Cucumber Salmonella Lawsuits Filed Over Nationwide Food Poisoning Outbreak

Following hundreds of reports nationwide involving individuals who suffered salmonella poisoning from recalled cucumbers, at least two food poisoning lawsuits have been filed by individuals who became sick after allegedly eating the contaminated cucumbers at a Red Lobster restaurant.

Both complaints were filed by Minnesota residents, according to a recent report by the Star Tribune. One of the lawsuits was filed by Kathleen R. Dvergsten, who ate at the restaurant on August 12. The other was filed by Adam and Rebecca Junior, on behalf of their son, who fell ill after eating a salad at a Red Lobster in Oakdale.

In both cases, the lawsuits claim that the cucumbers used in the salad were part of a nationwide recall of Andrew & Williamson Limited Edition brand cucumbers issued on September 4.

The cucumbers have been linked to at least 285 cases of Salmonella Poona reported in 27 different states, including one death in California.

The recall includes all cucumbers sold and distributed under the Limited Edition brand label from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015. The cucumbers were shipped in a black, green, yellow, and craft colored cartons displaying the brand name “Limited Edition Pole Grown Cucumbers”.

Commonly referred to as “Slicers” or “American” cucumbers, the contaminated products are dark green in color and typically measure 7 to 10 inches long, with a diameter of 1.75 to 2.5 inches. The recalled cucumbers were sold in bulk display without any individual plastic wrapping to grocers and markets and are usually served as part of a salad in restaurant establishments.

The recalled cucumbers were imported from Mexico by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego, California where they were distributed from August 1, 2015 through September 3, 2015 to Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah and reached customers through retail, food service companies, wholesalers, and brokers.

Dvergsten was hospitalized for nearly a week after being admitted on August 14 due to her cucumber salmonella poisoning illness, suffering severe cramping, almost constant diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever and muscle pain. She tested positive for the same strain of salmonella as that linked with the cucumber food poisoning outbreak.

The son of Adam and Rebecca Junior also tested positive for the same strain of salmonella, but was not hospitalized. Their lawsuit also includes Red Lobster in addition to Andrew & Williamson.

Salmonella is a foodborne bacterium that attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing mild to severe symptoms. For most healthy adults, problems associated with food poisoning from salmonella typically resolve after a few days or weeks. However, young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems have an increased risk of suffering severe food poisoning after ingesting the bacteria. If not properly treated, some cases of salmonella food poisoning can lead to hospitalization, dehydration or death.