As people continue to get sick across the country, meat processor JBS Tolleson has called for a wider recall of its beef. On Dec. 4, JBS expanded the recall to include more than 12 million pounds of Salmonella-tainted beef.
Illnesses reported in West Virginia
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed 333 total cases of Salmonella poisoning from the meat. Ninety-one people were hospitalized. The most recent illnesses were in Michigan, Mississippi and West Virginia. No deaths have been reported.
Beef sold at more than 100 stores
The tainted beef has the establishment number EST. 267 in the USDA inspection mark. It was packaged from July 26 to Sept. 7, 2018. The CDC states the meat was sent to more than 100 retailers throughout the country. In West Virginia, the tainted beef was sold at Kroger and Sam’s Club.
Any remaining meat would be in people’s freezers. The CDC states the beef should not be consumed, but rather thrown away or returned to the store. The tainted meat is considered a high health risk.
Salmonella causes salmonellosis
Food tainted with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis. The symptoms include abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever. These typically occur about 12 to 72 hours after eating the tainted food and last from four to seven days.
Product liability claims
Dangerous or defective products sold in the U.S. fall under product liability law. To prove a product liability claim, the consumer must show the product caused an injury, this injury was due to a defect and the defect made the product excessively unsafe. The defect can be from a design flaw, a manufacturing flaw or a marketing flaw.
Consumers harmed by defective products do have legal options. They may be able to bring a product liability claim against the manufacturer or the retailer.
