You may have already heard the news about a serious E. coli outbreak caused by contaminated romaine lettuce in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating three different E. coli outbreaks which are thought to have originated at farms in Salinas, California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising consumers to throw away any lettuce that they currently have which was grown in the Salinas region including packages of salad mixes, hearts of romaine, and even organic romaine lettuce. Restaurants and retailers are expected to throw out contaminated lettuce as well. If you or a loved one have contacted an E. coli infection after being exposed to contaminated romaine lettuce, you may be eligible for compensation through a defective product injury claim.

Symptoms of E. coli Infection

According to the CDC, 102 individuals from 23 different states including Illinois have been infected with E. coli due to the tainted lettuce. Ten of these individuals developed kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. Fortunately, no deaths have been linked to the contaminated lettuce, but E. coli infections can sometimes be fatal. Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea which may be bloody, severe stomach cramps, fever, and vomiting. Symptoms often become apparent about 3-4 days after eating contaminated food or drink.

Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Foods Contaminated with E. coli

If you or a loved one have suffered from an E. coli infection due to contaminated lettuce, a personal injury claim may help you recover compensation. Presuming negligence was involved, fault for your illness may lie with the company that grew the lettuce, the distributor, a retailer, or the restaurant that served you the contaminated lettuce. You may be able to get compensation for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses like hospital bills, prescription medication costs, expenses related to diagnostic tests, and more. You may also be able to receive compensation for the time you had to take off of work because of your illness. Noneconomic damages such as your physical pain and emotional suffering may also be available.  

When we use or consume a product, most of us assume that there are no dangers associated with the product. In the United States, governmental agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Food and Drug Administration are tasked with ensuring that the products we use every day are safe. Unfortunately, defective products or products containing unsafe ingredients can still find their way onto store shelves. Most recently, the popular over-the-counter heartburn medication Zantac has been recalled in the U.S. and Canada over fears that it could increase consumers’ risk of cancer.

Drug Manufacturer Recalls Zantac

Sanofi SA, a French drug manufacturing company, recently announced that they will be recalling Zantac until further information about the drug’s ingredients can be analyzed. Health agencies have investigated the drug because it contains N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a cancer-causing impurity.

The generic version of Zantac is called ranitidine. Many manufacturers of ranitidine have already stopped distribution and pharmacy chains across the country have suspended sale of any over-the-counter medications containing ranitidine.