American food safety law firm Marler Clark has filed a lawsuit against Freshway Foods and Panera Bread regarding the multi-state outbreak of E. coli from chopped romaine lettuce.
Marler Clark managing partner William Marler filed the lawsuit on behalf of New Jersey resident Louise Fraser.
Fraser was diagnosed with haemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of acute kidney failure, three days after consuming a salad containing chopped romaine lettuce at a Panera restaurant in Raritan, New Jersey.
Marler said: “E. coli can be a deadly pathogen and can find its way into a food product like romaine lettuce that is not hygienically manufactured.”
Based in the US, Freshway Foods offers retail and foodservice solutions including fruits and vegetables, retail deli and service case salad kits and school foodservice and repack products across 27 states in the country.
Panera is an American bakery cafe chain that owns and franchises Panera Bread restaurants offering baked goods, dough items, salads, custom roasted coffees and cafe beverages.
More than 35 people had become ill from the E. coli outbreak in almost 13 US states by 13 April 2018.
The outbreak has affected a number of US states including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Idaho, Montana, Illinois, Missouri, Arizona, New Jersey and Ohio.
The law firm has also filed other lawsuits against food and foodservice companies such as Dole, Jack in the Box, ConAgra, Jimmy John’s and Cargill.
