December 17, 2014 — An outbreak of food poisoning traced to raw bean sprouts from Wonton Foods, Inc., has sickened 111 people in 12 states, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The statistics are current as of December 15. Since December 4, an additional 24 illnesses have been reported in the following states: Connecticut (1), Maine (1), Maryland (5), New Hampshire (2), New York (7), Pennsylvania (7), and Rhode Island (1).
Onset of illnesses ranges from September 30 to November 22, 2014. No deaths have been reported, but about 26% of patients have been hospitalized. All of the victims were infected with Salmonella Enteritidis.
The bean sprouts have a 12-day shelf life and are past their expiration date. The manufacturer, Wonton Foods, Inc., stopped production in November and cooperated with health officials to thoroughly disinfect their operation and implement measures to control Salmonella. They resumed production on November 24.
The CDC warns that sprouts are a common source of food poisoning. In the last two decades, at least 30 outbreaks have been traced to sprouts. The problem is that bacteria thrives in warm, wet conditions that seeds need to sprout.
Although most healthy adults recover from a bout of food poisoning without serious consequences, the infection can be deadly for children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and the fetus of a pregnant woman. The most serious complications involve blood poisoning (sepsis) and extreme dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting.
Do I have a Food Poisoning Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting food poisoning induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Salmonella after eating sprouts from Wonton Foods, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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