摘要：This report examines how product liability law treats personal injuries attributed tomicrobially contaminated foods. The risk of lawsuits stemming from microbial foodborne illness and the resulting court-awarded compensation may create economicincentives for firms to produce safer food. It is not known how many consumers seekcompensation for damages from contaminated foods because information about complaints and legal claims involving foodborne illness is not readily accessible, especially for cases that are settled out of court. Reviewing the outcomes of 175 jury trials involving foodborne pathogens, the analysis identifies several factors that influencetrial outcomes, while noting that the awards won by plaintiffs tend to be modest.
关键词：foodborne illness; food safety; jury verdict; personal injury; product liability
