Texas Botulism Lawyer

People can get Botulism by eating or drinking store-bought or commercial food that is not sterilized, canned, or preserved properly.

Need a Texas Botulism Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Botulism, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Examples of Botulism Recalls

What is Botulism?

Botulism is a rare but serious illness that is caused by a bacteria toxin. Food that is contaminated with the botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled, but taking even a tiny sip can cause paralysis, life-threatening breathing problems, or death.

What Causes Botulism?

Botulism is mostly a food-borne illness, but some people get botulism through wounds or inhalation. Botulism is caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produces a powerful nerve toxin.

Where is the Bacteria Found?

This bacteria is commonly found in soil and the environment, but only rarely make people sick. Under the right conditions (such as under-processed canned foods), the spores will grow into mature bacteria.

What Happens?

These mature bacteria release toxins into the under-processed canned foods. When people eat the contaminated food, the toxins quickly spread to their bloodstream and attack the nerves in the body.

How To Prevent Botulism in Canned Foods

Botulism spores die at 250ºF. Low-acid foods that are not heated to this temperature during canning can be contaminated with spores of the bacteria that cause botulism. To be safe, home-canned foods should be sterilized in a pressure cooker at 250ºF for 30 minutes.

Botulism Outbreak Linked to Castleberry’s Chili Sauce

Botulism is usually linked to improperly home-canned foods, but outbreaks are sometimes linked to store-bought or commercially-produced foods that were not sterilized properly.

For example, at least 8 people were diagnosed with botulism after eating Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce. The illnesses were reported in Texas, Ohio, and Indiana.

What Foods May Be Contaminated?

Botulism is mostly a problem for low-acid foods, which includes all vegetables, some tomatoes, figs, all meats, fish, and seafood. Botulism has also been linked to chopped garlic in oil, homemade oils with garlic or herbs, canned cheese sauce, carrot juice, baked potatoes wrapped in tin foil, and other foods.

Infant Botulism

Honey may contain spores of the bacteria C. botulinum, which can colonize the intestines of an infant and cause infant botulism. The symptoms can appear anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the baby consumes the spores. This is why doctors warn caregivers against giving honey to young children under 1 year old.

Signs & Symptoms of Botulism in Older Children or Adults

The symptoms of botulism in older children or adults usually start in the head and move down the body. In severe cases, the breathing muscles can be paralyzed and a person can suffocate to death.

Early Warning Signs of Botuism

The earliest warning sign of botulism is usually muscle weakness in the face, eyes, mouth, or throat. Unless the person gets emergency treatment with an antitoxin, the weakness can spread downward to the torso, lungs, arms, and legs. These symptoms can appear within a few hours of eating contaminated food, or up to a few days afterward.

Symptoms of Botulism

Drooping eyelids
Double-vision or blurry vision
Dry mouth
Slurred speech
Problems swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Weakness or paralysis or the arms or legs
Nausea and vomiting

Need a Botulism Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.