The end of summer is often crammed with as many last-minute cookouts as the weather will allow, but if you served Hostess burger and hot dog buns recently, you may have been exposed to listeria and salmonella.
On August 13, Hostess voluntarily recalled several types of their hot dog and hamburger buns, including those with “best by” dates of up to October 4, 2021. Check your pantry because if you have these products it is important that you do not eat them. You can either return them to where you bought them for a full refund or toss them in the trash.
To date, Hostess has not received any reports of foodborne illness from the recalled products. Their co-manufacturer made them aware of the contamination. However, salmonella and listeria can have serious health repercussions—and since some of the products may still be floating around, it’s important to avoid them at all costs.
The Effects of Salmonella and Listeria
If you’re a generally healthy person, salmonella poisoning might give you diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain; but if you have a weakened immune system, or are elderly or very young, those infections can be fatal. If the infection gets into your bloodstream, you may develop other, more serious illnesses. Even mild salmonella cases are not pleasant to deal with. They may cause you to miss work or school, seek medical treatment, or otherwise be unable to fulfill your daily obligations.
Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the elderly, the very young, and those with weakened immune systems. It’s also very problematic for pregnant women. Even a mild infection can cause miscarriage or stillbirth. (Listeria is sometimes present in soft cheese and deli meats, which is why pregnant women are cautioned not to consume those until after their baby is born.) Healthy, non-pregnant women may suffer severe headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, abdominal pain and body stiffness.
What to Do if You Contract Foodborne Illness
Hot dog and hamburger buns might be the last place you’d expect to get listeria or salmonella, but the risk is there. Avoid the recalled Hostess products—and if you were already sickened by eating the tainted buns, call a personal injury attorney. You may be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, stillbirth or miscarriage and more.
With any luck, everyone exposed to the tainted burger and hot dog buns will walk away unscathed.
Discuss Your Case with an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer Today
When you’ve been harmed due to someone else’s negligence, including foodborne illness from tainted products, I’ll Make Them Pay!® You may be able to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages and more. Call me today at 877.944.4373 for a consultation.
