| The healthiness of food has not been such a large | | | | Americans are infected every year, with about |
| issue in the United States since the macrobiotic | | | | 30 deaths. |
| years of the 1970s. More and more people are | | | | - · E. Coli. Escherichia coli is a pathogenic |
| starting to be particularly concerned about the | | | | bacterium associated with contamination by fecal |
| healthiness of the food they eat, so it's no | | | | matter. It can cause serious gastrointestinal |
| surprise that the potential dangers of unsafe are | | | | infection, and, if untreated, can be fatal. |
| a bigger concern than they have been in 30 | | | | - · Campylobacter. One of the leading causes of |
| years. Recently, there's been a spate of | | | | food poisoning - but one of the least well known - |
| high-profile articles and documentaries about the | | | | campylobacter can cause bloody diarrhea, fever, |
| safety of the food we eat, and it has stoked | | | | cramps, and intense pain. |
| public interest in dietary health. | | | | - · Listeria. Although usually caught and |
| With that in mind, it's important to realize the | | | | destroyed by your natural antibodies, if |
| potential dangers of unsafe food. In the United | | | | contracted, listeria can cause infection and swelling. |
| States, known food pathogens cause | | | | Even more worrisome, it has been linked to |
| approximately 14 million illnesses every year. | | | | meningitis, which can potentially be fatal. |
| Some estimates of overall food-related illnesses | | | | - · Botulism. Perhaps the most dangerous |
| run as high as 76 million, with 325,000 | | | | food-borne pathogen, the effects of botulism can |
| hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. It can be | | | | be extreme. Often associated with canned food |
| shocking to think that these numbers are this high | | | | can cause paralysis and even death. About 60% |
| in a country as developed as the United States, | | | | of botulism cases are fatal if left untreated. |
| but it goes to show the potential dangers of | | | | If you or someone you love has been injured as |
| unclean or improperly cooked food. It may be | | | | the result of tainted food, you may be entitled to |
| important to be familiar with some of the most | | | | seek financial compensation for your injury. It can |
| commonly encountered food pathogens, such as: | | | | help to discuss your case with an experienced |
| - · Salmonella. Often associated with unclean | | | | personal injury attorney. To learn more, visit the |
| cooking conditions or standing water, salmonella is | | | | website of the Phoenix personal injury attorneys |
| an enterobacteria. Salmonella can cause typhoid | | | | of Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.L.C., |
| fever and other serious ailments. About 140,000 | | | | today. |