Image by Okan Caliskan from Pixabay
If it seemed like there were more food poisoning lawsuits in 2024 than previous years, you may be right. 2024 was full of multi-state recalls, widespread foodborne outbreaks, and subsequent food poisoning lawsuits to boot.
While every case of foodborne illness is serious, especially to those falling victim to them. Some lawsuits rank high in notoriety by either the sheer number of those impacted or the seriousness of the contamination event.
Several lawsuits have been filed against Wendy’s restaurants toward the end of last year and well into 2024. At least 100 people fell sick, many requiring hospitalizations. Some outbreak patients developed a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that causes kidney failure.
Romaine lettuce contaminated with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria known as E. coli O157 was the source of these food poisoning cases.
This situation was not a case of food poisoning. But it ranks up there in notoriety, as it paved the way for other highly caffeinated beverage suits. The Panera Charged Lemonade lawsuits came down to the confusion surrounding a highly caffeinated beverage.
Potentially sold in large cups with options for unlimited refills, along with being positioned next to and similar to non-caffeinated beverages was the stance for lawsuits representing families where a person was either permanently damaged or died from consuming the drink.
Illnesses dating back to 2014 were linked to this long-term Listeria outbreak associated with Rizo Lopez Dairy products. At least 26 illnesses and two deaths have been linked to this contamination.
It wasn’t until routine sampling activities performed by the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch revealed the presence of Listeria in product samples in January 2024 that the pieces clicked together.
Patient samples matched these product samples, eventually linking Rizo Lopez Dairy’s queso fresco, cotija, and other cheeses to the outbreak.
An E. coli outbreak linked to Miguel’s Concina, located in San Diego in late 2023 caused dozens of illnesses. This outbreak also began in late 2023, but lawsuits continued into 2024.
The biggest issue discovered in this outbreak was the duration between reported illness onset. This indicates that there was a significant, ongoing contamination problem that was not discovered until people began falling ill and those illnesses were linked to the restaurant.
The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak linked to Appalachian Fairgrounds was not food related. However, it is a type of illness represented by lawyers versed in food poisoning lawsuits because they are similar.
This outbreak impacted elementary school students, leaving one child with brain damage and at least eight hospitalized.
This outbreak also took place in 2023, but lawsuits continued on into 2024.
Gibson Farms, Inc recalled bulk organic walnut halves after discovering they were associated with E. coli illnesses from two different states. People started feeling sick at the beginning of February through early April.
At least 11 people fell sick causing at least seven hospitalizations. Two patients developed HUS, causing serious kidney problems.
At least 10 people were sickened in a Salmonella outbreak linked to the Bourbonnais location of Cracker Barrel in Bradley, Illinois. Several other probable cases without laboratory data were also associated with the eatery.
“Strong situational information” suggested a common link between outbreak patients and consuming food from the Bourbonnais Cracker Barrel restaurant.
A Shigella outbreak linked to LongHorn Steakhouse sickened nearly 70 people. At least nine required hospitalizations.
The restaurant was temporarily closed by the local health department during the investigation. Several food poisoning lawsuits were filed.
A Salmonella outbreak linked to Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria was identified after local emergency rooms reported an abnormal number of patients reporting stomach pain. The outbreak, later linked to the restaurant, was impacted by improper food handling and sanitation practices.
Several confirmed cases, and many more began surfacing as those suffering from food poisoning began checking in to see if others became sick too. Subreddits, facebook posts, and other socials were trending the topic locally.
Several food poisoning lawsuits were brought.
Contaminated ground beef from Wolverine Packing Co. was the source of many smaller outbreaks. Several restaurants who obtained beef from their distributor spread the illness across several states.
Over a dozen people fell sick and over 100 product labels were recalled in response to laboratory results findings.
Several food poisoning lawsuits have been filed.
Dozens of cases across at least 18 states have reported E. coli illnesses associated with organic carrots produced by Grimmway Farms. At least 15 hospitalization and one death have been associated with this outbreak.
These carrots were packaged under various brands and labels and constituted a huge recall.
Food poisoning lawsuits are underway.
The E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers has sickened over 100 people. At least 34 illnesses were serious enough to require hospitalization. Four people developed a complication known as HUS that can cause kidney failure. At least one death has been associated with the outbreak.
Ground beef was ruled out in this outbreak. But Taylor Farms slivered onions has been the common ingredient investigators believe to be the source.
Several lawsuits have been filed and litigation is expected to continue into the next year.
Arguably the most publicized outbreak in 2024 goes to Boar’s Head deli meat. This outbreak not only took the media by storm based on the number of illnesses and tragic deaths associated with the event, but also the attention it got from congress and the impact on the USDA.
The outbreak that sickened 61 people, hospitalized almost all of them (60), and was responsible for 10 deaths across 19 states was serious. As was the infamous 69 violations inspection report that garnered federal regulatory attention. A long-standing problem that, if addressed sooner, may have prevented significant illnesses.
Out of these food poisoning lawsuits your humble contributing writer deemed notable, how many do you recognize from the news?
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Most Notable 2024 Food Poisoning Lawsuits,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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