My Food Advocate From the Desk of Richard J. Arsenault

  • Louisiana Foodborne Illness Lawyers / Arkansas Food Poisoning Attorneys, Mississippi, Texas

    Food Poisoning

    The foodborne illness lawyers at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault promote food safety through legal advocacy, information outreach and analysis of food poisoning outbreaks.

  • TX Food Poisoning Outbreak Lawyers / Mississippi E. coli Attorneys, Foodborne Illness, LA, AR

    E.coli

    E. coli O157:H7 causes severe bloody diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps. In about 5% of cases, a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur after the initial symptoms.

  • LA Food Poisoning Lawyers / Texas Salmonella Attorneys, Food Illness Outbreak, Arkansas, MS

    Salmonella

    A 2009 Consumer Reports investigation revealed that 67% of broiler chickens had tested positive for Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Listeriosis

What is Listeriosis?

Listeriosis is a serious foodborne illnesses caused by eating food contaminated with the pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis is recognized as an important public health problem. An estimated 2,500 people fall seriously ill with Listeriosis each year, but about 500 of those victims die.

What are the symptoms of Listeriosis?

Listeriosis typically onsets about one to two months after ingestion of the Listeria pathogen. This long onset time makes it very difficult to trace the foodborne illness back to its food source. Symptoms of Listeriosis include:

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Persistent fever
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Headache
  • Delirium

How long does Listeriosis last?

The length of a Listeriosis illness depends of the health of the victim and the time of diagnosis and treatment. Some people might experience a week of mild illness while others might endure a month long hospital stay until they recover from Listeriosis.

Who is most at risk for Listeriosis?

Certain groups are at significant risk of Listeriosis and its complications. Those at high risk include:

  • Pregnant women
  • Infants
  • Cancer patients
  • The elderly
  • Individuals with compromised immune systems

What are the complications associated with Listeriosis?

For most healthy individuals, Listeriosis is not a serious infection and an infection may even go unnoticed, but for those who are susceptible to Listeria poisoning, serious complications can occur. As with many bacterial infections, sepsis is a dangerous complication of Listeriosis. Organ damage and meningitis are also severe complications that can arise from a Listeria infection. For pregnant women, a case of Listeriosis can result in miscarriages and stillbirths. As many as 20% of Listeriosis cases will end in death.

Advocating for Food Safety

The foodborne illness attorneys at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault promote food safety through legal advocacy, information outreach and analysis of food poisoning outbreaks. For nearly three decades, the food poisoning attorneys at Neblett, Beard & Arsenault have helped people harmed by contaminated foods or beverages, including clients in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and across the country.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious complications from a foodborne illness, please contact Neblett, Beard & Arsenault for a free evaluation of your case. Contact our firm by calling 1-800-256-1050 or use our online contact form.