Eating at a fast food restaurant that takes insufficient precautions may be the first step to a doctor’s office or, ultimately, the courthouse. Unsafe food may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Ohio officials are investigating a Chipotle Grill in Powell, Ohio, where dozens of customers claimed they became sick after eating there at the end of July. The Delaware County General Health District was contacted by 683 people about the outbreak. Numerous customers reported on a food poisoning website that they had symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and fever.
The cause of the illness is still undetermined. The DGHD tested for the four major pathogens usually involved in these outbreaks. Stool samples, however, have tested negative for salmonella, shigella, norovirus and E. coli. Additional stool tests are being performed because pathogens can grow over time. These include two strains of bacteria, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, that can cause gastrointestinal illness. Some customers submitted leftovers from their meals for testing.
Half of DGHD’s 80 staff members are investigating the outbreak. They interviewed 480 of the 683 people who contacted DGHD. The department asked any customer to contact local health authorities if they suffer vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, cramps, fever and other symptoms of food-borne illness.
Chipotle closed the restaurant for one day as a precaution. After working with local health officials, it reopened the restaurant one day later.
Victims of unsafe food can suffer serious health consequences in some situations. After receiving medical care, they should speak to an attorney about their right to compensation.