Tainted Baby Food Poisoned My Baby. What Can I Do?

 Posted on June 07, 2022 in Personal Injury

It seems like nearly every day there is a news headline describing the recall of a widely-distributed food. Reports of nameless people in distant cities falling seriously ill and even dying are sad to read but easy to forget. But when a food poisoning incident happens to someone you love - especially to your child - the consequences can be life-altering. 

Just last year, a government report alleged that major baby food companies had dangerous levels of heavy metals in their products. These chemicals and elements can have serious neurotoxic effects, especially on developing brains. Even when heavy metals are not present, other toxic substances like salmonella can make a child very sick and potentially threaten their life. If your child developed a food illness after eating baby food, an Illinois personal injury attorney may be able to help you recover damages. 

Heavy Metals in Baby Food Can Cause Developmental Problems 

Studies show that children who ingest toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury can suffer serious, life-long neurological harm, including: 

• Lowered IQ
• ADHD 
• Behavior challenges
• Autism 
• Cerebral palsy

Tragically, the research suggests that major manufacturers of baby food knew their foods contained potentially harmful levels of toxins and still continued selling them to consumers. 

What are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Infants and Young Children? 

Even when food products do not contain heavy metals, food poisoning from infectious diseases like salmonella, cronobacter, and botulism can cause severe foodborne illnesses, including meningitis and sepsis. Symptoms of food poisoning in very young children include: 

• Irritability
• Temperature changes
• Jaundice
• Abnormal body movements
• Diarrhea 
• Vomiting 
• Headaches

If you are worried that your child is suffering from food poisoning or heavy metal poisoning, it is essential to seek medical help immediately. Keep records of what your child ate and document their symptoms so you can establish a link between the food product and their illness. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you investigate further and build a strong case in your favor. 

Contact a Winnebago County, IL Baby Food Poisoning Lawyer 

Parents have an instinct to protect their children and want to feed them food that appears to be safe and nutritious. When trusted food labels sell tainted products, the damage to a child’s health can be terrible, to say nothing of the trauma parents experience watching their children suffer. At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, we believe that if your child has suffered from wrongdoing at the hands of a baby food manufacturer, you deserve compensation for any harm caused. Call our offices today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Rockford, IL toxic baby food attorneys at 815-215-7561. 

Sources: 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317754

https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022