The FDA is investigating an outbreak of salmonella at Burien Fresh Smoothies, a restaurant in Washington. The agency hasn’t released the source of the Washington salmonella outbreak. Seven people have become ill, but researchers expect that number to rise.
About Salmonella
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. The bacteria usually live in animal and human intestines and shed through feces. Consuming contaminated water or food spreads the infection to humans. Typically, people with salmonella infection have no symptoms. Others that develop symptoms have them within 8 to 72 hours. However, most doctors misdiagnosis the infection as stomach flu.
Symptoms last two to seven days. Diarrhea may last up to 10 days, however, it may take several months before bowels return to normal. However, salmonella can develop into typhoid fever. This is a deadly disease. About 300 people get typhoid fever in the United States each year. About 22 million cases of typhoid fever and 200,000 related deaths occur worldwide each year.
Washington Salmonella Outbreak
Since August 15, 2018, the FDA and CDC reported seven people became ill after eating at Burien Fresh Smoothies in Burien, Washington. Doctors hospitalized two people who contracted salmonella. When investigators visited the restaurant, they found that the restaurant owner was preparing pork at home before serving it at the restaurant. This is not an approved food safety practice. The restaurant had to immediately stop serving any pork products and remove them from the menu.
Also, Burien Fresh Smoothies cannot reopen until Public Health confirms the restaurant completed a thorough cleaning and disinfection of their establishment. Additionally, they must adopt safe food handling practices to minimize cross-contamination risks and discard any remaining processed ready-to-eat food products.
Help After A Salmonella Outbreak
Food poisoning lawsuits play an important role in keeping food systems safe. These lawsuits hold negligent corporations accountable. Plus, it shows lawmakers that food safety is imperative. When people are injured from outbreaks caused by bacteria or viruses, most of the time it is from a manufacturer being negligent. The company is fully aware of their potentially dangerous practices and do not correct it. Thus, customers’ lives are endangered. We have over 20 years representing injured clients. Let our team fight for the justice you deserve.