Serving clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury or illness from contaminated, adulterated, or defective food — a foodborne illness such as Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria; a foreign object such as glass, metal, plastic, or insect or larvae infestation; or an undeclared allergen — you may have a claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller. Siddons Law Firm reviews food-injury claims across all four states. Call (610) 255-7500 for a free, confidential review.

Key Takeaways

• Food companies are held to a high standard. Under strict liability, you generally do not have to prove the company was careless — only that the food was contaminated or defective and that it caused your injury.
• We focus on serious injuries that required medical care — hospitalization, surgery, emergency treatment, or a lab-confirmed foodborne illness — not a brief, self-resolving upset stomach.
• Preserve the evidence. Keep the product, its packaging, the receipt, and any lot or batch number, and photograph everything. It is often the most important proof in the case.
• Claims are frequently stronger when the same product sickened multiple people or was subject to a recall, which points to a systemic problem.

Injuries We Are Currently Reviewing

We are actively reviewing food and food-product claims involving the following injuries. Because these cases turn on the severity of the harm, the injuries below are the strongest candidates for representation:

• Severe gastrointestinal illness requiring medical treatment — persistent vomiting and diarrhea, severe dehydration, or IV rehydration.
• Hospitalization for a food-related illness or injury.
• Surgery — for example, to remove a foreign object or to repair a perforation, laceration, or obstruction of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, or intestines.
• Lab-confirmed foodborne infection — Salmonella, E. coli (including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure), Listeria (including pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, or meningitis), Campylobacter, Hepatitis A, or norovirus.
• Foreign-object injuries — broken or chipped teeth, mouth and tongue lacerations, choking, or internal cuts and perforations from glass, metal, plastic, bone, stone, or insect or larvae contamination.
• Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis from an undeclared or mislabeled allergen.
• Long-term complications following infection, such as reactive arthritis or lasting digestive disorders.
• Wrongful death caused by contaminated or defective food.

A mild, short-lived stomach upset that resolved on its own without medical care generally does not support a claim. If your symptoms were serious enough to require a doctor, an ER visit, or hospitalization, we want to hear from you.

Types of Food Contamination We Handle

• Bacterial and viral contamination — Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, Hepatitis A, and norovirus.
• Foreign objects and infestation — glass, metal, plastic, wood, bone, stone, and insect, worm, or larvae contamination.
• Undeclared or mislabeled allergens — peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish that were not disclosed on the label.
• Chemical contamination and adulteration — cleaning agents, pesticides, or other substances that render food unsafe.
• Spoiled or improperly stored food — product that was unsafe due to inadequate refrigeration, handling, or transportation.

How Food-Injury Cases Work

Food that is contaminated or contains a foreign object is considered adulterated and defective under the law. We pursue recovery through strict liability (the food was defective and caused harm), negligence (the company failed to use reasonable care in sourcing, processing, storing, or labeling), and breach of warranty (every food sold carries an implied promise that it is safe to eat). You do not need to identify exactly how the contamination occurred — that is what our investigation, testing, and experts are for.

Evidence That Strengthens Your Claim

• The product itself, its packaging, and any remaining contents — do not throw it away.
• The lot number, batch code, and receipt or proof of purchase.
• Photographs of the food, the foreign object, and the packaging.
• Medical records documenting your diagnosis and treatment, including any stool culture or lab confirmation.
• Any report you made to the store, the manufacturer, or your local health department.

A Recent Example

Food-safety failures by major brands are more common than most people realize. In a widely reported example, Quaker Oats recalled granola bars, cereals, and snack products nationwide over Salmonella contamination that federal regulators later found had persisted for years, and the company resolved consumer class-action claims for approximately $6.75 million. Recalls like this often confirm what an injured consumer already experienced firsthand.

Why Choose Our Firm

Siddons Law Firm represents injured consumers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, and works with nationally recognized co-counsel on large-scale food and product cases. We advance the costs of investigation, laboratory testing, and expert review, and you pay no attorney fee unless we recover for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have a case if I only had food poisoning for a day or two?

Usually not, if it resolved on its own without medical care. These claims turn on the severity of the injury. If your illness required a doctor, an emergency room visit, hospitalization, or was confirmed by a lab test, you may have a viable claim — contact us so we can evaluate it.

I already threw the food away. Can I still make a claim?

Possibly, but it is more difficult. Preserved product is powerful evidence. If you no longer have it, we can still investigate using medical records, receipts, recall information, and health-department reports, so it is worth speaking with us.

What if the product was recalled after I got sick?

A recall can be strong supporting evidence that the product was contaminated or defective. Keep any recall notices and let us know the product, brand, and lot number.

How long do I have to file?

The deadline (statute of limitations) depends on your state and is time-sensitive. Reach out promptly so a filing deadline does not bar an otherwise valid claim.