Food labels have been under scrutiny for several years. For example, you might have observed the lack of a specified percentage of preservatives or chemicals on the label that the companies add to their food products.
There is more to it; in the name of organic, the manufacturers often skip adding the details of the particular oils or allergens that might affect some people. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have made it mandatory for food labels to be precise and detailed with their quality and ingredients.
Then why do we hear many cases related to food poisoning and chemical reactions from processed food? What are they hiding?
What are the essential specifications of a food label?
Besides the nutritional label and ingredient list, the products must also include:
- The spices specifically added for flavor or added colors
- The number and names of preservatives (a disclaimer)
- The proven claims regarding “lite” or “light” on the label
- The nutrients in the product for any health claim
- The specifications if it contains raw fruit, vegetables, or meat
What happens to our rights if we buy food from the local market?
Homemade and farmer’s products are sold in a small quantity to selective masses, and for this reason, they are not required to have labels. Consumers buy these products at their own risk because they haven’t been officially evaluated for safety, nutrition facts, ingredients, or production processes.
But, in case the product makes you severely sick, you can file a personal injury case against the seller. Personal injury lawyers in Boston can help you seek remedial compensation against the seller.
What happens to our rights if we eat food from a chain restaurant?
Chained restaurants (in more than 20 locations) must show calorie information for each item or meal. However, you can’t expect your local burger place to tell you the secret to their juiciest and meaty patty.
Despite that, they have a responsibility to adhere to responsible food servicing that does not lead their customers to hospitals.
To recover damages, the plaintiff needs to prove negligence on the part of the restaurant or restaurant employees.
An example where the employer of a food chain restaurant was held liable for the negligence of an employee:
When Oliver ordered a hamburger at a local diner, he didn’t know he had contracted hepatitis. The cook who was making hamburgers went to the bathroom and did not wash his hands before he came back to the kitchen. In this case, he passed the bacteria onto the burger when he held it with his bare hands.
Oliver has all the rights to file a lawsuit against the diner. The diner cannot blame it all on the employee for his negligence, claiming his actions were against company policy. Under Mascheutts law, the diner will be held liable for the employee’s negligence because making and serving the dish was within the employee’s ordinary scope of employment.
If the facts are evident, Oliver can file a lawsuit with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Boston and seek compensation.
