Unsafe products pulled from market due to E. coli contamination
Salads and sandwiches are a regular item on a Southern California resident’s everyday diet. However, residents may want to try something different to eat, especially after a catering company recalled its products because of possible E. coli contamination.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, together with state and local officials, are all collaborating to investigate and help curb an E. coli outbreak. The cause of some cases of contamination was traced by investigators to ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads made by a California-based company, Glass Onion Catering. The food products, which contain chicken and ham, are being recalled after 26 people from several states, including California, fell ill after eating the unsafe products. More than 90 tons of products are expected to be recalled across the country and were produced from September to November.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection symptoms usually include a slight fever, diarrhea, vomiting and severe stomach cramps. Symptoms usually develop three to four days following ingestion of the contaminated food. If treated early, people typically feel better after five to seven days.
However, STEC can prove fatal if the infection is untreated and develops into hemolytic uremic syndrome. People who develop HUS require hospitalization; otherwise, complications can lead to kidney failure. This, in turn, can result in serious health problems or even death.
Whether a catering company is selling food or a company is manufacturing food or other products, consumer safety should always come first. Los Angeles residents who are injured by defective products or fall ill because of contaminated and unsanitary food may be able hold a company or manufacturer liable through a product liability lawsuit. A resident who wishes to pursue such legal action can also seek compensation to help cover the damages brought about by the unsafe product.
Source: News Inferno, “90 Tons of Salads, Sandwiches Recalled Over Potential E. Coli Contamination,” Cynthia A. Diaz-Shephard, Nov. 12, 2013