Clostridium Perfringens Lawsuit

If you developed food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens, you may be able to seek compensation through a lawsuit. Keep Food Safe is dedicated to helping victims of foodborne illnesses secure justice by connecting them with experienced attorneys who can review their cases and advise them on their legal options for seeking fair compensation.

Clostridium perfringens is a common bacterial cause of food poisoning, thriving in improperly handled meat and poultry, particularly in large batch cooking.
The bacteria cause symptoms like diarrhea and stomach cramps within 6 to 24 hours after consumption, with symptoms typically resolving in 24 hours, although they can persist longer.
Victims of foodborne illness caused by Clostridium perfringens may seek compensation through lawsuits, emphasizing the importance of food safety and proper handling practices to prevent such outbreaks.

Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of foodborne illness. When food handlers and producers fail to follow proper food safety protocols, they put consumers at risk. Holding these parties accountable through a Clostridium perfringens lawsuit can provide compensation for victims and deter unsafe practices. Keep Food Safe is committed to making the food industry safer for all consumers by facilitating these claims.

Can You Sue for Clostridium Perfringens?

If you contracted Clostridium perfringens and suspect it was caused by unsafe food handling practices, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Restaurants, cafeterias, food processing plants, and other businesses have a duty to handle and prepare food safely. They can be held liable when they breach that duty and make customers sick.

To have a viable case, you will need evidence linking your illness to a specific food source and showing that unsafe food handling or preparation led to your sickness. That’s where Keep Food Safe can help. We have partnered with attorneys experienced in food poisoning claims who can assess your case, gather the necessary evidence, and advise you on how to take legal action.

If You Have Been Made Sick by Another Company’s Fault!

What Is Clostridium Perfringens?

Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria that produces toxins harmful to humans. It’s one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. Clostridium perfringens can be found in raw meat and poultry, and it thrives in conditions where food is prepared in large quantities and kept warm for a long time before serving.

If you eat food contaminated with Clostridium perfringens, the bacteria can release toxins in the intestines that cause illness. Symptoms usually develop within 6 to 24 hours after eating tainted food. While Clostridium perfringens can be killed through proper cooking, its toxins can survive high heat and cause food poisoning even when the bacteria are no longer alive.

Symptoms of Clostridium Perfringens

The primary symptoms of a Clostridium perfringens infection are diarrhea and stomach cramps, which typically last around 24 hours but can persist for up to two weeks in some cases. For most healthy people, the illness resolves on its own without complications. However, severe infections can cause severe dehydration and even death, particularly in young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

If you experience Clostridium perfringens food poisoning symptoms, it’s essential to stay hydrated and seek prompt medical attention if the diarrhea is bloody, severe, or persistent for more than three days. To help track food poisoning cases and identify potential outbreaks, be sure to report your illness to your local health department.

How Does Clostridium Perfringens Spread?

Clostridium perfringens outbreaks occur when foods are prepared in large quantities and kept in the “danger zone” (40 F°–140 F°) for an extended period. Clostridium perfringens grows rapidly at these temperatures.

Failure to properly cool and store foods, especially meat dishes, stews, casseroles, and gravies, is a common cause of Clostridium perfringens contamination. Outbreaks can also occur when contaminated foods are not reheated to at least 165 F° before serving, as high heat is needed to destroy the bacterial toxins.

Improper handling of raw meat and poultry can also cross-contaminate other foods with Clostridium perfringens. Food handlers who don’t wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom or changing diapers can even introduce fecal bacteria into foods.

What Foods Are at Risk of Clostridium Perfringens?

Clostridium perfringens is most often found in protein-rich foods, particularly meat and meat-based products, including:

Stews, casseroles, and other meat dishes are also common sources. Outbreaks tend to occur in places where large quantities of food are held in warming trays for extended periods before serving. Examples include:

Notable Clostridium Perfringens Outbreaks

In recent years, several high-profile Clostridium perfringens outbreaks have sickened hundreds of people and led to major lawsuits against food service providers, including:

Chipotle outbreak – In 2018, over 600 people who ate at a Chipotle in Ohio developed food poisoning due to Clostridium perfringens. An investigation determined that the outbreak likely resulted from food being kept at unsafe temperatures for too long. In response to lawsuits, Chipotle agreed to pay a $25 million fine, implement a comprehensive food safety program, and be subject to regular food safety audits.
Golden Ponds Restaurant outbreak – In 2017, over 260 people were sickened by Clostridium perfringens after eating contaminated gravy at a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Golden Ponds Restaurant in New York. Three people died. Health department inspectors cited the restaurant for improperly cooled and reheated gravy. Multiple lawsuits were filed against the restaurant by victims and their families.

These incidents highlight the importance of food safety measures and the legal consequences for careless food service operators. Clostridium perfringens lawsuits can help victims obtain compensation and motivate businesses to improve their food safety practices to prevent future outbreaks.

Liability in a Clostridium Perfringens Lawsuit

To win a Clostridium perfringens lawsuit, you may need to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused your illness. Examples of negligent practices that can lead to Clostridium perfringens contamination include:

Failing to cool and refrigerate foods properly
Keeping foods in the "danger zone" (40 F°–140 F°) for too long
Not reheating foods to 165 F° before serving
Poor handwashing by food handlers
Cross-contamination between raw meats and other foods

Alternatively, your case may be based on product liability or breach of warranty. An experienced food poisoning attorney can help you gather evidence, such as health department reports, lab test results, medical records, and witness statements, to demonstrate how the defendant’s behavior caused your illness. If you establish liability, you can recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other damages.

Value of a Clostridium Perfringens Lawsuit

The value of a Clostridium perfringens lawsuit depends on the specifics of the case, including:

The financial consequences can be substantial in cases involving serious illness, hospitalizations, or death. For example, in the Chipotle outbreak lawsuits, the company paid a $25 million fine to resolve criminal charges. While individual settlement amounts are often confidential, sizable payments to victims are not uncommon in major outbreaks.

Even if your illness was relatively minor, filing a lawsuit can still be beneficial. These claims often proceed as class actions in which multiple victims band together. By taking legal action, you can help hold responsible companies accountable and push for changes to make the food industry safer.

Filing a Clostridium Perfringens Lawsuit

If you suspect that your Clostridium perfringens illness stemmed from contaminated food sold or served by a company, restaurant, or other food service provider, you may have a viable legal claim. The first step is to discuss your case with an attorney specializing in food poisoning lawsuits.

Keep Food Safe can connect you with experienced Clostridium perfringens lawyers nationwide. Our network of attorneys has handled numerous Clostridium perfringens cases and knows what it takes to secure fair compensation. Most attorneys offer free consultations to review your claim and advise you on the best course of action.

Taking action can help you recover compensation for your illness and protect other consumers from unsafe food handling practices. Contact us today to get started on your case.

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