The first Salmonella lawsuit in the multistate outbreak that is linked to precut melons has been filed by Pritzker Hageman attorneys. Their client is a 73-year-old woman who ate the fruit that was allegedly purchased from a Walmart store in Findlay, Ohio just before Mother’s Day 2018.
The woman was hospitalized and needed surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm in her abdomen that developed after the infection. She spent days in the hospital and is recovering in a nursing home. The Salmonella lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented clients sickened with Salmonella infections, said, “Even when you recover from this serious infection, there is still a risk you will develop a health complication in the future such as reactive arthritis or endocarditis.” Call 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202 to talk to Fred.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has successfully represented many clients sickened with this pathogenic bacteria, and is the lead lawyer in this Salmonella lawsuit, said, “As this case illustrates, Salmonella is a dangerous pathogen that causes extreme damage in certain people, particularly young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. This outbreak is another example of fruit and vegetable producers not following basic safety precautions. Because fresh fruit and vegetables are consumed raw without any ‘kill step,’ growers, processors and distributors have to follow sanitation rules. This case is an example of the human misery that results when companies fail to do so.”
Caito Foods recalled many different types of cut melon products on June 8, 2018. The products were packaged in clear clamshell packages and were sold at Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon stores in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.
The recalled products include fruit bowls, melon mix spears, fruit snack trays, cantaloupe chunks, cantaloupe halves, watermelon slices, and others. Please check your refrigerator and if you have any of the recalled products in your home, throw them away immediately. This is a serious outbreak and many people are very ill. In fact, the hospitalization rate is 66%, about three times higher than the typical Salmonella outbreak rate.
Most people don’t know that produce is a common vehicle for food poisoning. It is impossible to make sure that all the fruits and veggies you buy are safe, but there are some steps you can take.
The patient case count is: Michigan (32), Ohio (1), Illinois (6), Indiana (11), and Missouri (10). This outbreak may grow, since the last reported case occurred on May 28, 2018, and the fruit wasn’t recalled until the second week of June. If you have been experiencing the symptoms of a Salmonella infection, which include vomiting, nausea, fever, cramps, and diarrhea, see your doctor.
Pritzker Hageman, America’s food safety law firm, successfully represents people harmed by adulterated food products in outbreaks throughout the United States, including Salmonella lawsuits. Its lawyers have won hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of foodborne illness, including some of the largest verdicts and settlements in American history. The firm won a recent victory on behalf of a child who needed brain surgery after a Salmonella infection. The firm also publishes Food Poisoning Bulletin, a respected source for food safety news and information. Pritzker Hageman lawyers are regularly interviewed by major news outlets including the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal.
