Beef Manufacturer Issues Recall After Salmonella Outbreak

Many people in Burlington County enjoy a good hamburger or steak dinner. We might take for granted that the food we consume is safe to eat. However, food products can be contaminated during the manufacturing process, causing some people to suffer a serious illness after eating them.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 87 more individuals have contracted salmonella after consuming recalled beef produced by JB Tolleson Inc. This brings the total number of people who have contracted this illness from the contaminated beef up to 333, 91 cases of which resulted in hospitalization. Over 12 million pounds of the tainted beef was recalled by the company, which had distributed the beef to over 100 stores nationwide, including major retailers such as Walmart and Kroger. The CDC is investigating the situation.

Salmonella can cause serious symptoms, such as diarrhea, stomach pain and a fever. The illness can last several days to an entire week. Young children, the elderly and individuals with compromised immune symptoms are more likely to experience severe symptoms of salmonella. Severe diarrhea can cause dehydration, which may make hospitalization necessary.

While companies that produce dangerous products, including dangerous food products, may voluntarily recall the product at issue, these recalls can come too little, too late for those already harmed by the dangerous product. When this happens, those who are harmed by the dangerous product may want to determine if they can pursue compensation through a products liability lawsuit. These types of lawsuits can be complex, however, so it is important for those who are considering pursuing one to obtain the information they need to determine if this type of action is right for them.