Background

Foodborne illness is a serious concern for growers, manufacturers, distributors, and end users such as restaurants. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 6 people per year in the United States will have a foodborne illness. Over 3,000 deaths a year in the U.S. are a result of foodborne illness.

Rimkus worked with a food producer to investigate the allegations that their product was responsible for a foodborne illness outbreak. Rimkus was able to work with the producer’s insurance company and legal team to inspect the growing location, review growing practices, and review the medical records and epidemiological evidence that was used by local health departments to link the suspect cases to a larger outbreak of foodborne illness. The Rimkus team was able to provide alternative causation other than the producer’s product for the suspect illnesses.