Food poisoning outbreaks are often frightening to consumers as they affect
their everyday lives and often occur and affect a large number of people
without warning. In the last several years, food poisoning outbreaks have
seemingly increased, with more and more stories of serious illnesses and
even deaths coming from outbreaks across the country. But what is the
cause? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), imported food has become a major cause of outbreaks and serious
As reported in
The Huffington Post, the CDC has stated that imported foods were related to 38 major food-borne
illness outbreaks from 2005 to 2010, with 17 of them occurring in 2009
and 2010 alone. Additionally, fish was the most commonly responsible for
the outbreaks, with spices coming in second. Asia was linked to imported
food outbreaks the most with 45 percent of the total illnesses related
to food coming from the continent.
The CDC reports that the increase in imported food illnesses is tied to
the trend of higher levels of food imports seen in recent years, with
Asia now importing an especially large amount. Additionally, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests imported food for illnesses,
but it is a very small percentage, allowing dangerous products to often
slip past inspection.
Food poisoning is a common but serious problem throughout the U.S. From
massive outbreaks to single incidents, these illnesses can severely affect
a victim, causing pain and suffering, large medical bills, and even long-lasting
complications if serious enough. The Santa Cruz food poisoning attorneys
at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP can aid you in finding proper compensation
for your losses and holding the at-fault parties responsible. For more
information, call our offices at (800) 900-0863.