Lawyers say they are suing Asda and Tesco over an E. coli outbreak linked to salad leaves in sandwiches (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Supermarkets Tesco and Asda are facing legal action after two people were hospitalised in the E. coli outbreak linked to salad leaves.
One of them was an 11-year-old girl from the North West, while the other was a man from the South East.
Both fell seriously ill, while the young girl may have been left with permanent liver damage.
Legal firm Fieldfisher, which is acting on behalf of the individuals, said it believes their clients contracted E. coli through eating own brand sandwiches from the two retailers.
It said it had issued letters of claim against the supermarkets for breach of the Consumer Protection Act.
The UK Health Security Agency said on Thursday one patient had died in the E. coli outbreak, which investigators believe is linked to salad used in sandwiches.
Fieldfisher said the claim against Asda relates to the young girl who contracted E. coli after eating a chicken and salad sandwich bought at one of its stores.
One person has died in the recent E. coli outbreak, said the UK Health Security Agency (Picture: Getty Images)
‘The girl, aged 11, developed the serious condition haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which attacks the kidneys and has been on dialysis for three weeks,’ it said.
‘She was discharged home two days ago but could be at risk of permanent kidney damage. Her mother bought three of the sandwiches as part of an online delivery.’
Harvinder Kaur, a legal director at the firm, said she had issued a separate letter to Tesco on behalf of the man who was also hospitalised with E. coli symptoms after eating Tesco-branded sandwiches containing salad.
‘Luckily, this client did not go on to develop HUS and is now home, but for a time he was seriously ill,’ she said.
‘Under the Act, companies producing food must ensure it is safe to eat.
‘If it causes illness, it is a breach of their duty and those injured are eligible to claim compensation, not least to fund possible ongoing medical care.
‘My client was a regular shopper at Tesco, buying his lunch there most days since it was very close to his work.’
One of the clients suing is a man who regularly bought sandwiches at Tesco (Picture: Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
An Asda spokesperson said: ‘We have not yet received any letter from Fieldfisher regarding these claims, as soon as we do we will review the details of the claim as a matter of urgency.”
It is understood that Tesco has not yet received notification of the claim from Fieldfisher.
Several food manufacturers have recalled sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major supermarkets and retail chains owing to the spread of E. coli.
The UKHSA said the number of cases it is seeing is falling, but more will come to light as further samples are referred to it from NHS laboratories.
So far, there have been 182 cases in England, 58 in Scotland, 31 in Wales and four …read more
Source:: Metro
