Hiland Dairy Faces Lawsuit Over Contaminated Chocolate Milk That Caused Burns In Teen Girl’s Throat

The mother of an Oklahoma teenager has filed a lawsuit against Hiland Dairy, alleging that her daughter fell ill after drinking chocolate milk contaminated with food-grade sanitizers, which caused severe burns and blisters in the child’s throat.

The complaint (PDF) was filed in the U.S. District Court of Oklahoma on January 22, by Alicia Diederich, indicating that Hiland Dairy distribute chocolate milk contaminated with food-grade sanitizers, resulting in serious and disabling injuries for her 16 year old daughter.

According to the lawsuit, Diederich’s daughter was taken to SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City on January 15, for an unrelated medication condition, where she then drank the now-recalled Hiland Dairy 1% low fat chocolate milk product, which was sold throughout Oklahoma and Texas at institutional facilities.

The complaint indicates the teen was served the contaminated chocolate milk, and became extremely ill from Synergex, a chemical which is used to clean surfaces and dairy processing equipment.

The 16 year old girl suffered burns in her throat and blisters in her mouth, requiring constant medical observation for the development of ulcers in her stomach and intestines.

Diederich’s illness was not the only adverse health consequence reported in relation to the Hiland Dairy chocolate milk recall. According to local media outlets who spoke with representatives from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, at least 50 cases of illness have been reported after patients drank Hiland Dairy 1% low fat chocolate milk.

On January 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the Hiland Dairy one-half pint (236 mL) 1% low fat chocolate milk recall after the manufacturer learned internal quality control measures failed to identify the chemical, Synergex, had entered the products at dangerous levels.

The milk recall includes approximately 240,000 units of One-Half Pint Hiland Dairy 1% Low Fat Chocolate Milk marked with Sell By date of January 27, 2021 and UPC code 72060-00156-3 and plant code 4025.

The impacted products were manufactured exclusively at the Norman, Oklahoma facility and were distributed for sale to distributors and institutional customers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Metro area, Western Oklahoma and in Texas to recipients in Dallas, Tyler and San Antonio.

FDA officials are instructing customers to stop consuming the products immediately and for distributors and institutions to immediately quarantine the products to prevent additional injuries.

Individuals who have consumed the products are being urged to contact their healthcare physicians immediately and to be conscious of symptoms that may include nausea and vomiting.