Ohio Department Of Agriculture Sounds Safety Alert On Food Sold At A Cleveland Gas Station

In April, Ohio’s Department of Agriculture (ODA) issued a health alert for several food items sold at the Pop-n-Place Shell Gas Station on Memphis Avenue after a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Division. A health alert was issued after food items were found to be misbranded and could contain undeclared allergens.

If you suspect a business’ carelessness or negligence has caused food poisoning, reach out to the Cleveland food poisoning attorneys at Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers to ensure all the expenses related to your case are recovered.

The Specifics Of The ODA’s Health Alert

The health alert issued to the Pop-n-Place Shell Gas Station by the ODA states the contamination risk could be present in any cold food or food from the cooler section sold. There are too many food items to single out, but some of the food listed in the alert includes:

• Deli salads (potato and macaroni)
• Fried Chicken pieces
• Individual slices of cheesecake and frosted cake slices
• Pudding in plastic deli containers
• Ready-to-eat leafy green salads

These foods could be dangerous to anyone with allergies or sensitivities so they should be discarded immediately. Mild, severe, or life-threatening allergic reactions can happen if eaten by vulnerable customers.

The amount of consumed food that triggers allergic reactions vary. Food allergy symptoms can also vary but some may include:

• Anaphylaxis – sudden drops in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and body system failure
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Itchy skin
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the airways to the lungs
• Stomach cramps
• Rash or hives
• Vomiting

If anyone exhibits signs of foodborne illness or allergies, contact a physician immediately.

The Larger Picture

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate foodborne illnesses account for one-in-six Americans getting sick each year, around 48 million people. These illnesses can lead to:

• More than 120,000 hospitalized
• About 3,000 deaths

There are three preventable causes that may lead to the contamination of food, including:

1. During processing: Food can get contaminated as it is farmed, cleaned, stored, or packaged.
2. During distribution: From processing to the consumer, fluctuating temperatures or opened packages, or missteps in delivery can contaminate foods.
3. During preparation: Inappropriately storing and cooking foods at improper temperatures, washing food incorrectly, and unclean cooking or preparation surfaces.

Some of the most common types of food poisoning include:

• Botulism
• E. coli
• Hepatitis A
• Listeria
• Norovirus
• Salmonella

Food poisoning can affect one person or many people. This often depends on when and where the contamination occurs. It can lead to health alerts, massive recalls, and lawsuits.

When Should I Contact A Lawyer?

It can be difficult to recover from food poisoning. Some need hospitalization. Medical bills can stack up. Long-term consequences may be suffered. You or your family should not have to endure financial jeopardy because of someone else’s negligence when dealing with food.

Even a mild case of food poisoning is awful. Foodborne illnesses cause millions to get sick each year. Often, human negligence causes these illnesses. If you or a loved one suffered from food poisoning because of someone else’s carelessness, contact the Cleveland attorneys at Paulozzi LPA for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-710-0040.