culinary scene very seriously and rightfully so, as Portland is widely respected for its array of establishments serving delicious food and drinks. With numerous talented chefs and convenient access to high-quality ingredients, Portland provides many options for you to enjoy a meal out on the town. In addition, should you choose to stay home and cook, Portland has many superb groceries and an abundance of farmer’s markets from which you can purchase your ingredients.

Unfortunately, whenever food is being supplied, stored, prepared, or served, there may be the chance of contracting a foodborne illness, which is commonly referred to as “food poisoning.” To combat such risks, Oregon has many rules and regulations in place regarding sanitation standards for any type of establishment that deals with food. The Oregon Health Division even has a Foodborne Illness Prevention Program that works to enforce food safety rules.

Despite these efforts, food poisoning can and does happen to individuals in and around the Portland area and across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 48 million individuals contract a foodborne illness on an annual basis in the United States.

In some cases, this type of illness can cause symptoms and discomfort that may last a day or so but that do not cause any severe injury. Many people with food poisoning never even get an accurate diagnosis of their illness, instead assuming it may be the flu or a “stomach bug.” However, some food poisoning victims can become extremely ill and approximately 128,000 people in the U.S. must be hospitalized for treatment for their illness, according to the CDC. In addition, approximately 3,000 victims do not survive their illnesses each year.

Food poisoning can be extremely serious and costly and, if you have incurred significant losses, you should discuss a possible legal claim with a skilled Portland food poisoning attorney today.

Types Of Foodborne Illness

While there are many different pathogens that can be linked to food poisoning, the following are some of the most common that are linked to serious illness:

Salmonella — Salmonella can cause serious infections in certain individuals including young children, individuals with weak immune systems, and elderly adults.
E. coli — While some strains of E. coli are not harmful, others can result in hundreds of thousands of illnesses each year and even death. Certain types of E. coli can lead to kidney failure or conditions such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Listeria — Illness from listeria is rare, however, if listeria makes it into a person’s bloodstream, it can be fatal. The individuals most at risk for listeria include newborns, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with immunodeficiencies.
Clostridium botulinum — This pathogen can result in botulism, a very rare but potentially severe food-related illness. Victims of botulism may experience paralysis and respiratory failure and may require intensive care for long-lasting serious symptoms.

Some foods associated with salmonella and E. coli include raw eggs, poultry, or meat, unpasteurized milk, cheese, or juice, raw produce, nuts, and spices. Listeria often stems from soft cheeses, sprouts, deli meats, and even ice cream. Botulism results from improperly canned foods, which are generally canned in a home environment.

Who Can Be Held Responsible For Food Poisoning?

If you are diagnosed with a serious foodborne illness, you can hold different parties liable for your losses depending on your particular situation. Some parties that may be held responsible include:

Restaurant owners;
Food retail store owners;
Food suppliers;
Food manufacturers;
Others in the food distribution chain.

The two main legal claims in food poisoning cases are for negligence and products liability. Negligence generally applies to improper conditions or food safety issues in restaurants or food retail stores. Products liability claims are based on the assertion that the food sold was dangerous and defective.

Determining who was responsible for your food poisoning and proving your claims can be a complex task, however, so you should always seek assistance from an experienced attorney.

Find Out How A Food Poisoning Attorney Can Help You

If you or your child has suffered a serious foodborne illness and you have incurred substantial losses, you should not delay in contacting the experienced food poisoning attorneys at the Johnston Law Firm in Portland today. We have helped many injured or ill individuals pursue a wide variety of personal injury claims and obtain the full recovery they deserved. To learn more, please call us for a free consultation at (503) 546-3167 today.

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