Lawyer Bill Marler shared some of his two decades of experience prosecuting cases of food-borne illness Monday night at Memorial Union.
Part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, his lecture focused on the method his firm uses on food manufacturers to hold them accountable when consumers fall ill.
Citing statistics that show a quarter of the U.S. population falls victim to a food-borne illness each year, he said improper food sanitation is a significant national problem.
""The reality in America … is that we poison a lot of people,"" Marler said. ""It's a serious threat to our nation, and it's a serious threat to public health.""
Although news of large outbreaks can trigger a massive consumer response, Marler said much of that panic may be unnecessary. He said a lengthy investigative process means the public does not hear about most outbreaks until months after they are over.
He gave a brief history of some of the major cases he's prosecuted, including the well-known 1993 e. coli outbreak attributed to Jack in the Box restaurants, which sickened over 600 patrons, killing five.
The Odwalla Corporation was another major company his firm took legal action against for selling unpasteurized juice that allegedly sickened children. In this case, the U.S. Army previously declined to purchase their products after an inspection of the production facility did not meet their sanitation standards.
Marler said this was one of many examples in which companies failed to heed warnings.
""If they couldn't sell their juice to the U.S. Army, what were they doing selling it to kids and pregnant moms?"" he said.
In each of these and many other cases, Marler's firm sued the food manufacturers on behalf of the victims who fell ill from their products.
Marler said his experience dealing with food-borne illnesses has affected his personal eating habits. He said he and his wife try to eat simply, consuming more local food and fewer processed products.
""There are a handful of things I will not eat, like hamburger, brats, egg salad,"" he said, but added there is no magic formula to stay safe from food-borne illnesses.
