Most people don’t know that E. coli is actually a very common type of bacteria that exists in the human intestines and helps an individual digest and absorb food.  In general, this name is associated with intense digestive tract discomfort, which is caused by special strands of E. coli (for example, O157:H7).  Every year, these rare yet dangerous forms of E. coli infect nearly 75,000 individuals.  In most cases, the bacteria only cause severe discomfort that subsides after a few days.  However, these microorganisms can be extremely dangerous when they attack young children or people with immunodeficiencies.

A Food-borne Disease

E. coli is generally known as a food-borne disease, meaning that it enters an individual’s system through his or her ingestion of contaminated food.  Cattle meat is the most common carrier of disease-causing strands of E. coli, although it may be present in a number of other edibles including:

Salami
Alfalfa sprouts
Unpasteurized milk or juices
Contaminated water
Lettuce
Spinach
Tomatoes
Sausage

If restaurants and food manufacturers do not take the proper preparation steps – cooking and cleaning – before distributing their products to customers for ingestion, then they may be held liable for any cases of E. coli that arise.

Contact Us

If you or someone you love has suffered from E. coli as a result of food production or service negligence, then you may have the right to claim compensation from the party responsible for this unnecessary pain.  Contact the Jacksonville personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Donald Guthrie today at 904-493-6455 to learn more about your legal rights.