Complaint Filed Against BrightFarms, Inc. for Salmonella Food Poisoning

 Posted on August 12, 2021 in Food poisoning claim

Despite laws and regulations that require manufacturers to follow the proper safety protocols, contaminated foods are sold to consumers on a regular basis. People who consume these products may experience food poisoning due to the presence of harmful bacteria such as salmonella. Recently, people in Illinois were affected by leafy greens that were contaminated with salmonella, and Newland & Newland, LLP has filed a complaint against the manufacturer of these products on behalf of a food poisoning victim.

Hillard vs. BrightFarms, Inc.

In July of 2021, the FDA and the CDC began investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella food poisoning. While nine people in Illinois and Wisconsin reported infections, the actual number of people who were affected is likely much higher, and people in other states may have been affected as well. Some people may have been able to recover without receiving medical care, and other illnesses may not yet have been reported, since it may take three to four weeks to determine whether an infection is related to this specific outbreak.

The investigation found that all nine victims reported eating leafy greens, and most of the victims ate prepackaged salads manufactured by BrightFarms. The FDA traced the infection to a greenhouse farm operated by this company located in Rochelle, IL. This led BrightFarms to conduct a recall of multiple products, including those sold under the product names of Baby Spinach, 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Butter Crisp, Harvest Crunch, Sunny Crunch, Spring Mix, Mighty Romaine, and Nutrigreens.

Newland & Newland, LLP has filed a complaint against BrightFarms, Inc. on behalf of one of the victims, a woman in Lombard, IL. After purchasing BrightFarms salads on June 3 and June 5, 2021, and consuming these salads over the following week, she experienced the onset of salmonella food poisoning symptoms including headaches, body aches, fever, chills, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. She received treatment at Elmhurst Hospital, and she continued to experience severe symptoms for multiple weeks following the onset of her illness. These symptoms required continuing medical treatment.

The complaint against BrightFarms, Inc. alleges that the company is liable for the harm caused to the plaintiff due to its manufacture and sale of an unsafe food product. The company owed a duty to the consumers of its products to ensure that its food products were safe to eat. The complaint alleges that the company failed to follow this duty because it did not maintain sanitary conditions at the facility in Rochelle, failed to prevent the transmission of salmonella to the consumers of its products, and failed to properly train and supervise its employees to prevent the transmission of salmonella. The complaint asks that BrightFarms be required to pay fair and reasonable compensation that addresses the damages suffered by the plaintiff.

Contact Our Illinois Salmonella Food Poisoning Lawyers

If you contracted salmonella after eating BrightFarms salads, or if you have experienced food poisoning caused by other contaminated food products, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you determine your best options for receiving financial compensation. We will work to ensure that a negligent food product manufacturer is held responsible for your injuries. Contact our Illinois food poisoning injury attorneys at 312-981-0409 to set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/files/2021/07/Hillard.-Complaint-FILED.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-07-21/index.html

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-typhimurium-brightfarms-packaged-salad-greens-july-2021