Food
Poisoning Lawyer Services
The
Federal government (along with state and local agencies)
regulates food safety through the Department of Health
and Human Services' (DHHS) Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). These agencies oversee the
production and distribution of over $275 billion worth
of food products each year. Their mission is to ensure
that the U.S. food supply is "safe, nutritious,
and wholesome." The agencies also monitor and approve
food-labeling standards.
These Federal agencies act pursuant to laws passed by
Congress such as the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (FFDCA), the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA),
the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA), the Food Quality Protection
Act (FQPA), and the Public Health Service Act. Congress
requires that these agencies develop detailed rules
and regulations necessary to enforce these laws.
Despite this apparently extensive oversight program,
illnesses and deaths still occur due to contaminated
food products. There are hundreds of bacteria and viruses
that can cause food borne illness or "food poisoning,"
not to mention manmade toxic agents such as pesticides,
herbicides and rodenticides. Statistics show that annually,
in the U.S. alone, over 350,000 people are hospitalized
for food poisoning, and more than 5,000 die. So while
the U.S. food regulatory system is good, it still fails
to prevent thousands of deadly episodes each year.
If you have fallen seriously ill because of a spoiled
food product, either purchased from a grocery store
or restaurant, it may be important to contact an attorney
who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep
in mind that there may be time limits within which you
must commence suit.
Food
Poisoning Overview information provided by InjuryBoard.com
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