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There are an estimated 300,000
hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths associated with this number. The
economic costs are estimated to be $35 billion in medical expenses and
lost productivity. There is no reason for Americans to suffer like
this at the hands of the food industry, and it’s clear that a majority
of people are fed up with this situation and demanding more
accountability and safety. Food should be equated with nourishment and enjoyment, not illness and even death.
Over the next few weeks, we will tell the story of a significant Salmonella food poisoning outbreak linked to an Arby’s Restaurant on Ashley Street in Valdosta, Georgia. Although covered by the local media, the story of this outbreak and its victims should have been shared with a larger audience.
Occurring in August of 2006, the Arby’s Salmonella
outbreak represents one of the first in a record number of food product
and restaurant food poisoning outbreaks experienced over the past year
and a half. This outbreak was part of an early signal that
something has gone wrong in the food industry, and that for many and
varied reasons our FDA and USDA need repair while the food industry
needs proper regulation.
Apparently the public is aware of this: a recent GfK Roper poll reflects that consumer confidence in the fast food industry is down.
Consumers believe that activists now best represent the interests of
the American public when it comes to food safety, followed by retail
grocers, food manufacturers, the U.S. government, and coming in last
place – the fast food industry.
The first victim of the Arby’s outbreak in Georgia experienced symptoms of Salmonella
food poisoning on August 21, 2006; the last food poisoning case linked
with the outbreak was reported on November 16, 2006. The final count of
Salmonella cases linked to the Arby’s outbreak was 72. Nineteen
of the 72 individuals were hospitalized – a whopping 26% of those
affected. The smoking gun, later identified by the Georgia health
department, was a defective meat slicer and Salmonella contaminated roast beef.
The first lawsuit against Arby’s was filed on January 17, 2007, on
behalf of Frances Parks, a 42-year-old Nashville nurse. Parks spent
five days in the hospital, where she was diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning. She eventually developed a bacterimia, meaning that Salmonella bacteria had entered her bloodstream, exposing every organ in her body to the dangerous pathogen. She was hospitalized on August 28, after having eaten Arby’s roast beef sandwiches on August 25 and 26.
According to a January 20, 2007, article in the Valdosta Daily Times
by Kelli Hernandez, Parks initial symptoms included “an achy feeling
followed by nausea and chills. Soon, Parks’ temperature rose to 101
degrees and she began vomiting, accompanied by diarrhea.”
“The pain was indescribable,” Parks said. “My body literally ached
from my toes to my head. I couldn’t stand to even be touched, and I
stayed like that for a good 12 to 18 hours.”
Parks and her husband decided to go to the emergency room. At that time, her temperature had reached 104.4 degrees. “Being a nurse, I knew this was wrong and it wasn’t just a typical little bug I picked up from somewhere,” Parks said.
At the hospital, Parks continued to suffer. The vomiting and
diarrhea became more intense, and she was given three IV treatments
over the course of eight hours. She did not eat solid food for the next
three weeks, during which time she also did not work.
“I had to be fever and diarrhea-free for a full 24 hours before I
could return to work, and that did not occur for three weeks,” Parks
explained. “My digestive system is still messed up, and I definitely do not want to eat at any fast food restaurants now.”
According to Hernandez, “The Salmonella poisoning weakened
Parks’ digestive system and digestive tract while the infection in her
blood weakened her immune system. The process of rebuilding a digestive
system after Salmonella poisoning can take up to six months, according to Parks.”
During her illness, Parks had to rely on her family for help. Her
husband also took time off from work, and her mother came to Georgia
from Florida to help the couple with their 8-year-old.
“It was horrible,” Parks said. “I wouldn’t wish that stuff on my
worst enemy. It was like I thought I would just rather die than go
through that stuff.”
Again according to Hernandez, Parks decided to contact attorneys
Eric Weinberg and Andy Childers as a result of “the combination of
weeks off of work, towering hospital bills, months of sickness and the
lack of anyone taking responsibility.”
“The biggest thing was I couldn’t believe how sick I was,” Parks said. “And it blows my mind they never put any word out.”
The Law Firm of Eric Weinberg, along with co-counsel Andrew
Childers of Childers, Buck, and Schlueter, currently represent 25
victims of a Salmonella food poisoning outbreak in a lawsuit against an Arby’s located in Valdosta, Georgia. If you believe that you are a victim of Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question concerning your legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274, or see Free Case Evaluation. To learn more about our law firm please see Food Poisoning Lawyer.
To learn more about the Arby’s Salmonella outbreak, please see Arby’s Food Poisoning Lawsuit.
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