Campylobacter Lawyer

If Campylobacter left you or someone you love with days of bloody diarrhea, a hospital stay, or the lasting nerve damage of Guillain-Barre syndrome, you may be able to hold the company that sold the contaminated food responsible.

Campylobacter sickens an estimated 1.87 million Americans every year, more than any other foodborne bacterium, according to CDC estimates published in April 2025. That figure is likely conservative: for every case diagnosed and reported, more than 50 go undetected. The vast majority of infections are sporadic, meaning they are not linked to a named outbreak, which can make it harder for victims to identify the source of their illness and understand their legal options. Among confirmed cases, about 18 to 20% require hospitalization. These are not mild stomach aches. They are serious infections that can result in days of bloody diarrhea, dangerous dehydration, and significant medical expenses.

What sets Campylobacter apart from other foodborne pathogens is its connection to Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a severe autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the body’s own peripheral nerves. Campylobacter is the number one identified infectious trigger for GBS, responsible for approximately 30% of all GBS cases in the United States. About 1 in every 1,000 people infected with Campylobacter will develop GBS, which can cause ascending paralysis, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and months or years of rehabilitation. Research published in Infection and Immunity found that Campylobacter-triggered GBS produces significantly worse outcomes than GBS from other causes: 23% of patients were unable to walk at follow-up, compared to just 9% of patients whose GBS was not linked to Campylobacter. Beyond GBS, Campylobacter infection carries a 1 to 7% risk of reactive arthritis, a 4.2 times higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome, and an 8 to 10 times higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease in the year following infection.

The primary source of Campylobacter infection is poultry. The CDC attributes 50 to 70% of human Campylobacter infections to contaminated chicken, and the USDA’s own 2012 baseline survey found Campylobacter in 21.4% of chicken parts leaving processing plants. Despite these alarming numbers, Campylobacter is not classified as an adulterant under federal law, meaning contaminated raw chicken is legal to sell. FSIS Campylobacter performance standards for poultry have been suspended since 2018 after the agency switched to a more sensitive testing method but never finalized updated standards. In January 2025, the Government Accountability Office criticized FSIS for failing to finalize any new pathogen performance standards since 2018. Then in July 2025, the CDC reduced FoodNet surveillance from eight foodborne pathogens to just two, dropping Campylobacter entirely despite it being the number one bacterial cause of foodborne illness.

Raw and unpasteurized milk is another major source: Campylobacter is the leading pathogen found in raw milk outbreaks, and 32 states still allow raw milk sales under varying regulations.

Ron Simon & Associates is a food poisoning law firm with an exclusive focus on foodborne illness litigation and a proven track record in Campylobacter cases. In August 2025, the firm filed the first Campylobacter lawsuit in the Keely Farms Dairy raw milk outbreak in Florida, where contaminated raw milk sickened at least 21 people, hospitalized seven including a toddler for 10 days, and caused a pregnant mother to lose her unborn child. In 2020, the firm represented victims in the Rediviva restaurant Campylobacter outbreak in Washington state, where undercooked chicken liver mousse sickened 19 or more patrons and the restaurant was permanently closed with over 75 health code violations.

With more than $850 million recovered for food poisoning victims across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and more than 55 years of combined experience holding negligent food producers accountable, our Campylobacter outbreak lawyers have the medical knowledge and litigation experience to pursue full compensation for victims and their families. You pay us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.