Asda and Tesco face legal action over E. coli outbreak

Authored by Lora Jones, a business journalist at BBC News

Attorneys representing two individuals who became sick during the E. coli outbreak have initiated legal proceedings against two major grocery stores.

The law firm Fieldfisher announced on Friday that they sent letters to Tesco and Asda for not following the Consumer Protection Act when selling their own-brand sandwiches.

The requests for compensation involve a man from the Southeast and an 11-year-old girl from the Northwest.

A person in England who had existing health issues has passed away due to the E. coli outbreak, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency.

The E. coli crisis is believed to have been triggered by certain grocery store sandwiches that include lettuce.

Most of the cases that have been reported up to this point showed symptoms before 4 June. The number of reported cases is decreasing now, which gives hope that the outbreak may be over.

A few food companies pulled back some of their products as a safety measure.

The Food Standards Agency believes that lettuce is the probable cause, according to their tests.

Fieldfisher stated that the lawsuit against Asda involved a young girl who became sick with E. coli after consuming an own-label chicken salad sandwich from the grocery store.

The article stated that the 11-year-old girl has been diagnosed with the severe illness, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which affects the kidneys. She has been receiving dialysis treatment for three weeks.

Two days ago, she was sent home from the hospital, but there is a possibility of her suffering permanent kidney damage. Her mother purchased three sandwiches online for delivery.

A representative from Asda mentioned that they have not received any correspondence from Fieldfisher regarding the claims. They also stated, "Once we do receive it, we will promptly review the details of the claim."

Harvinder Kaur, who works as a director at Fieldfisher, spoke with the PA News agency on Friday and mentioned that she had sent a different letter to Tesco on behalf of a man from the South East.

He ended up in the hospital with symptoms of E. coli after consuming sandwiches from Tesco that had salad in them, according to the law firm.

"Thankfully, this patient did not end up developing HUS and has since been discharged, but there was a period when he was very sick," she explained.

According to the law, food companies are required to guarantee that their products are safe for consumption.

If someone gets sick because of something, it means that someone didn't do their job properly. The people who got sick can ask for money to help pay for medical treatment.

She mentioned that the man frequented Tesco often, purchasing his lunch there on most weekdays because it was conveniently located near his workplace.

The BBC knows that Tesco has not yet gotten the letter from Fieldfisher.

Symptoms And Treatment For E. Coli

E. coli are a variety of bacteria that typically reside in the intestines of both humans and animals.

Certain varieties are not dangerous, while others have the potential to cause severe illness in individuals.

Experiments have proven that the strain causing this outbreak is identified as E.coli STEC O145.

It creates a toxin called Shiga toxin that is harmful to the lining of the intestines.

Signs may consist of bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, high body temperature, and throwing up.

Typically, it can take a couple of days after being exposed to the infection before any symptoms start to appear.

Many individuals recuperate successfully, but there are certain groups, like young children or those with preexisting health issues, who may experience severe illness.

There is no cure for E. coli infections. People who have the infection can typically recover on their own at home and will often get better without needing medical care.

It's crucial to stay hydrated by drinking lots of liquids, as diarrhoea can cause your body to lose water.

Some people may experience severe issues, such as HUS, as a result.

It's important for individuals to consult a doctor if they are feeling concerned, and there are actions that can be taken to lower the chances of getting infected.

Some suggestions are to frequently clean your hands using warm water and soap. Alcohol gels may not eliminate all the germs that lead to stomach issues, and it's also important to wash your fruits and vegetables.

Another recommendation is to ensure that you cook food at the temperatures specified on the packaging.