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While many would not think that hospitals can be particularly unhygienic places, a poorly-run hospital can be responsible for any number of food-borne illnesses. The usual complaints about hospital food are that they are not necessarily tasty and that there aren't many options. However, this does not mean that all hospitals run clean kitchens and cook their food properly. Bacteria such as Salmonella and E. Coli can affect any kitchen, regardless of its location, if the person preparing the food is not careful.
Most bacteria found in food that leads to food poisoning are the result of improper preparation. While one would think that a hospital, of all places, would be especially mindful of this threat, the individuals responsible for preparing meals are not doctors themselves. Instead, chiefs and cooks run the kitchen, like anywhere else, and can make the same mistakes that commercial cooks can make. If preparing poultry products, meat and eggs both need to be cooked at a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill most bacteria. The same can be said for beef and pork products.
In some cases, dish washing is to blame. If a patient is handed a dirty glass, plate, or piece of silverware, it is possible that bacteria could be transmitted through that object. Especially in the case of E. Coli and similar waterborne bacteria, cleaning dining materials carefully is an important step in keeping food poisoning from spreading.
Then, of course, there is the problem of allergies or other reactions. Negligent workers can present the wrong dish to the wrong patient, who may ingest ingredients without asking any questions as to what it is or how it was prepared. If you want to learn more about the legal aspects of hospital negligence, especially in the case of food preparation negligence, contact a medical malpractice attorney.
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If you have been injured under the watch of a hospital's staff, you may be entitled to pursue compensation. Contact the New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers of Levinson Axelrod today.
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